What is the supreme law of the land?

Explanation

The U.S. Constitution is the highest law in the country. Every other law - federal, state, or local - must agree with it.

Why it matters

Because it outranks all other law, the Constitution is where the test begins: it is the framework every branch of government must follow.

The 65/20 special consideration

Question 1 is not in the 65/20 set. An applicant who is 65 or older and has been a lawful permanent resident for 20 years or more studies only the 20 marked questions, so this one would not be asked. Everyone else studies all 100.

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Answers that get mixed up with this one

These are the wrong options the practice test puts beside this question. Each one is the correct answer to a different question, which is what makes it tempting.

• We the Peopleanswers Question 3: The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
• You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.answers Question 10: What is freedom of religion?
• the Senate and House (of Representatives)answers Question 17: What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

More Principles of American Democracy questions

Questions the officer draws from the same part of the test. Studying them together is what keeps their answers apart.

• Question 2: What does the Constitution do?sets up the government · defines the government · protects basic rights of Americans
• Question 3: The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?We the People
• Question 4: What is an amendment?a change (to the Constitution) · an addition (to the Constitution)
• Question 5: What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?the Bill of Rights
• Question 6: What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?speech · religion · assembly · press · petition the government