law of the land
Governing legal framework
The law of the land refers to the fundamental legal principles and established laws that govern a nation or territory.
In the United States, the phrase often specifically invokes the Constitution as the supreme authority, as stated in Article VI.
More broadly, it means whatever rules and statutes are officially in force and binding on everyone within a jurisdiction.
The Supreme Court's ruling is now the law of the land.
- lawBinding principle or regulation
- supreme lawHighest legal authority
- statutesFormally enacted laws
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- common lawJurisprudence from judicial decisions
Magna Carta · legal system · civil rights · jurisdiction · unwritten law · rule of law · law and order · precedent · authority · Bill of Rights · founding fathers · higher law · regulation · jurisprudence · statutory law · case law · justice · federal law
- DreamtimeDreamtime, Dreaming, Tjukurpa, Rainbow Serpent, songlines
law of the landrecommendation
Advised course of action
gentleman's agreement · non-binding resolution · dead letter · advisory opinion · guideline
law of the landanarchy
Disorder from absent authority
lawlessness · chaos · disorder · mob rule · state of nature
law of the landillegal
Forbidden by statute
insurrection · civil disobedience · outlawry · seditious · rebellious
land, lawful, lawfully, unlawful, unlawfully, lawless, lawlessness, lawyer, lawyers