Is the Constitution really the Supreme Law of the Land (USA)? I thought it was a framework against which laws had to be tested and passed. For instance the 18th Amendment (prohibition) didn't do anything. It needed the Volstead Act, no?
I never paid too much attention to the 18th Amendment, I only just learned that it prohibited alcohol from being EXPORTED.
There isn't a lot of "Law" in the Constitution, apart from things like Representatives will serve 2 year terms, Senators will serve 6 year terms, etc. "The Law" Americans follow in 2025 is essentially the same "Law" the English were using 1,000 years ago "English Common Law."
The only difference between regular laws and the constitution is the percentage of votes required to change it.
Regular laws can be created, cancelled or altered by a simple majority in House and Senate, changing the constitution requires a 2/3 majority in House and Senate plus ratification by 3/4 of the states.
Other than that the constitution is just a set of laws and it's up to law enforcement to make sure people follow them.
Whether or not the Supreme Court is able to enforce the constitution and whether or not the Supreme Court even follows the constitution are independent questions.
Several presidents in the past have tried to ignore rulings of the Supreme Court (but almost all of them didn't get away with it), and several times a Supreme Court ruling has clearly violated the constitution, i.e. a total ban on abortions even in cases of rape and incest clearly stands against the bodily autonomy of women.
I am just saying the Constitution is more of a framework. For instance 18th Amendment prohibits alcohol but they have to create the Volstead act to enforce it.
That falls more into law enforcement than the constitution.
The Volstead act defined what's forbidden clearer than the constitution and gave law enforcement a better overview what they had to enforce.