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The Constitution explicitly states that it is itself the "supreme law of the land", which means, for example, that state or federal laws that do not comply with the Constitution are void and without effect. However, the Constitution makes no explicit provision for the interpretation of the law. It was in the course of a trial (Marbury vs Madison, in 1803), that the Supreme Court ruled that the interpretation of the law depended on the courts. It will be noticed that the courts interpret laws (and may declare them constitutional or unconstitutional) in the context of trials, i.e., after the law has been passed by Congress and put into effect.