What term describes the legal framework for describing land in the United States?

The legal framework for describing land in the United States encompasses various systems, one of the most recognized being the rectangular government survey system. This system was established by the Land Ordinance of 1785 and is based on a grid format that divides land into townships and sections. Each township is a six-mile square and is further divided into 36 sections, each one square mile in size. This method allows for precise and standardized land descriptions that can be easily referenced and located on maps.

The rectangular government survey is particularly useful in rural areas and is widely used in states that were once part of the Northwest Territory. This method contrasts with metes and bounds, which relies more on physical landmarks and measurements, and is less uniform. Other options like land lot description and property delineation do not refer to established legal frameworks, making the rectangular government survey the most accurate choice in this context.