What is the primary function of the Constitution?

The primary function of the Constitution is to set up the government and define its powers. This foundational document establishes the framework for the federal government, delineating the roles and responsibilities of each branch—executive, legislative, and judicial. It provides a system of checks and balances intended to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

The Constitution also lays out the principles of governance, including the separation of powers and federalism, which ensures that power is distributed between the national and state governments. Additionally, it enshrines the rights of individuals through amendments, addressing the relationship between the government and its citizens.

Other choices focus on specific aspects of governance or military action, which are not the overarching purpose of the Constitution itself. While individual states do have their own laws, those are governed by their own constitutions and legal frameworks, rather than the federal Constitution. Similarly, the Constitution does not directly outline military strategies or declare war; instead, it grants Congress the power to declare war while providing for the national defense within its overall governance framework.