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Scene at the Signing of the Constitution, by Howard Chandler Christy
USCIS Civics · Question 3 of 128

Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.

Official Answer

Forms the government

Also accepted: Defines powers of government · Defines the parts of government · Protects the rights of the people

In plain English

The Constitution forms the government. It is like an instruction book for the country. It defines the parts of the government and the powers of each part. It also protects the rights of the people. So the Constitution does four big things: it forms the government, defines its powers, defines its parts, and protects the rights of the people.

From the archives

Scene at the Signing of the Constitution, by Howard Chandler Christy
Scene at the Signing of the Constitution, by Howard Chandler ChristyArchitect of the Capitol, via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
Image: Scene at the Signing of the Constitution, by Howard Chandler Christy — Architect of the Capitol, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.Answers verbatim from USCIS M-1778 (09/25)