What primary function does the Constitution serve?

The Constitution serves the vital role of establishing the framework for the United States government and safeguarding the rights of its citizens. By creating the structure of government, the Constitution delineates the powers and responsibilities of each branch—executive, legislative, and judicial—ensuring a system of checks and balances that prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful. Additionally, the Bill of Rights, which is part of the Constitution, explicitly protects individual liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, alongside other fundamental rights. This dual focus on governance and protection of personal rights is critical to maintaining a democratic society.

In contrast, establishing a national religion is contrary to the principles of religious freedom enshrined in the First Amendment. Defining the economy is not a primary function of the Constitution, as economic policy tends to be determined by legislation and economic practices rather than the foundational document itself. Finally, while the Constitution does grant the federal government the power to manage foreign relations, it does not serve primarily to outline foreign policies. Instead, the Constitution lays the groundwork for governance while allowing for the flexibility of legislative processes to adapt to international relations.