What is the primary purpose of the U.S. Constitution?

The primary purpose of the U.S. Constitution is to establish the framework of government and protect individual rights. The Constitution outlines the structure and powers of the three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. This framework is crucial for maintaining a system of checks and balances, ensuring that no one branch becomes too powerful.

Additionally, the Constitution includes the Bill of Rights, which explicitly safeguards individual freedoms such as speech, religion, and assembly. These protections are essential to the functioning of a democratic society, as they promote personal liberties while establishing the government’s role in upholding those rights.

Other options focus on specific aspects of governance, such as regulating commerce, unifying the states under a single currency, or defining the judicial system. While these are important functions within the framework established by the Constitution, they do not encapsulate the overall purpose of the document, which is to create a comprehensive foundation for governance and the protection of individual liberties.