Civic Literacy Practice Test 2025 - Free Civic Literacy Questions and Study Guide

The U.S. Constitution is the foundational document that established the framework for the U.S. government. Drafted in 1787 and ratified in 1788, the Constitution outlines the structure of government, delineating the powers and responsibilities of the three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It serves as the supreme law of the land, providing the basis for federal governance, the relationship between states and the federal government, and the rights of citizens.

While the Declaration of Independence is crucial in articulating the reasons for separation from British rule and the philosophical justification for self-governance, it does not provide a framework for government itself. The Bill of Rights, consisting of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, was designed to protect individual liberties and limit government power, but it does not establish the structural framework. The Articles of Confederation served as the United States' first governing document prior to the Constitution, but it ultimately proved to be ineffective as it established a weak federal government, leading to its replacement by the Constitution.

Thus, the U.S. Constitution is the document that correctly represents the establishment of the government framework.