Which document outlines the framework of the U.S. Government and its powers and limits?

• A. Magna Carta
• B. Bill of Rights
• C. Articles of Confederation
• D. U.S. Constitution

Answer: (D)

The document that lays out how the U.S. government is organized, what powers it has, and the limits on those powers is the U.S. Constitution. It creates three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—and sets up checks and balances so no one branch becomes too powerful. It also establishes federalism, dividing authority between the national government and the states, and explains how laws are made and interpreted, along with a process for amending the framework as needed.

The Magna Carta is an English historical charter about limiting the king’s power, not about the US governmental framework. The Bill of Rights protects individual rights and liberties, not the overall structure of government. The Articles of Confederation served as an earlier, weaker framework for the United States, but it was replaced by the Constitution because it lacked a strong central government.