2008 civics test · Question 2 · Principles of American Democracy
What does the Constitution do?
Any one of these answers is accepted
- sets up the government
- defines the government
- protects basic rights of Americans
What this means
The Constitution does three main jobs, and naming any one of them answers the question:
- It sets up the government and creates its three branches.
- It defines the powers of the government and lists what each part can do.
- It protects the basic rights of people living in the United States.
The 2008 test phrases this as “What does the Constitution do?” and the 2025 test as “Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.” The accepted answers are the same, so you only need one.
The simplest answer to remember is “it sets up the government” or “it protects the basic rights of Americans.” Either one is enough.
Why this is on the test
This is one of the most basic questions about the Constitution, and both tests ask it, so a clear one-line answer is worth memorizing early.
How this question is asked
On the 2008 civics test, the officer asks up to 10 of the 100 questions out loud and you pass by answering 6 correctly. You answer in your own words. There is no multiple choice and nothing to write down for the civics portion.
Related questions
More from Principles of American Democracy.
- 1 What is the supreme law of the land?
- 3 The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
- 4 What is an amendment?
- 5 What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
- 6 What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment? ★ 65/20 question
- 7 How many amendments does the Constitution have?