2025 civics test · Question 3 · Principles of American Government
Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
Any one of these answers is accepted
- Forms the government
- Defines powers of government
- Defines the parts of government
- Protects the rights of the people
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 2025 civics test, the officer asks up to 20 of the 128 questions out loud and you pass by answering 12 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 Government.
- 1 What is the form of government of the United States?
- 2 What is the supreme law of the land?
- 4 The U.S. Constitution starts with the words "We the People." What does "We the People" mean?
- 5 How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
- 6 What does the Bill of Rights protect?
- 7 How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?