The U.S. Constitution serves how many primary purposes?

• A. One
• B. Two
• C. Three
• D. Four

Answer: (B)

Two main purposes guide the Constitution: to create a functioning national government and to restrain that government so it protects individual rights.

First, it establishes how the government is run by dividing power among three branches and by balancing authority between national and state governments. This structure—legislative, executive, and judicial with checks and balances—lets laws be made, carried out, and interpreted in a stable, orderly way.

Second, it limits governmental power to safeguard liberties. The Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments set boundaries on what the government can do, protecting freedoms like speech, religion, privacy, due process, and equal protection.

For emergency services, this balance matters: you operate quickly to protect public safety while still respecting constitutional rights and due process. The two purposes—creating a workable government and limiting power to protect rights—best capture the Constitution’s overall intent.