What is the primary purpose of the U.S. Constitution?

The primary purpose of the U.S. Constitution is to outline the structure of government. It establishes the framework for how the government operates, detailing the separation of powers among the three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial branches. This structure is fundamental in defining the roles, responsibilities, and limitations of each branch, ensuring a system of checks and balances that prevents any one branch from gaining too much power.

While the Constitution does include principles that can lead to the creation of laws, its main objective is not merely to list these laws or to provide legal codes. It does not serve the purpose of declaring independence, which was achieved earlier through the Declaration of Independence. Additionally, establishing a national bank is a specific policy decision that falls under the broader powers of Congress but is not a foundational purpose of the Constitution itself. Understanding this context highlights why outlining the structure and organization of the government is central to the Constitution's role in American governance.