Which document outlines the framework of the U.S. government?

The Constitution is the foundational document that outlines the framework of the U.S. government. It was created to establish the structure of the government, defining the roles and powers of each branch—executive, legislative, and judicial. Additionally, it serves to protect individual rights through the Bill of Rights and other amendments, ensuring a balance of power and a system of checks and balances among the branches.

The Declaration of Independence, while significant in asserting the colonies' separation from British rule and expressing philosophical principles about government, does not provide a framework for governance itself. The Articles of Confederation served as the first governing document of the United States but were ultimately replaced due to their inefficiencies and weaknesses in governing the nation effectively. Lastly, the Federalist Papers consist of essays advocating for the ratification of the Constitution, but they do not themselves outline the framework of government; rather, they explain and defend the Constitution's principles and provisions.