What does the Constitution establish for the U.S. government?

The Constitution establishes a federal government for the United States, which means that power is divided between a central authority and individual states. This framework allows for a system of governance that enables both the national government and state governments to operate concurrently, each with their own responsibilities and powers. The federal structure is crucial for addressing the diverse needs of various states while maintaining unity across the nation.

In this system, the Constitution outlines the organization of government, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, defining their roles and functions. The federal government is characterized by a system of checks and balances designed to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power, ensuring that democracy and individual rights are preserved.

In contrast, the other options represent different forms of government that do not align with what the Constitution established for the U.S. A monarchy denotes rule by a single royal figure, an authoritarian regime signifies centralized control often disregarding personal freedoms, and a parliamentary system typically features a direct link between the legislative and executive branches, common in many other countries but not in the U.S. context. Thus, the correct answer reflects the foundational structure of governance as intended by the framers of the Constitution.