The Massachusetts Constitution (1780) served as a model for which later document?

• A. The U.S. Constitution
• B. The Articles of Confederation
• C. The Northwest Ordinances
• D. The Bill of Rights

Answer: (A)

A written framework that divides government into separate branches with checks and balances provided a durable model for the national charter. The Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 established three distinct branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—and included mechanisms to limit power, such as a governor with veto power and an independent judiciary. This structure offered a practical, proven way to organize government, so when the Founders drafted the U.S. Constitution, they drew on that experience and adopted a similar three-branch system with checks and balances. The other options don’t fit this direct influence: the Articles of Confederation created a weak central government, the Northwest Ordinances were policies under that system, and the Bill of Rights is a later component added to the Constitution rather than a model for its overall framework.