Federal and State Constitutions Even before the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, instructions had gone out to the former British colonies to form state governments. In order to form such governments, state constitutions were written. A state constitution applies just to that state for which it was written. The United States Constitution applies to all of the states making up the union. A constitution is a plan that provides the rules for a government, be it state or nation. All constitutions serve several purposes. First, it sets the ideals that the people bound by the constitution believe in and share. Second, it establishes a basic structure of government. Third, it defines the powers and duties of the government.
