Final answer:
The basis for the government of the United States today is the Bill of Rights, not the Ten Commandments, Magna Carta, or Hammurabi's Code, which have had more indirect influences on modern legal systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Bill of Rights, consisting of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, is the basis of our government today. These amendments were designed to protect individual freedoms and are considered one of the foundational legal documents of the United States of America. While the Ten Commandments, Magna Carta, and Hammurabi's Code are all historical documents that influenced legal thought, it is the Bill of Rights that has a direct and explicit impact on the laws and governance of the United States.
In comparison, the Ten Commandments are religious prescriptions that have influenced moral values, the Magna Carta was a powerful influence on constitutional law by limiting the power of monarchies and guaranteeing rights, and Hammurabi's Code was one of the earliest written codes of law and set a foundation for the rule of law. However, all of these had indirect influence. The principles enshrined in the Bill of Rights include protections such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press; the right to bear arms; as well as fair treatment under the law. These principles directly guide governmental structure and individual rights in the United States today.