Final answer:
The founders intended for the constitution to establish a balance of power between the different government branches and to protect individual rights, according to option c. The Constitution was designed to be a limited, but flexible, framework allowing for the needs and growth of the country while safeguarding liberties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that best describes the founders' intentions regarding the constitution is c) "The founders intended for the constitution to establish a balance of power between branches and protect individual rights." The founders wanted to create a government that was strong yet confined within the limits of a written constitution to prevent tyranny. They believed in the principle of limited government, and this required a careful division and balance of powers between the federal and state governments, as well as among the three branches of the federal government. Moreover, they wanted the constitution to be sufficiently flexible to be adaptable over time but still firm enough to provide a stable structure of government.
The Constitution's framers included features like checks and balances and the separation of powers to limit any concentration of authority. They devised a document that was not just a set of rules for the moment but a framework for governance that could endure and evolve with the changing needs and circumstances of the country. This framework is detailed in the Constitution's seven articles and further elucidated through its amendments, including the Bill of Rights, which safeguard individual liberties.
From the Preamble, which outlines the purposes of the new government, to the specific delineation of powers and prohibitions, the Constitution reflects a deliberate effort to construct a government that could manage the affairs of a union of states while also empowering citizens and protecting their freedoms.