What does the Constitution do?

The Constitution is foundational to the functioning of the United States government and serves two primary purposes: establishing the structure of government and safeguarding the rights of citizens. This includes delineating the powers of the different branches of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—as well as outlining the system of checks and balances intended to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

Additionally, the Constitution contains the Bill of Rights, which specifically enumerates various essential rights and freedoms that are guaranteed to individuals, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press, among others. This dual role of organizing government and protecting individual liberties makes it crucial for understanding how American democracy is intended to operate.

The other choices do not fully capture the comprehensive role of the Constitution. While it does touch upon state rights in the context of federalism, its primary function is broader. The Constitution does not explicitly define the roles of the military forces or outline treaties; these are addressed in more specific articles and amendments but do not encompass the full purpose of the document itself.