What does the Constitution do?

The Constitution serves as the foundational legal document that establishes the structure and function of the government in the United States. By outlining the organization of government through its three branches (executive, legislative, and judicial), the Constitution sets up the framework for governance, including the roles and powers of each branch. This enables the system of checks and balances essential to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

While the other functions mentioned—like creating the military, providing for taxation, and managing foreign affairs—are important aspects of government operations, they are not the primary purpose of the Constitution itself. The military is created through laws passed by Congress, taxation is implemented as part of the legislative function defined by the Constitution, and foreign affairs are managed by the executive branch as per the guiding principles the Constitution sets forth. The Constitution's primary role is to create and define the government that executes these functions.