What does the Constitution primarily do?

The Constitution primarily establishes the framework of the government and outlines the structure, powers, and limits of government institutions, such as the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It defines the relationship between the federal government and the states, as well as the rights of individuals against government actions. Additionally, the Constitution includes the Bill of Rights, which explicitly protects the fundamental rights and liberties of American citizens.

While it does touch upon laws and state governments, the central role of the Constitution is to provide a foundational legal structure for the operation of the government and to ensure the protection of individual rights, thereby serving as the supreme law of the land. Its focus on governance and rights is what distinguishes it from being solely a historical document or a simple law-making mechanism.