What does the Constitution do?

The Constitution has three main functions. First, it sets up the government by establishing the three branches (legislative, executive, judicial) and how they interact. Second, it defines the government by specifying its powers, limits, and structure, including the relationship between federal and state governments. Third, it protects the basic rights of Americans through provisions throughout the document and especially through the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments). The Constitution does not list all federal laws — those are passed by Congress under powers granted by the Constitution. The United States is not a monarchy; the Constitution explicitly prohibits titles of nobility. The United Nations was founded in 1945, more than 150 years after the Constitution was written.