US Constitution: a conservative document?

Conservative by whose standards, and in what era? At the time it was
written, the United States Constitution was a groundbreaking, radical
sort of document in many ways. I doubt that its authors would have
called it "conservative."

Well then, what does some conservatives have to say about the constitution?

First, not all conservatives always agree on everything.

Second, MANY conservatives tend to like the Constitution for the exact
reasons the framers wrote it.  A belief that people can run their
lives better than a government official can. A belief that people work
harder when they do not rely on government to take care of them. A
belief that the only way the Constitution is supposed to be changed is
by action of the legislature and/or voters, not by a judge who has a
"better idea".

Actually governments (and therefore Constitutions) are formed
precisely to carry out those actions which individuals CANNOT do for
themselves.  i.e. national defense, major public works, defense of
minority rights against the majority, etc.  And, alas, the levying of
taxes which allows the government to carry out all of those functions.
The Constitution like the Magna Carta in its time, is indeed a radical
document in that it claimed that people could govern themselves
without a Divinely appointed king.

Although 'radical' when written, it is probably 'conservative' nowadays

Note the lack of capitalization.

'conservative' means resisting dramatic change
- one have a 'radical' Conservative
- but not a 'radical' 'conservative'

Curiously, societies can operate quite well as long as 'the rules' are
well known and rigourously enforced.

My favourite is Aristotle, circa 300 BC,
Justice is: 
  ' Treat equals equally, unequals unequally, with due regard to the
relevant difference'

Full of weasel words - but in essence it means: 'Let there be rigid rules'

When 'the rules' are like plasticine it confuses people
- the US Constitution is an attempt to set basic rules
- as such it is a 'sea anchor' 
- lower case 'conservative' - resisting novel changes

This helps a great deal.  Thank you so much for your assistance.