constitution

constitution
A system of fundamental laws or principles for the government of a nation, state, society, corporation, or other aggregation of individuals. 16 Am J2d Const L § 1. Although a constitution, in the broad sense of the term, may be written or unwritten, in the United States, the word as applied to the organization of the federal and state governments, always implies a writing. 16 Am J2d Const L § 1. "A written constitution is not only the direct and basic expression of the sovereign will, but is the absolute rule of action and decision for all departments and offices of government in respect to all matters covered by it, and must control as it is written until it shall be changed by the authority that established it." Wright v Hart, 182 NY 330, 75 NE 404. A constitution differs from a statute in that a statute must provide at least to a certain degree, the details of the subject of which it treats, whereas a constitution usually states general principles and builds the substantial foundation and general framework of the law and government. 16 Am J2d Const L § 3 See state constitution; United States Constitution.

Ballentine's law dictionary. . 1998.

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  • constitution — [ kɔ̃stitysjɔ̃ ] n. f. • constitucion « ordonnance, règlement » v. 1170; lat. constitutio « institution » I ♦ 1 ♦ Dr. Action d établir légalement. ⇒ établissement, institution. Constitution de rente, de pension. Constitution de partie civile :… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Constitution De L'an I — Droit constitutionnel | Constitutions françaises : Histoire constitutionnelle … de 1791 · texte · Monarchie co …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Constitution de l'an i — Droit constitutionnel | Constitutions françaises : Histoire constitutionnelle … de 1791 · texte · Monarchie co …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Constitution De L'an X — Constitutions Textes Régime politique Constitution de 1791 texte …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Constitution de l'An X — Constitutions Textes Régime politique Constitution de 1791 texte …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Constitution de l'an x — Constitutions Textes Régime politique Constitution de 1791 texte …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Constitution de l’An X — Constitution de l an X Constitutions Textes Régime politique Constitution de 1791 texte …   Wikipédia en Français

  • constitution — con·sti·tu·tion n [Latin constitutio system, fundamental principles (of an institution), from constituere to set up, establish] 1: the basic principles and laws of a nation, state, or social group that determine the powers and duties of the… …   Law dictionary

  • constitution — con‧sti‧tu‧tion [ˌkɒnstˈtjuːʆn ǁ ˌkɑːnstˈtuː ] noun [countable] 1. LAW the system of basic laws and principles that a democratic country is governed by, which cannot easily be changed by the political party in power: • The First Amendment of… …   Financial and business terms

  • constitution — CONSTITUTION. subs. f. Composition. La forme et la matière entrent dans la constitution du corps naturel. f♛/b] Il se dit aussi De l établissement, de la creation d une rente, d une pension; et les rentes mêmes s appellent des Constitutions. Un… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • Constitution — Con sti*tu tion (k[o^]n st[ict]*t[=u] sh[u^]n), n. [F. constitution, L. constitutio.] 1. The act or process of constituting; the action of enacting, establishing, or appointing; enactment; establishment; formation. [1913 Webster] 2. The state of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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