constitution

plural constitutions

1. The act, or process of setting something up, or establishing something; the composition or structure of such a thing; its makeup.

   the physical constitution of the sun

   1876, John Herschel, Outlines of Astronomy

   Synonyms: configuration, form, arrangement, composition, format, configuration, form, makeup

2. governmentThe formal or informal system of primary principles and laws that regulates a government or other institutions.

   Our constitution had begun to exist in times when statesmen were not much accustomed to frame exact definitions.

   1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter X, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC

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   1693, Edmund Bohun, A Geographical Dictionary They have in their present Constitution a Grand Council of the Nobility, a Senato, a College of Twenty six who give Audience to Ambassadors and report their Demands to the Senate, a Council of Ten; and a Triumvirate (monthly chosen by, and out of, the Ten) of three Inquisitors of State; whose Authority is so absolute, as to extend to the taking away of the Life of the Doge no less than the meanest Artisan, without acquainting the Senate, provided they all three agree in the Sentence.

   After all, that would be akin to a self-coup. Apart from the traditional vision of a coup requiring a military takeover of the government, self-coups occur when governments depart from typical norms of democracy by altering election laws, calling into question election results or seeking to suspend their constitutions in order to stay in power.

   2022 January 19, Robert Alexander, “What 2020’s pro-Trump phony electors means for 2024”, in CNN, archived from the original on 16 Aug 2022

3. lawA legal document describing such a formal system.
4. CatholicismA document issued by a religious authority serving to promulgate some particular church laws or doctrines.
5. A person's physical makeup or temperament, especially in respect of robustness.

   He has a strong constitution, so he should make a quick recovery from the illness.

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   Our constitutions have never been enfeebled by the vices or luxuries of the old world.

   1828, Joseph Story, Appeal to the Republic

   He defended himself with [...] less passion than was expected from his constitution.

   1702–1704, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, (please specify |book=I to XVI), in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the [Sheldonian] Theater

6. datedThe general health of a person.

   But when once his constitution began to decline, he broke very fast, and being attacked bya complication of diseases, he at length gave way to fate, May 10, 1733.

   1766 May, “The Life of Mr. Barton Booth”, in The Gentleman's and London Magazine: Or Monthly Chronologer, page 281

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   Don Manuel de Casafonda the governor, whose countenance bespoke a constitution far gone in a decliner had thrown himself on a sopha in the last state of despair and given way to an effusion of tears:

   1792 July 18, “History of Nicholas Pedrosa”, in The Phoenix, volume 1, number 3, page 39

   The physician, to gratify the apothecary, thinks himself obliged to order ten times more physic than the patient really wants, by which means he ruins his constitution, and too often his life; otherwise how is it possible an apothecarty's bill in a fever should amount to forty, or fifty, or more pounds?

   1827 July, “On the Mal-organization of the Medical Profession, and of the Necessity of a Medical Reform”, in The Oriental Herald and Journal of General Literature, volume 14, number 43, page 79

   In early life his health was infirm, and his education much interrupted in consequence; but by diligent study, as his constitution improved, he made up his lost ground, and became one of the most accomplished classical and general scholars of his time.

   1838, George Godfrey Cunningham, Lives of Eminent and Illustrious Englishmen

1. lawThe supreme law of some countries, such as Australia, Ireland, and the United States.

   The US Constitution was written in 1787.

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   The Constitution is anchored in English liberal thought and the Magna Carta.

   As the search continued, I developed five criteria for the selection process. The next Chief Justice must have a top-flight legal mind; he must be young enough to serve at least ten years; he should, if possible, have experience both as a practicing lawyer and as an appeals court judge; he must generally share my view that the Court should interpret the Constitution rather than amend it by judicial fiat; and he must have a special quality of leadership that would enable him to resolve differences among his colleagues so that, as often as possible, the Court would speak decisively on major cases with one voice or at least with a strong voice for the majority opinion.

   1978, Richard Nixon, RN: the Memoirs of Richard Nixon, Grosset & Dunlap, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 419

   The Constitution is very clear. My job was oversee the session of Congress where objections could be heard. And I made sure that objections would be recognized, so we would hear whatever evidence and other debate there was. But the Constitution says you open and count the votes, no more no less. The Constitution affords no authority to the Vice President or anyone else to reject votes or return votes to the states.

   2023 July 5, Mike Pence, 7:52 from the start, in Watch All In With Chris Hayes Highlights: July 6, MSNBC, archived from the original on 07 Jul 2023

   Please kindly bring your hardcopy of the Constitution to every class.

   2024, John L. Badalamenti, Ashley C. Grabowski, “ADVANCED CONSTITUTIONAL INTERPRETATION: ORIGINALISM AND ITS FOES”, in University of Florida, archived from the original on 23 Jun 2025, page 2