constitutional

Everyday

1. To do with a country's constitution, the main set of laws that says how the country is governed and what rights people have. tree →
2. Allowed by the constitution; a law that is «constitutional» follows those rules, and an «unconstitutional» one breaks them. tree →
3. To do with a person's body or nature, as in a «constitutional weakness». tree →
4. (noun, old-fashioned) A walk taken for your health, as in «a morning constitutional». tree →

In the lessons

In citizenship and history lessons: the USA has a written Constitution; the UK has a «constitutional monarchy», where the king or queen reigns but Parliament makes the laws. Australia and Canada are also constitutional monarchies. In the news: «a constitutional crisis», «a constitutional right», «constitutional court».

Examples

• The UK is a constitutional monarchy, so the king does not make the laws. tree →
• Free speech is a constitutional right in the United States. tree →
• The judges decided the new law was not constitutional. tree →
• Changing the constitution needs a constitutional amendment. tree →
• Grandpa takes his morning constitutional around the park. tree →
• The class learned about constitutional government in Canada. tree →
• Some people say the vote was unconstitutional. tree →

Note

Opposite: «unconstitutional». The word comes from «constitution», which also means a person's general health («a strong constitution»). The capital C «Constitution» usually means the US Constitution.