constitutionalism
Americannoun
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the principles of constitutional government or adherence to them.
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constitutional rule or authority.
noun
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the principles, spirit, or system of government in accord with a constitution, esp a written constitution
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adherence to or advocacy of such a system or such principles
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of constitutionalism
First recorded in 1825–35; constitutional + -ism
Explanation
Political scientists use the word constitutionalism to describe the belief that a government's authority is dictated by a specific law or group of laws — a constitution. People who feel strongly that government is not permitted to do anything that isn't clearly laid out in a written law are advocates of constitutionalism. In the United States, this means sticking to the letter of the Constitution, and checking all proposed laws against it. The important concepts in constitutionalism are a "higher law," or constitution, and using this as a means of limiting the powers of government.
Vocabulary lists containing constitutionalism
The Constitution
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Words with 15 or More Letters, List 4
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U.S. Government - Middle School and High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dahlia and Mark discuss what happens when popular constitutionalism is retrofitted as originalism, and why no constitutional win, no matter how popular, is ever truly permanent.
From Slate ● Aug. 1, 2026
What caught my eye as a scholar interested in popular constitutionalism was the way freed people made direct claims on the text of the state constitution.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
It is possible that a future historian will look back on this moment as a time of popular constitutionalism.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
Barbara shows, democratic constitutionalism of this kind is as old as the American constitutional order.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026
The ideas associated with constitution and constitutionalism are thus, it will be seen, mainly of modern and European origin.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 2 "Constantine Pavlovich" to "Convention" by Various
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
