constitutionalism

American  

[kon-sti-too-shuh-nl-iz-uhm, -tyoo-] / ˌkɒn stɪˈtu ʃə nlˌɪz əm, -ˈtyu- /

noun

1. the principles of constitutional government or adherence to them.

2. constitutional rule or authority.

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constitutionalism British  

/ ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃənəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. the principles, spirit, or system of government in accord with a constitution, esp a written constitution

2. adherence to or advocacy of such a system or such principles

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Other Word Forms

• anticonstitutionalism noun
• constitutionalist noun
• hyperconstitutionalism noun
• proconstitutionalism noun

Etymology

Origin of constitutionalism

First recorded in 1825–35; constitutional + -ism

Example Sentences

So by inclusive constitutionalism I mean that the Constitution includes everyone, and the point of it is to make an inclusive democracy real.

From Salon • Jul. 14, 2024

These are the questions that inclusive constitutionalism seeks to address.

From Slate • May 8, 2024

Inclusive constitutionalism is a fundamentally hopeful theory in that it insists that we can and should move past the unbearable present.

From Slate • May 8, 2024

At the time, debates about the pros and cons of democracy, republicanism and constitutionalism were common on Chinese social media.

From New York Times • Jan. 19, 2024

It is civil freedom, constitutionalism, sovereignty of the people.

From Morals and the Evolution of Man by Nordau, Max Simon