Noun

Singular constitution

Plural constitutions

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.
2. The formal or informal system of primary principles and laws that regulates a government or other institutions.
3. A legal document describing such a formal system.
4. The general health of a person.
5. A person's physique or temperament

Derived terms

• constitutional

Related terms

• constitute
• constituent
• constituency
• constitutive

A constitution is a set of rules for government—often codified as a written document—that enumerates and limits the powers and functions of a political entity. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is. In the case of countries and autonomous regions of federal countries the term refers specifically to a constitution defining the fundamental political principles, and establishing the structure, procedures, powers and duties, of a government. By limiting the government's own reach, most constitutions guarantee certain rights to the people. The term constitution can be applied to any overall system of law that defines the functioning of a government, including several uncodified historical constitutions that existed before the development of modern codified constitutions.

Constitutions concern different levels of political organization. They exist at national (e.g., codified Constitution of Canada, uncodified Constitution of the United Kingdom), regional (e.g., the Massachusetts Constitution), and sometimes lower levels. They also define many political and other groups, such as political parties, pressure groups, and trade unions. A supranational constitution is possible (e.g., proposed European Union constitution). The traditional absolute sovereignty of modern nations assumed in a constitution is often limited by binding international treaties such as the American Convention on Human Rights which binds the 24 American countries that have ratified it, and the European Convention on Human Rights which binds the 47 member countries of the Council of Europe.

Non-political entities such as corporations and voluntary associations, whether incorporated or not, often have what is effectively a constitution, often called memorandum and articles of association (U.S. incorporation).

The Constitution of India is the longest written constitution of any sovereign country in the world, containing 448 articles, 12 schedules and 94 amendments, with 117,369 words in its English language version.

• A good constitution cannot alone make a nation’s happiness. A bad one can alone make its unhappiness.
  • (fr) Une bonne constitution ne peut suffire à faire le bonheur d’une nation. Une mauvaise peut suffire à faire son malheur.
  • Guy Carcassonne: La Constitution (6th ed.). Paris: Éditions du Seuil, p. 33

• The problem in any constitutional change is the great care put to solve the problems of the past instead of grasping those of the future.
  • (fr) Le défaut inhérent à tout changement constitutionnel tient au grand soin mis à régler les problèmes du passé au lieu de saisir ceux de l’avenir.
  • Olivier Duhamel: Droit constitutionnel 2: Les Démocraties (3rd ed.). Paris: Éditions du Seuil, 2000, p. 105

• A constitution, as Solon said, is good for a certain people and for a certain time. It shouldn’t be mummified.
  • (fr) Une constitution, comme disait Solon, est bonne pour un peuple et pour un temps. Il ne faut pas la momifier.
  • Charles de Gaulle, quoted in Alain Peyrefitte: C’était De Gaulle. Paris: Gallimard, 2002, p. 250

• A constitution is made of a spirit, institutions, and a practice.
  • (fr) Une constitution, c’est un esprit, des institutions, une pratique.
  • Charles de Gaulle, Press Conference on 31 January 1964, Élysée Palace, Paris