constitutional law

noun

1. the body of law that evolves from a constitution, setting out the fundamental principles according to which a state is governed and defining the relationship between the various branches of government within the state.

Word History and Origins

Origin of constitutional law¹

First recorded in 1750–60

Example Sentences

James Sample, a professor of constitutional law at Hofstra University, agreed that the issue of “respecting the presidency” would be central to Merchan’s judgment but added that he must also balance “respecting a jury verdict.”

From Salon

Following decades of trenchwork by Alito and his allies in the right-wing legal movement to advance the concept of a dominant “unitary executive,” this worldview catapulted into the spotlight—and our constitutional law—in this year’s 6–3 ruling in Trump v.

From Slate

“Saying history and tradition gives less room for interpretation or controversy than other approaches is preposterous,” said Noah Feldman, a constitutional law professor at Harvard.

From Slate

James Sample, a constitutional law professor at Hofstra University, agreed that the filing was necessary in light of “the Supreme Court’s dramatic expansion of Presidential immunity,” saying that “an oversized, highly detailed legal brief, detailing with as much factual specificity as is possible, is not only appropriate, but necessary.”

From Salon

As I and others argue in an article forthcoming in Boston College Law Review, it will be exceptionally rare for a state court to exceed the ordinary bounds of judicial review, and accordingly, it will almost never be appropriate for the Supreme Court to second-guess state court decisions on state constitutional law under the elections clause.

From Slate