Constitutional law
Fundamental governance principles
Constitutional law is the body of law derived from a nation's constitution, governing the structure of government, the distribution of power among its branches, and the rights of citizens.
It addresses fundamental questions: What can government do?
What must it do?
What is it forbidden from doing?
The Supreme Court struck down the statute on constitutional law grounds.
Constitutional law evolves through judicial interpretation, as courts apply founding documents to circumstances the framers never imagined.
- Marbury v. MadisonLandmark ruling establishing judicial review
- textualismInterpreting law literally
- freedom of speechProtected right to speak
- separation of powersConstitutional distribution of authority
- originalismInterpreting by founding-era meaning
reserved powers · habeas corpus · Tenth Amendment · state sovereignty · checks and balances · religious freedom · privacy rights · concurrent powers · executive privilege · due process · bicameralism · First Amendment · legislative authority · equal protection · freedom of assembly · right to vote · precedent · judicial independence
Constitutional lawstatutory law
Legislature-made legal rules
bylaws · local ordinances · administrative law · case law · common law
Constitutional lawunwritten law
Informal accepted rule
traditional law · common law · natural law · convention · tribal law
Constitutional lawmartial law
Armed forces governance
tyranny · despotism · absolutism · rule by decree · absolute power
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