constitutionality
Fundamental law alignment
Constitutionality is whether something conforms to a constitution—typically a nation's founding legal document.
Courts rule on the constitutionality of laws, determining if they violate constitutional principles: The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the statute.
A law's constitutionality may be challenged, questioned, or affirmed.
The opposite is unconstitutionality.
Apex of judicial hierarchy
- judicial reviewCourts invalidating unconstitutional acts
- rulingFormal legal determination
- precedentPrior authoritative example
- adjudicationFormal decision on disputes
challenge · injunction · standing · justiciability · appellate · bench · docket · litigation
Guaranteed judicial fairness
- equal protectionUniform legal treatment
- civil libertiesRights limiting government power
- fundamental rightsCore legal protections guaranteed
- Bill of RightsInitial constitutional amendments guaranteeing freedoms
freedom of speech · right to privacy · voting rights · freedom of religion · freedom of press · freedom of assembly · right to counsel · fair trial
Divided governmental authority system
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- separation of powersConstitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- executiveSenior organizational leader
legislative · judiciary · enumerated powers · reserved powers · supremacy clause · preemption · jurisdiction · delegation
Interpreting by founding-era meaning
- textualismInterpreting law literally
- framersThose who construct frames
- intentPlanned purpose
- constructionProcess of building something
strict · broad · penumbra · enumerated · unenumerated · precedent · Federalist · ratification
Formal approval by authority
- proposalFormal plan for consideration
- repealAnnul a statute
- supermajorityVote exceeding simple majority
- bicameralHaving two chambers
convention · entrenchment · provision · clause · revision · modification · ERA · prohibition
supreme court
Apex of judicial hierarchy
- judicial reviewCourts invalidating unconstitutional acts
- rulingFormal legal determination
- precedentPrior authoritative example
adjudication · challenge · injunction · standing · justiciability · appellate · bench · docket · litigation · verdict
due process
Guaranteed judicial fairness
- equal protectionUniform legal treatment
- civil libertiesRights limiting government power
- fundamental rightsCore legal protections guaranteed
Bill of Rights · freedom of speech · right to privacy · voting rights · freedom of religion · freedom of press · freedom of assembly · right to counsel · fair trial · search and seizure
federalism
Divided governmental authority system
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- separation of powersConstitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
executive · legislative · judiciary · enumerated powers · reserved powers · supremacy clause · preemption · jurisdiction · delegation · veto
originalism
Interpreting by founding-era meaning
- textualismInterpreting law literally
- framersThose who construct frames
- intentPlanned purpose
construction · strict · broad · penumbra · enumerated · unenumerated · precedent · Federalist · ratification · founding fathers
ratification
Formal approval by authority
- proposalFormal plan for consideration
- repealAnnul a statute
- supermajorityVote exceeding simple majority
bicameral · convention · entrenchment · provision · clause · revision · modification · ERA · prohibition · suffrage
- ConstitutionBill of Rights, preamble, articles, Article I, First Amendment
- constitutionsbill of rights, clause, clauses, preamble, provisions
- Supreme Courtchief justice, associate justices, justices, certiorari, oral arguments
- judicial reviewjudicial review, mandamus, prohibition, judicial oversight, correctness
- legal termstrial, legal, appeal, lawsuit, law
- federalismstates' rights, federal law, federal district, enumerated powers, federal agency
constitutionalityunconstitutionality
Violation of fundamental law
illegality · unlawfulness · invalidity · nullity · impermissibility
constitutionalityunconstitutionality
Violation of fundamental law
tyranny · despotism · arbitrariness · lawlessness · autocracy