unconstitutionally
Violating founding document
Unconstitutionally describes an action taken in a manner that violates or contradicts a constitution, most often a nation's founding legal document.
In the United States, laws or government actions ruled unconstitutional by courts are invalid and unenforceable.
The court found that the surveillance program had been conducted unconstitutionally.
The term appears frequently in legal and political contexts where the boundaries of governmental authority are contested.
Forbidden by statute
- invalidWithout legal force
- voidWithout legal effect
- illegalForbidden by statute
- improperLacking in propriety
null · unenforceable · illegitimate · prohibited · forbidden · illicit · unauthorized · impermissible
Violation of rights
- violationBreaking of rules
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- disenfranchisementRemoval of voting rights
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
deprivation · abridgment · encroachment · self-incrimination · privacy · assembly · petition · suffrage
Trial venue or sports surface
- rulingFormal legal determination
- injunctionCourt-ordered behavioral requirement
- overturnReverse or invalidate
- precedentPrior authoritative example
litigation · appeal · judiciary · adjudicate · bench · docket · plaintiff · defendant
Exceed one's capacity
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- statuteEnacted written rule
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
decree · enforcement · seizure · detention · surveillance · censorship · gerrymander · veto
unlawful
Forbidden by statute
improper · null · unenforceable · illegitimate · prohibited · forbidden · illicit · unauthorized · impermissible · invalidated
infringement
Violation of rights
- violationBreaking of rules
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- disenfranchisementRemoval of voting rights
suppression · deprivation · abridgment · encroachment · self-incrimination · privacy · assembly · petition · suffrage
court
Trial venue or sports surface
- rulingFormal legal determination
- injunctionCourt-ordered behavioral requirement
- overturnReverse or invalidate
precedent · litigation · appeal · judiciary · adjudicate · bench · docket · plaintiff · defendant · amicus
overreach
Exceed one's capacity
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- statuteEnacted written rule
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
regulation · decree · enforcement · seizure · detention · surveillance · censorship · gerrymander · veto
unconstitutionallyconstitutionally
By fundamental law or nature
legally · lawfully · legitimately · validly · rightfully