con ‧ sti ‧ tu ‧ tion AC /ˌkɒnstəˈtjuːʃ ə n, ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃ ə n $ ˌkɑːnstəˈtuː-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . ( also Constitution ) a set of basic laws and principles that a country or organization is governed by:
The right to speak freely is written into the Constitution of the United States.
2 . your health and your body’s ability to fight illness
(have) a strong/good/weak etc constitution
She’s got a strong constitution – she’ll recover in no time.
3 . formal the parts or structure of something
constitution of
What’s the chemical constitution of the dye?
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COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ the American/Russian etc constitution
the 1993 Russian constitution
▪ a written constitution
A written consitution forms the fundamental law of the nation.
▪ an unwritten constitution (=a constitution that is not formally written down as a separate document)
Britain's unwritten constitution allows for flexibility when circumstances change.
▪ a draft constitution (=one that is not yet in its final form)
By 1908 China had a draft constitution.
▪ a state constitution
There was an amendment to Arizona’s state constitution.
▪ a federal constitution (=relating to a central government, not a state)
Canada was granted a federal constitution in 1867.
▪ a democratic constitution
Andorra voted in favour of a new democratic constitution.
■ verbs
▪ draw up/draft a constitution (=write one)
The American constitution was drafted in 1787.
▪ adopt/approve a constitution (=agree one and start to use it)
In 1984, the South African government adopted a new constitution.
▪ amend/change the constitution (=make changes to it)
Congress amended the constitution more than 300 times during 1992.
▪ violate the constitution (=do something that is against it)
Such discrimination violates the constitution.
▪ suspend the constitution (=stop it from continuing, usually for a short time)
The army suspended the constitution and formed a military government.
▪ a constitution requires something
The U.S. Constitution requires that a census be done every ten years.
▪ a constitution provides for something (=it says something must be done)
Singapore's constitution provides for an elected president as head of state.
▪ a constitution allows something
The Constitution allows police to seize property used in a crime.
▪ a constitution forbids/prohibits something
Colombia's constitution forbids extradition.
▪ a constitution guarantees something (=says it must happen or exist)
Hungary's constitution guarantees freedom of religion.
■ phrases
▪ an amendment to the constitution (=a change)
the First Amendment to the American Constitution
▪ the principles of the constitution (=the ideas and aims that it is based on)
the guiding legal principles of the constitution
▪ a clause/provision in the constitution (=a rule or condition in it)
The provision in the European constitution that limited women's roles in the military was found to be discriminatory.