"Constitutional law is a body of law which defines the role, powers, and structure of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the parliament or legislature, and the judiciary; as well as the basic rights of citizens and, in federal countries such as the United States and Canada, the relationship between the central government and state, provincial, or territorial governments."
Constitutional law examines the principles, structures, and limitations of government power set out in the constitution.
Constitutional Law: The study of the fundamental principles and values embodied in legal matters that involve or impact the interpretation, implementation, and enforcement of the U.S. Constitution.
Separation of Powers: The division of power among the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial, which ensures that no one branch has too much power.
Judicial Review: The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of the government unconstitutional, and strike them down as invalid.
Federalism: The division of power between the federal government and the states, and the balance between them.
Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which outline basic human rights and liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and press.
Equal Protection Clause: The clause in the Fourteenth Amendment that prohibits the government from discriminating against people based on race, gender, religion, or other protected classes.
Due Process Clause: The clause in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments that guarantees fair legal procedures, such as the right to a fair trial and the right to a lawyer.
Commerce Clause: The clause in Article I of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, and with foreign nations.
Supremacy Clause: The clause in Article VI of the Constitution that establishes the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties as the supreme law of the land, above state laws.
Executive Powers: The powers of the President, including the power to veto legislation, make treaties, and command the military. These powers are limited by the Constitution and laws.
"These may include customary law, conventions, statutory law, judge-made law, or international rules and norms."
"Constitutional law deals with the fundamental principles by which the government exercises its authority."
"These principles grant specific powers to the government, such as the power to tax and spend for the welfare of the population."
"Constitutional principles act to place limits on what the government can do, such as prohibiting the arrest of an individual without sufficient cause."
"Not all nation states have codified constitutions, though all such states have a jus commune, or law of the land, that may consist of a variety of imperative and consensual rules."
"...customary law, conventions, statutory law, judge-made law, or international rules and norms."
"The executive, the parliament or legislature, and the judiciary."
"...the relationship between the central government and state, provincial, or territorial governments."
"In most nations, such as the United States, India, and Singapore, constitutional law is based on the text of a document ratified at the time the nation came into being."
"The constitutional law of the United Kingdom relies heavily on uncodified rules."
"Several legislative statutes and constitutional conventions."
"Their status within constitutional law varies."
"The terms of conventions are in some cases strongly contested."
"...constitutional law is based on the text of a document ratified at the time the nation came into being."
"In most nations, such as the United States, India, and Singapore, constitutional law is based on the text of a document ratified at the time the nation came into being."
"...constitutional law is based on the text of a document ratified at the time the nation came into being."
"The executive, the parliament or legislature, and the judiciary."
"All such states have a jus commune, or law of the land, that may consist of a variety of imperative and consensual rules."
"Their status within constitutional law varies, and the terms of conventions are in some cases strongly contested."