Constitutionalism

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃənəˌlɪzəm/

Definitions

1. A political doctrine that advocates for the limitation of governmental power through a written framework that upholds individual rights and freedoms
2. An approach to governance that emphasizes adherence to legal restraints established by a constitution to protect citizens' liberties and ensure accountability
3. The principle that government authority should be restricted by a constitution to prevent abuse and protect freedoms

Etymology: Constitutionalism is a plain compound: "constitutional" with the suffix "-ism" attached. The suffix comes through Latin "-ismus" from Ancient Greek "-ismos", a noun-forming ending that turns an action or doctrine into a named idea, and English took it as a productive tool for labelling systems of belief and practice. "Constitutional" itself goes back to "constitution", a word for the arrangement or make-up of something, which in politics came to mean the basic framework by which a state is governed. The result is a noun for the principle that government power is bounded by fixed law. The word names a doctrine rather than any single document, so it describes an attitude toward authority as much as a set of rules. Its meaning is shaped entirely by the suffix, which is why it sounds like a belief system rather than a legal term.

Synonyms: constitutional government, rule of law, liberty, legalism, democracy

Antonyms: absolutism, tyranny, dictatorship, anarchy, despotism