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un·con·sti·tu·tion·al
 unconstitutional
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- pronunciation:
- uhn
kan
stih
tu
sh
nl
- features:
- Word Parts
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition: |
If a law or action is unconstitutional, it goes against a country's constitution. A constitution is a set of basic laws that a country uses to govern itself. A constitution contains the rights that the government guarantees for its citizens. If something is unconstitutional, it interferes with the rights of citizens.
In the United States, it is unconstitutional for the government to restrict freedom of the press. That means that the government, by its own laws written in the constitution, cannot control what the newspapers write.Sometimes it's difficult to know whether a new law is constitutional or unconstitutional. In these cases, a court must decide. |
| related words: |
illegal |
| derivations: |
unconstitutionally (adv.), unconstitutionality (n.) |
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