Legal Definitions - constitution

A constitution is the most important law of a country or state. It is a set of rules that tells how the government should work, what it can and cannot do, and what rights people have. The word "constitution" is usually written with a capital letter when it refers to a specific constitution, like the U.S. Constitution or the Texas Constitution.

Most constitutions are written documents that explain how the government should be organized and how it should work. They also protect people's rights and freedoms. However, some countries, like the United Kingdom, do not have a written constitution. In these cases, the term "constitution" refers to the general structure of the government, even if it is not written down.

For example, the U.S. Constitution is a written document that explains how the government should work, what powers it has, and what rights people have. It was written in 1787 and has been amended many times since then. On the other hand, the United Kingdom does not have a written constitution. Instead, its constitution is made up of laws, traditions, and customs that have developed over time.