Legal Definitions - constitutionalize

Definition: To provide with a constitution, make constitutional, or subject to constitutional scrutiny.

1. The newly formed country decided to constitutionalize their government by drafting a constitution that outlines the rights and responsibilities of its citizens.

2. The court plans to constitutionalize the segregated school district by ensuring that it complies with the constitution's equal protection clause.

3. The majority's decision to constitutionalize the issue was criticized by the dissenting judge, who believed that it was unnecessary to subject the issue to constitutional scrutiny.

These examples illustrate how constitutionalize can refer to the act of creating a constitution, ensuring that something complies with a constitution, or subjecting an issue to constitutional scrutiny. In each case, the goal is to ensure that the principles and values outlined in the constitution are upheld.