Ústavný

Ústavný is a Slovak adjective meaning constitutional or relating to a constitution. It is derived from the noun ústava (constitution) with the suffix -ný, forming terms used in law, politics, and public discourse to describe instruments, norms, or principles grounded in the fundamental legal order.

In Slovak legal and political language, ústavný is used in several common phrases. Ústavný zákon refers to a constitutional act that constitutes or modifies the constitutional framework. Ústavný súd denotes the Constitutional Court, the judiciary body tasked with interpreting the constitution and reviewing laws and government actions for conformity with the constitutional order. Ústavné právo, or constitutional law, is the branch of law dealing with the structure of the state, the rights of citizens, and the relationship between state authorities and individuals.

In Slovakia, the primary constitutional institution is the Ústavný súd Slovenskej republiky (Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic), which ensures compliance with the Constitution, settles disputes between state authorities, and protects constitutional rights. The Slovak Constitution, known as the Ústava Slovenskej republiky, provides the framework for government powers, civil liberties, and the process for constitutional amendments.

The term also appears in Czech, where the equivalent adjective is ústavní, reflecting similar usage in constitutional and legal contexts. Beyond Slovak and Czech, the concept of constitutional frameworks is standard across democratic systems, emphasizing the supremacy of constitutional norms, the separation of powers, and the protection of fundamental rights.