Konstituent is a term used in linguistics and political science with distinct meanings in each field. In linguistics, a konstituent refers to a group of words that function as a single unit within a sentence. This unit, also known as a phrase, can be a noun phrase, verb phrase, prepositional phrase, or adjective phrase, among others. Konstituents have a hierarchical structure, meaning they can be embedded within larger konstituents. Analyzing sentence structure into its constituent parts helps linguists understand grammar and syntax. For example, in the sentence "The cat sat on the mat," "the cat," "sat," and "on the mat" are all constituents. In political science, a konstituent refers to a person or group of people who are represented by an elected official. Constituents have the right to vote for their representatives and can influence their decisions through various forms of political participation. The concept of a constituency is fundamental to representative democracy, where elected officials are accountable to the people they serve. A politician's success is often measured by their ability to satisfy the needs and desires of their constituents.