constitutionally

Constitutionally is an adverb that describes something done in accordance with a constitution or in a manner consistent with the fundamental laws of a state or organization. It is used to indicate that actions, rights, or procedures comply with constitutional provisions or are derived from them. The term can apply to formal legal rules as well as to governance practices, such as whether legislation is constitutionally permissible or a government action is constitutionally protected.

Etymology: The word is formed from the adjective constitutional, which itself comes from the Latin constitutio, through Old French and Middle English. The adverbial suffix -ly dates from early modern English, yielding constitutionally.

Usage: In legal and political writing, phrases such as constitutionally valid, constitutionally guaranteed, or constitutionally protected rights are common. Courts may examine whether a law or government action is constitutionally permissible; constitutions often constrain laws, procedures, and executive power. In contemporary discourse, the term signals a strict standard: compliance with the text and principles of a constitution, rather than popularity or practicality.

Examples: The bill was challenged on the grounds that it was not constitutionally valid. The court ruled that the speech was constitutionally protected.