põhiseadusel

Põhiseadusel is an Estonian linguistic form, the adessive case of the noun põhiseadus (Constitution). It is widely used in legal and governmental language to indicate that something is related to or originates from the Constitution, often in the sense of being on the basis of or in accordance with constitutional provisions. In many legal texts, the phrase serves to point to the constitutional source of authority or legitimacy for a rule, decision, or institution.

In practice, you will encounter phrases where the Constitution is the basis or source of power, such as references to rights, duties, or procedures that are described as rooted in or deriving from the Constitution. A more explicit and common construction to express basis is the genitive phrase põhiseaduse alusel, meaning “on the basis of the Constitution.” The form põhiseadusel is therefore a grammatical tool that appears in contexts asserting constitutional origin or relation, and it often coexists with other ways of signaling constitutional authority, such as using the adjective põhiseaduslik (constitutional) or related terms like põhiseaduslikkuse kontroll (constitutional review).

Related terms include põhiseadus (the Constitution) and põhiseaduslik (constitutional). In legal practice, distinctions among these forms help clarify whether a provision is stated in the Constitution, derived from it, or applied according to its dictates. Overall, põhiseadusel functions as a key connective in Estonian constitutional language, linking norms and actions to the supreme legal framework.