A system of basic laws and principles that a country or organization is governed by; also, the general health and strength of a person’s body.
From Latin *constitutio*, meaning "arrangement, regulation," from *constituere* "to set up." It came to mean the fundamental setup of a state or a body.
A constitution is a society’s rulebook for itself—its self-chosen limits and powers. The same word for a country’s laws and your body’s strength hints that both are about how something is built and holds together.
Many national constitutions were written in eras when women lacked political rights, and the language and interpretation often assumed male citizens and officeholders. Constitutional law has been a key arena for both entrenching and challenging gender inequality.
When discussing a specific constitution, note where it originally excluded women or used gendered language, and how amendments or interpretations have changed that.
Women lawyers, judges, and activists have used constitutional litigation and amendment campaigns to secure voting rights, equal protection, and anti-discrimination guarantees.
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