A political principle that government power should be limited by a constitution and that the constitution should be the supreme law.
From 'constitutional' (relating to a constitution) with the suffix '-ism' (a system of belief or practice). The whole term emerged as a political philosophy in the 17th-18th centuries, expressing Enlightenment values of limited government.
Constitutionalism is the radical idea that even kings and presidents aren't above the law—the constitution is the boss, and that's exactly why countries keep rewriting and fighting over their constitutions!
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