Overview
A constitution is the foundational set of principles, precedents, and laws that establish the legal basis for governing a state, organization, or entity. It dictates how power is structured, distributed, and exercised, acting as the supreme law of the land. Constitutions can be codified in a single document, like the [[United States Constitution|U.S. Constitution]] ratified in 1788, or uncodified, as seen in the United Kingdom's system which draws from numerous statutes, court rulings, and conventions. They range from national frameworks to the governing documents of smaller organizations, fundamentally determining the relationship between the governed and those who govern. The very existence and interpretation of constitutions fuel ongoing debates about rights, governance, and the limits of authority worldwide.