unconstitutional

adj.

Not in accord with the principles set forth in the constitution of a nation or state.

unconstitutionality un'con·sti·tu'tion·al'i·ty (-shə-năl'ĭ-tē) n.
unconstitutionally un'con·sti·tu'tion·al·ly adv.

Conflicting with some provision of constitution, most commonly the United States Constitution. When a statute is found to be unconstitutional, it is considered void or as if it had never been, and consequently all rights, contracts, or duties that depend on it are void. Similarly, no one can be punished for having refused obedience to the law once it is found to be unconstitutional. Some determinations of unconstitutionality, particularly in the area of law enforcement, are applied prospectively so that previous uses of the unconstitutional practice are not affected. See retroactive.

Misconceptions of the term's meaning sometimes arise as a result of the term's dual usage. In the English sense, the term means that legislation is unwise or unsound, while in the American sense, it refers to existing legislation that conflicts with a written constitution. See generally 1 F.2d 1001, 1002; 498 P.2d 9, 14; 57 A.L.R. 3d 1058, 1065. The term also relates to state constitutional provisions and laws that are repugnant to the U.S. Constitution, and to state laws that are repugnant to that state's constitution.

In some instances, part of a statute may be unconstitutional, and if the invalid part can be severed, the constitutional portion continues to stand. 315 U.S. 568, 572. If the unconstitutional portion cannot be severed, however, the whole statute falls. Compare constitutional right.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The adjective has one meaning:

Meaning #1: not consistent with or according to a constitution; contrary to the U.S. Constitution
  Antonym: constitutional (meaning #3)

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Dansk (Danish)
adj. - forfatningsstridig

Nederlands (Dutch)
in strijd met de grondwet

Français (French)
adj. - inconstitutionnel

Deutsch (German)
adj. - verfassungswidrig

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - αντισυνταγματικός

Italiano (Italian)
incostituzionale

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - inconstitucional

Русский (Russian)
противоречащий конституции

Español (Spanish)
adj. - inconstitucional

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - författningsstridig

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
不合宪法规定的, 违反宪法

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 不合憲法規定的, 違反憲法

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 비입헌적인, 헌법에 따르지않는

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 憲法違反の

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(صفه) غير دستوري‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮מנוגד לחוקה‬

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