Constitution

(-sti-tū'shun.) [From L. constituo.] (Pol.) The collective body of the fundamental law of a country or state, either contained in written documents or established by custom. The C. of the United States was framed by the convention of the representatives of the people, a embled in Philadelphia, Sept. 17, 1787, and became the law of the country from the 4th of March, 1789, the day when it was ratified by Congre . It is divided into 7 articles,to which 15 articles or amendments have been succe ively added, in pursuance of article 5. The 15th and last amendment, providing that the right of citizens of the U. States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by any State, was introduced and pa ed by Congre during the se ion which closed on March 4, 1869, and ratified by the nece ary number of States (29) early in 1870.-(Law.) A particular law, ordinance, or regulation, made by the authority of any superior; as, the C. of Just in i an and his succe ors, the C. of Clarendon, .-(Med.) The temperament of the whole body, arising from the quality and proportion of the parts. In this sense we speak of a robust or feeble C., a cold, phlegmatic, or sanguine C., . [s. 222]