constitutional ruling

[/ˌkɑːnstɪˈtuːʃənəl ˈruːlɪŋ/]
nounpl: constitutional rulings
decisão constitucional
1. A legal decision or judgment made by a constitutional court or supreme court regarding the interpretation or application of a constitution
The constitutional ruling declared the law unconstitutional and therefore null and void.
A decisão constitucional declarou a lei inconstitucional e, portanto, nula e sem efeito.
2. An authoritative pronouncement on constitutional matters that sets a legal precedent
The court's constitutional ruling on voting rights changed the landscape of electoral law.
A decisão constitucional do tribunal sobre direitos de voto mudou o panorama da lei eleitoral.
In Brazil, constitutional rulings from the Supreme Federal Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal - STF) carry significant weight in shaping national policy and are closely followed by legal professionals, politicians, and civil society. In the USA, landmark constitutional rulings from the Supreme Court (such as Roe v. Wade or Brown v. Board of Education) become part of the national discourse and have profound social implications. Both countries view constitutional rulings as foundational to the rule of law and democratic governance.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
constitutional decisionconstitutional judgmentcourt ruling on constitutional mattersconstitutional decree
Antonyms / Antônimos
unconstitutional rulinglegislative act

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
decisão constitucional
Standard term used in legal contexts across Brazil
São Paulo
decisão constitucional; pronunciamento do STF
Often references decisions from the Supreme Federal Court (STF)
Rio de Janeiro
decisão constitucional
Standard usage in legal community
Portugal
decisão constitucional; acórdão do Tribunal Constitucional
Often references the Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional)

Related Words

constitutional courtsupreme courtjudicial reviewprecedentconstitutional amendmentjurisprudence

Related Idioms & Phrases

landmark constitutional ruling
precedent-setting constitutional ruling
binding constitutional ruling
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