Yes, although those who comprise the group are called constituent members, rather than instituent... The members of the Agora, however, are quite often in stitches...!
There’s also the expression "iron constitution" as in "Don’t worry about how I feel, I have an iron constitution!". It was also used by American Blacks in the 1950’s and 60’s (maybe it still is) as a synonym for "health" or "well-being" as in "I don’t like workin’ a straight nine to five job, man. I mean, it’s kind of hard on my constitution."
[quote author=brian_costello link=board=wordsuggest;num=1088993664;start=0#2 date=07/05/04 at 14:35:40] Re CONSTITUTION:
There’s also the expression "iron constitution" as in "Don’t worry about how I feel, I have an iron constitution!". It was also used by American Blacks in the 1950’s and 60’s (maybe it still is) as a synonym for "health" or "well-being" as in "I don’t like workin’ a straight nine to five job, man. I mean, it’s kind of hard on my constitution."
—- Brian Costello - Seattle
Hey,
If your body becomes clogged with this "iron constitution," you will get constipation. And it’s surely unhealthy to your body.
In sense (3), constitution - a set of words so vague as to be applicable to every eventuality and to none. Some of us just make it all up as we go along.
I am never sure whether to laugh or cry when the perennial "human interest" reporter takes a camera crew out to interview the "man on the street" by reading parts of the Preamble to the Constitution, Bill of Rights, or some other venerated document. I don’t know how much they cut, but the broadcast tape *always* shows the majority claiming to have never heard the passage before and guessing that it is some sort of communist literature. :(
gailr
[quote author=Garzo link=board=wordsuggest;num=1088993664;start=0#6 date=07/06/04 at 10:52:23]In sense (3), constitution - a set of words so vague as to be applicable to every eventuality and to none. Some of us just make it all up as we go along.
The US constitution is not at all vague. constition
Despited the flaws of the people who formed the Constitution of the United States, it remains a remarkably viable document and the basis for all U.S. law. It has worked well for more than 200 years and has been extensively copied throughout the world. And although the United States is young as nations go, it is the oldest democracy of any size and has survived serious crises throughout its history, the most serious having been the Civil War.
The Constitution remains viable partly because of the manner in which it may be amended. It is very difficult but not impossible and has been amended seventeen times since the original Bill of Rights.
When I was in the 8th grade in the State in which I was raised, it was necessary to pass a rigorous test on the Constitution before one could advance to the 9th grade. Much of our study time for a full semester was devoted to the Constitution.
And again in my Senior year in High School it was necessary to pass another test, even more rigorous than the earlier one, in order to graduate.
It was believed in those days, that the government was the servant of the people, and that vigilance on the part of the people was required to keep the government from changing that equation. It was felt that in order to understand what our government was doing, it was necessary to understand the very basis for that government which was and is the Constitution.
It is the basic set of laws against which all other laws passed by Congress or State legislatures are tested. The finaly arbiters of this process are the nine members of the Supreme Court who decide on the Constitutionality of a law by a majority vote. These nine Justices are generally experts in the history of the formation of the Constitution and thus have some idea of the intent behind each article of the Constitution, althought there are often disagreements among the nine.
It may not be a perfect system, but maybe some of you who might be critics of the Constitution can show me a better one.
There’s another usage for constitutional: "A walk taken regularly for one’s health."
MY favorite constitutional is a roughly 4-mile round trip hiking path. It’s just wide enough for 3 people to ride bikes together, with a fine gravel surface. Lined on both sides with tall trees and verdant ‘shrubberies’, it is insulated from the fields and further highway on one side, and construction of resort homes on the other. Partway in the foliage falls away to reveal access to Lake Butte des Morts (pronounced BeautyMore ) before enclosing the trail again. There are wild grasses and flowers. I had it mostly to myself yesterday as it had rained in the night; then a deer stepped onto the path in front of me, and we regarded each other for awhile before it ambled back into the trees. Furry little creatures are always scampering across the path, and dozens of red winged blackbirds scold as I pass their nests. A streamlet from the lake follows the path for awhile, appearing and disappearing into the foliage.
Americans take their constitutionals seriously. More than just proper attire and footgear is required: also a water bottle (hardly needed for 4 miles, but I think it’s a federal law to carry one). Clipped onto the water bottle with carabiniers: a small herbal bug spray to discourage the odd, determined, west nile virus-bearing mosquito; a whistle to summon help (from the birds and deer, I guess, as there is a refreshing lack of people); a tiny compass (on the whistle), should I suddenly become discombobulated and forget whether I am walking away from parking area or towards it! Sometimes I also schlep a book and an apple if the constitutional is for escape from town rather than to feel the burn.
My tasks for today are done, so I think it is time for the daily constitutional!
) before enclosing the trail again. There are wild grasses and flowers. I had it mostly to myself yesterday as it had rained in the night; then a deer stepped onto the path in front of me, and we regarded each other for awhile before it ambled back into the trees. Furry little creatures are always scampering across the path, and dozens of red winged blackbirds scold as I pass their nests. A streamlet from the lake follows the path for awhile, appearing and disappearing into the foliage.