Constitutional Convention
3
6.1
- noun
- /ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃənəl kənˈvɛnʃən/
- Formal
:
Convención Constitucional
- The Constitution allows for constitutional conventions, though one has never been called.
- state Constitutional Convention
Examples
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In 1776 and 1777, the General Court called on towns to send representatives for a constitutional convention, but received no effective response.
Academic text (2005) -
Recently, I served as the international advisor to the U.S. Virgin Islands Constitutional Convention.
Blog text (7) -
Thus, the General Court and Council gathered themselves into a constitutional convention and produced a draft constitution.
Academic text (2005) -
Young won his first election in 1961 as a delegate to the state constitutional convention.
Academic text (1997) -
Michael Madigan was a delegate to the 1970 Constitutional Convention.
Blog text (28) -
And so in 1830, when Virginia did finally call a constitutional convention, Jefferson's ward system was never even given serious consideration.
Academic text (2017) -
Although the delegates who gathered in the constitutional conventions of 1868 across the South were not bound to act beyond the requirements of the Reconstruction Acts, many were eager to do so.
Academic text (2017) -
In 1776 (while in his mid-twenties), Madison was active in Virginia's constitutional convention.
Academic text (1998) -
The delegates gathered at the Constitutional Convention to propose changes to the state's constitution.
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Last week, citizens voted to hold a Constitutional Convention to address proposed amendments that reflect modern values.
Synonyms
A formal meeting to create or change a constitution
How Formal
- Formal
3
6.1
∞
3.4
- Formal
∞
3.0
∞
1.0
203
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a formal meeting to draft or amend a constitution' is directly and compositionally derived from 'constitutional' (relating to the constitution) + 'convention' (a formal gathering). This is a common, literal compound found across languages and political contexts, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would very likely infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Constitutional Convention combines constitutional (meaning 'about a constitution') and convention (meaning 'a meeting'), so the name gives a clear picture of people meeting to write or change a country's constitution. That's why it now means a formal meeting to propose or draft constitutional changes.