Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: NONCONSTITUTIONAL
Definition: Nonconstitutional means something is related to a legal basis or principle that is not from the United States Constitution or a state constitution. For example, if a court refuses to hear an argument about cruel and unusual punishment because of a nonconstitutional procedural issue, it means the argument is not being rejected because it goes against the Constitution, but because of some other legal rule. Nonconstitutional is different from unconstitutional, which means something goes against the Constitution and is therefore illegal.
Nonconstitutional, adjective. Refers to a legal basis or principle that is not based on the United States Constitution or a state constitution.
For example, if a court refuses to hear a defendant's argument about cruel and unusual punishment on nonconstitutional procedural grounds, it means that the court is not basing its decision on the Constitution, but on other legal principles.
Another example could be a law that is based on a state statute rather than the state constitution.
The term nonconstitutional refers to legal principles or bases that are not based on the Constitution. This means that the decision or law is based on other legal principles or sources. The examples illustrate this by showing situations where the decision or law is based on something other than the Constitution.