The Constitution
constitutional crisis
A situation the constitutional order cannot resolve through its own procedures, usually because an actor defies a binding decision or the rules run out.
In full
The phrase is used loosely, often for ordinary conflict between branches, which the system is designed to produce. A genuine crisis is different: an official refuses to obey a final court order, or the text provides no answer to the question at hand. Hard political fights conducted through lawful channels, however bitter, are the constitution working rather than failing.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.