A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents that forms the legal foundation and framework for governing a polity, organization, or state. It defines how the government is organized, the distribution and limitations of power among different branches or political units, and the rights and duties of the citizens. Constitutions often aim to regulate the relationship between the government and individuals, ensure the rule of law, and serve as the supreme law that other laws must conform to. They can be written in a single document (codified) or spread across various documents, laws, and precedents (uncodified).