constructionist
noun
con·struc·tion·ist kən-ˈstrək-sh(ə-)nist 
: one who construes a legal document (such as the U.S. Constitution) in a specific way
a strict constructionist
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web In an interview during the run-up to the election, Day, 61, described himself as a strict constructionist who interprets the Constitution as it was originally intended. 
oregonlive, 17 May 2022 Republicans and conservative allies applauded Barrett as a strict constructionist who will interpret the Constitution and not make law from the bench. David Jackson, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2020 Two years ago, in his first season in his current role, Riveron was a letter-of-the-law constructionist in legislating the league’s hard-to-understand catch/no-catch rules. Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, 31 July 2019 Some of those strict constructionists have not always been predictable. Richard Wolf, USA TODAY, 6 May 2018 Bychkov even surpassed the strict-constructionist Muti in his faithfulness to the score’s wide dynamic range, in his elastic shaping of pages in which frenzied dramatic statements give way to lush melodies and tender pastoral moods. John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 4 May 2018 Miller being a staunch constructionist—and still have no idea what hit you. Tony Adler, Chicago Reader, 24 Jan. 2018 Thomas is a conservative and a strict constructionist who supports states' rights. CNN, 2 Nov. 2017 A strict constructionist, as a general matter, holds that the Constitution’s reach is limited to the document’s literal text as it was written in 1789 or added to in subsequent amendments. Michael Doyle, Orange County Register, 29 Jan. 2017 See More
oregonlive, 17 May 2022 Republicans and conservative allies applauded Barrett as a strict constructionist who will interpret the Constitution and not make law from the bench. David Jackson, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2020 Two years ago, in his first season in his current role, Riveron was a letter-of-the-law constructionist in legislating the league’s hard-to-understand catch/no-catch rules. Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, 31 July 2019 Some of those strict constructionists have not always been predictable. Richard Wolf, USA TODAY, 6 May 2018 Bychkov even surpassed the strict-constructionist Muti in his faithfulness to the score’s wide dynamic range, in his elastic shaping of pages in which frenzied dramatic statements give way to lush melodies and tender pastoral moods. John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 4 May 2018 Miller being a staunch constructionist—and still have no idea what hit you. Tony Adler, Chicago Reader, 24 Jan. 2018 Thomas is a conservative and a strict constructionist who supports states' rights. CNN, 2 Nov. 2017 A strict constructionist, as a general matter, holds that the Constitution’s reach is limited to the document’s literal text as it was written in 1789 or added to in subsequent amendments. Michael Doyle, Orange County Register, 29 Jan. 2017 See More Word History
First Known Use
1838, in the meaning defined above