constituent

 
Pronunciation: /kənˈstɪtjʊənt/

adjective

[attributive]
  • 1being a part of a whole: the constituent minerals of the rock
  • 2being a voting member of an organization and having the power to appoint or elect: the constituent body has a right of veto
  • able to make or change a political constitution: a constituent assembly

noun

  • 1a member of an area which elects a representative to a legislative body: the MP is playing on his constituents' sense of regional identity to win votes
  • 2a component part of something: the essential constituents of the human diet

Origin:

late 15th century (as a noun denoting a person who appoints another as agent): from Latin constituent- (partly via French constituant) 'establishing, appointing', from the verb constituere (see constitute)