Why use "constitutionality" instead of "constitutional"? [closed]

This morning I heard the word "constitutionality" being used by a journalist with regard to the debate over the legality of health care reforms here in the US.

This grates on my British ears as I would simply use 'constitutional' in this context. Does 'constitutionality' have a different meaning? Is this a recent Americanism?

Solution 1:

In my experience, constitutionality is a noun, while constitutional is an adjective.

In other words, The law was not constitutional, and, The constitutionality of the law was questioned.

EDIT: As @FumbleFingers points out, constitutional can be a noun; the New Oxford American Dictionary lists it as a (dated) noun meaning "a walk, typically one taken regularly to maintain or restore good health."