A constitutional crisis is a situation in which government institutions, usually those established by a country's constitution, are unable to perform their intended functions or are threatened with collapse. This can occur when there is disagreement between different branches of government about the interpretation and application of the law, leading to a lack of authority and legitimacy for the government actions. A constitutional crisis can also arise if one branch of government attempts to usurp the powers of another or if the government fails to carry out its responsibilities in accordance with the constitution. The term is often used when there is uncertainty about how the situation will be resolved, and it may result in changes to the country's political system or even a change of government.