Such a strategy preserves constitutional niceties, which many Russians will appreciate.

This is no time for constitutional niceties,' she said.

The Constitution says that Congress and the White House are co-equal branches of government, but Mr. Bush and his people aren't big on constitutional niceties.

Mr. Fuhrman was more concerned, he implied, for the crucial role he would thereby assume in the case than with such constitutional niceties as the Fourth Amendment.

The first elections to the Federal Assembly were held at the same time-a procedure criticized by some Russians as indicative of Yeltsin's lack of respect for constitutional niceties.

"He didn't get the contract," said the secretary, making no apologies about such constitutional niceties as free speech or the fairness requisites of federal procurement law.

The former leader blamed his ouster on raw ambition that ignored constitutional niceties.

For decades this amounted to nothing more than a constitutional nicety because in practice they were subservient to the British.

That way, constitutional niceties will be respected.

Bush helped the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, which brushed aside constitutional niceties to increase the government's surveillance powers over anyone suspected of drugging.