The United States Constitution has been a notable model for governance around the world. Its international influence is found in similarities of phrasing and borrowed passages in other constitutions, as well as in the principles of the rule of law, separation of powers and recognition of individual rights.
flat afÂ·fect. 1  absence of or diminution in the amount of emotional tone or outward emotional reaction typically shown by oneself or others under similar circumstances; a milder form is termed blunted affect.
During a psychological evaluation, an observed blunted affect can help steer the clinician to a diagnosis. A blunted affect can be a sign of a mental disorder, and a person's failure to express emotion in what is considered to be a normal fashion can be confusing to others. It is important to note, however, that an appropriate affect is often culturally based.