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How does a normative constitution differ from a nominal constitution?

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constitution Original copy of the Constitution of the United States of America, housed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

The distinction between a normative and a nominal constitution lies in the extent to which a government adheres to its stated legal principles in practice.

Normative Constitution: A constitution is considered normative when its binding principles are observed, more or less, in the actual operations of the political system. These documents effectively guide and limit the exercise of government power, and they are characteristic of many Western democracies, including the United States, Canada, and Japan.1
Nominal Constitution: A constitution is classified as nominal if it is largely or in substantial parts disregarded by those in power. Such documents fail to provide an accurate insight into the real functioning of the political system. Nominal constitutions are frequently found in nations governed by a one-person or one-party dictatorship or by a military junta, where the written law does not effectively constrain the actions of the ruling authorities.1