Analysts say the armed forces and its supporters are a political constituency that the Kremlin cannot afford to ignore.

VOA: standard.2009.03.20

"I'm disappointed in the people who claim to be the leaders of the right-wing constituency in the country.

VOA: standard.2009.12.10

He says UMNO maintained power for years by giving special treatment to its core constituency - ethnic Muslim Malays, who make up 60 percent of the population.

VOA: standard.2010.02.24

"Israel will be left with the choice of saying 'no' both to the United States and to the Palestinians, and to the Arab world, or to say 'yes' and confront the settlers and his constituency,"

VOA: standard.2009.06.09

"I think what's going on here is Mr.Zardari attempting to convey to his constituency back home that the political leadership, as well as the military leadership, is able to convey Pakistan's interests, is able to defend Pakistan's interests as well as anyone else, and certainly the prerogative of defending those interests does not lie with the military."

VOA: standard.2010.08.06