The objective of this article is to describe two possible interpretations/constructions of the constitutional provisions related to 'basic freedoms' and 'equality before the law'. With this objective, in the first place, the structures that make it possible to fulfill the function of constitutionalism to limit the power of the State, based on two models of constitution that we call "substantive" and "procedural" are made explicit. Secondly, it is argued that, according to each of those models, the aforementioned provisions express different types of norms referring to different kinds of actions, instituting different classes of relations between individuals and the State.