  The electromagnetic form factors of the $\rho$ meson are evaluated adopting a
relativistic constituent quark model based on the light-front formalism, and
using a meson wave function with the high-momentum tail generated by the
one-gluon-exchange interaction. The breakdown of the rotational covariance for
the one-body component of the current operator is investigated and the
sensitivity of the ratio of the $\rho$-meson form factors to the pion (charge)
form factor to the spin-dependent component of the effective $q \bar{q}$
interaction is illustrated.
