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Jurisdiction and Access
- English...
(3) The Constitutional Court-
(a) is the highest court of the Republic; and
(b) may decide -
(i) constitutional matters; and
(ii) any other matter, if the Constitutional Court grants leave to appeal on the grounds that the matter raises an arguable point of law of general public importance which ought to be considered by that Court; and
(c) makes the final decision whether a matter is within its jurisdiction.
(4) Only the Constitutional Court may -
(a) decide disputes between organs of state in the national or provincial sphere concerning the constitutional status, powers or functions of any of those organs of state;
(b) decide on the constitutionality of any parliamentary or provincial Bill, but may do so only in the circumstances anticipated in section 79 or 121;
(c) decide applications envisaged in section 80 or 122;
(d) decide on the constitutionality of any amendment to the Constitution;
(e) decide that Parliament or the President has failed to fulfil a constitutional obligation; or
(f) certify a provincial constitution in terms of section 144.
(5) The Constitutional Court makes the final decision whether an Act of Parliament, a provincial Act or conduct of the President is constitutional, and must confirm any order of invalidity made by the Supreme Court of Appeal, the High Court of South Africa, or a court of similar status, before that order has any force.
(6) National legislation or the rules of the Constitutional Court must allow a person, when it is in the interests of justice and with leave of the Constitutional Court—
(a) to bring a matter directly to the Constitutional Court; or
(b) to appeal directly to the Constitutional Court from any other court.
(7) A constitutional matter includes any issue involving the interpretation, protection or enforcement of the Constitution. (Sec. 167)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) The Constitutional Court shall be the principal organ for the protection of the Fundamental Law.
(2) The Constitutional Court
a) shall examine the compliance of Acts which have been adopted but not yet promulgated with the Fundamental Law;
b) shall, at the initiative of a judge, review the conformity with the Fundamental Law of any law applicable in a particular case as a priority but within no more than ninety days;
c) shall, on the basis of a constitutional complaint, review the conformity with the Fundamental Law of any law applied in a particular case;
d) shall, on the basis of a constitutional complaint, review the conformity with the Fundamental Law of any judicial decision;
e) shall, at the initiative of the Government, one quarter of the Members of the National Assembly, the President of the Curia, the Prosecutor General or the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, review the conformity with the Fundamental Law of any law;
f) shall examine any law for conflict with any international treaties;
g) shall exercise further functions and powers as laid down in the Fundamental Law and in a cardinal Act.
(3) The Constitutional Court
a) shall, within its powers set out in paragraph (2) b), c), and e), annul any law or any provision of a law which conflicts with the Fundamental Law;
b) shall, within its powers set out in paragraph (2) d), annul any judicial decision which conflicts with the Fundamental Law;
c) may, within its powers set out in paragraph (2) f), annul any law or any provision of a law which conflicts with an international treaty; and shall determine legal consequences as set out in a cardinal Act.
(4) Those provisions of a law that were not requested to be reviewed may be reviewed and annulled by the Constitutional Court only if there is a close substantive connection between them and the provisions requested to be reviewed.
(5) The Constitutional Court may review the Fundamental Law or the amendment of the Fundamental Law only in relation to the procedural requirements laid down in the Fundamental Law for making and promulgating it. Such an examination may be initiated by:
a) the President of the Republic in respect of the Fundamental Law or the amendment of the Fundamental Law if adopted but not yet promulgated;
b) the Government, one quarter of the Members of the National Assembly, the President of the Curia, the Prosecutor General or the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights within thirty days of promulgation.
…
(7) The Constitutional Court shall, as provided for by a cardinal Act, hear the drafter of the rule, the initiator of the law or their representative or shall obtain their opinions during its review if the matter affects a wide range of persons. This stage of the procedure shall be public.
… (The State, Art. 24) - Hungarian(1) Az Alkotmánybíróság az Alaptörvény védelmének legfőbb szerve.
(2) Az Alkotmánybíróság
a) az Alaptörvénnyel való összhang szempontjából megvizsgálja az elfogadott, de ki nem hirdetett törvényeket;
b) bírói kezdeményezésre soron kívül, de legkésőbb kilencven napon belül felülvizsgálja az egyedi ügyben alkalmazandó jogszabálynak az Alaptörvénnyel való összhangját;
c) alkotmányjogi panasz alapján felülvizsgálja az egyedi ügyben alkalmazott jogszabálynak az Alaptörvénnyel való összhangját;
d) alkotmányjogi panasz alapján felülvizsgálja a bírói döntésnek az Alaptörvénnyel való összhangját;
e) a Kormány, az országgyűlési képviselők egynegyede, a Kúria elnöke, a legfőbb ügyész vagy az alapvető jogok biztosa kezdeményezésére felülvizsgálja a jogszabályoknak az Alaptörvénnyel való összhangját;
f) vizsgálja a jogszabályok nemzetközi szerződésbe ütközését;
g) az Alaptörvényben, illetve sarkalatos törvényben meghatározott további feladat- és hatásköröket gyakorol.
(3) Az Alkotmánybíróság
a) a (2) bekezdés b), c) és e) pontjában foglalt hatáskörében megsemmisíti az Alaptörvénnyel ellentétes jogszabályt vagy jogszabályi rendelkezést;
b) a (2) bekezdés d) pontjában foglalt hatáskörében megsemmisíti az Alaptörvénnyel ellentétes bírói döntést;
c) a (2) bekezdés f) pontjában foglalt hatáskörében megsemmisítheti a nemzetközi szerződésbe ütköző jogszabályt vagy jogszabályi rendelkezést; illetve sarkalatos törvényben meghatározott jogkövetkezményt állapít meg.
(4) Az Alkotmánybíróság a jogszabály felülvizsgálni nem kért rendelkezését csak abban az esetben vizsgálhatja, illetve semmisítheti meg, ha az a felülvizsgálni kért jogszabályi rendelkezéssel szoros tartalmi összefüggésben áll.
(5) Az Alkotmánybíróság az Alaptörvényt és az Alaptörvény módosítását csak a megalkotására és kihirdetésére vonatkozó, az Alaptörvényben foglalt eljárási követelmények tekintetében vizsgálhatja felül. E vizsgálatot
a) az elfogadott, de még ki nem hirdetett Alaptörvény és Alaptörvény-módosítás tekintetében a köztársasági elnök,
b) a kihirdetéstől számított harminc napon belül a Kormány, az országgyűlési képviselők egynegyede, a Kúria elnöke, a legfőbb ügyész vagy az alapvető jogok biztosa
kezdeményezheti.
…
(7) Az Alkotmánybíróság sarkalatos törvényben meghatározottak szerint a jogszabály megalkotóját, a törvény kezdeményezőjét vagy képviselőjüket meghallgatja, illetve véleményüket eljárása során beszerzi, ha az ügy a személyek széles körét érinti. Az eljárás ezen szakasza nyilvános.
… (Az Állam, 24. cikk)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe National People’s Congress exercises the following functions and powers:
…
(2) to supervise the enforcement of the Constitution;
… (Art. 62) - Chinese全国人民代表大会行使下列职权:
…
(二)监督宪法的实施;
… (第六十二条)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Council shall have jurisdiction in matters pertaining to the Constitution. It shall rule on the constitutionality of laws. It shall be the organ regulating the functioning of the institutions. (Art. 46)
- FrenchLe Conseil Constitutionnel est l’instance compétente en matière constitutionnelle. Il statue sur la constitutionnalité des lois. Il est l’organe régulateur du fonctionnement des institutions. (Art. 46)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. Subject to Article 28, the Constitutional Court has original and final jurisdiction to hear—
a. a matter relating to the interpretation of this Constitution;
b. a matter relating to a violation or contravention of this Constitution;
…
2. Subject to Article 28 (2), where a question relating to this Constitution arises in a court, the person presiding in that court shall refer the question to the Constitutional Court.
3. Subject to Article 28, a person who alleges that—
a. an Act of Parliament or statutory instrument;
b. an action, measure or decision taken under law; or
c. an act, omission, measure or decision by a person or an authority; contravenes this Constitution, may petition the Constitutional Court for redress.
4. A decision of the Constitutional Court is not appealable to the Supreme Court. (Art. 128)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishA.- In constitutional matters, the Supreme Court rules in sovereign fashion over:
1°) compliance of the National Council’s rules of procedure with constitutional and, if need be, legislative provisions under the conditions prescribed by article 61;
2°) appeals on petitions for annulment, petitions to review validity and actions for damages arising from violations of these rights and freedoms prescribed in chapter III3 of the Constitution, and which are not referred to in subsection B of the present article.
…
C.- The Supreme Court rules over conflicts of jurisdiction. (Art. 90) - FrenchA. - En matière constitutionnelle, le Tribunal Suprême statue souverainement :
l°) sur la conformité du règlement intérieur du Conseil National aux dispositions constitutionnelles et, le cas échéant, législatives, dans les conditions prévues à l'article 61 ;
2°) sur les recours en annulation, en appréciation de validité et en indemnité ayant pour objet une atteinte aux libertés et droits consacrés par le Titre III de la Constitution, et qui ne sont pas visés au paragraphe B du présent article.
…
C.- Le Tribunal Suprême statue sur les conflits de compétence juridictionnelle. (Art. 90)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
If the Constitutional Council, referred [to the matter] by the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly or of the Senate or by one-tenth at least of the Deputies or of the Senators, has declared that an international treaty or agreement includes a clause contrary to the Constitution, the authorization to ratify it can take place only after revision of the Constitution. (Art. 122)
- French
Si le Conseil constitutionnel, saisi par le Président de la République, le Président de l'Assemblée nationale ou du Sénat ou par un dixième au moins des députés ou des sénateurs, a déclaré qu'un traité ou un accord international comporte une clause contraire à la Constitution, l'autorisation de le ratifier ne peut intervenir qu'après la révision de la Constitution. (Art. 122)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishIf the High Court is satisfied that a case pending in a court subordinate to it involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Constitution the determination of which is necessary for the disposal of the case, it shall withdraw the case and may—
(a) either dispose of the case itself, or
(b) determine the said question of law and return the case to the court from which the case has been so withdrawn together with a copy of its judgment on such question, and the said court shall on receipt thereof proceed to dispose of the case in conformity with such judgment. (Art. 228) - Hindiयदि उच्च न्यायालय का यह समाधान हो जाता है कि उसके अधीनस्थ किसी न्यायालय में लंबित किसी मामले में इस संविधान के निर्वचन के बारे में विधि का कोई सारवान प्रश्न अंतर्वलित है जिसका अवधारण मामले के निपटारे के लिए आवश्यक है तो वह उस मामले को अपने पास मंगा लेगा और—
(क) मामले को स्वयं निपटा सकेगा, या
(ख) उक्त विधि के प्रश्न का अवधारण कर सकेगा और उस मामले को ऐसे प्रश्न पर निर्णय की प्रतिलिपि सहित उस न्यायालय को, जिससे मामला इस प्रकार मंगा लिया गया है, लौटा सकेगा और उक्त न्यायालय उसके प्राप्त होने पर उस मामले को ऐसे निर्णय के अनुरूप निपटाने के लिए आगे कार्यवाही करेगा। (अनुच्छेद 228)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Supreme Federal Court is responsible, essentially, for safeguarding the Constitution, and it is within its competence:
I – to institute legal proceeding and trial, in the first instance, of:
a) direct actions of unconstitutionality of a federal or state law or normative act, and declaratory actions of constitutionality of a federal law or normative act;
b) in common criminal offenses, the President of the Republic, the Vice-President, the members of the National Congress, its own Justices and the Attorney-General of the Republic;
c) in common criminal offenses and crimes of malversation, the Ministers of State and the Commanders of the Navy, the Army, and the Air Force, except as provided in article 52, I, the members of the Superior Courts, those of the Federal Audit Court and the heads of permanent diplomatic missions;
d) habeas corpus, when the petitioner is any one of the persons referred to in the preceding subitems; the writ of mandamus and habeas data against acts of the President of the Republic, of the Directing Boards of the Chamber of Deputies and of the Federal Senate, of the Federal Audit Court, of the Attorney-General of the Republic and of the Supreme Federal Court itself;
e) litigation between a foreign State or an international organization and the Union, a state, the Federal District or a territory;
f) disputes and conflicts between the Union and the states, the Union and the Federal District, or between one another, including the respective indirect administration bodies;
g) extradition requested by a foreign state;
h) (revoked);
i) habeas corpus, when the constraining party is a Superior Court, or when the constraining party or the petitioner is an authority or employee whose acts are directly subject to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Federal Court, or in the case of a crime, subject to the same jurisdiction in one sole instance;
j) criminal review of and actions to overrule its final judgements;
l) claims for the preservation of its powers and guarantee of the authority of its decisions;
m) enforcement of court decisions in the cases where it has original competence, the delegation of duties to perform procedural acts being allowed;
n) a suit in which all members of the judicature are directly or indirectly involved, and a suit in which more than half of the members of the court of origin are disqualified or have a direct or indirect interest;
o) conflicts of powers between the Superior Court of Justice and any other courts, between Superior Courts, or between the latter and any other court;
p) petitions of provisional remedy in direct actions of unconstitutionality;
q) writs of injunction, when drawing up of the regulation is the responsibility of the President of the Republic, of the National Congress, of the Chamber of Deputies, of the Federal Senate, of the Directing Boards of one of these legislative houses, of the Federal Audit Court, of one of the Superior Courts, or of the Supreme Federal Court itself;
r) lawsuits against the National Council of Justice and against the National Council of the Public Prosecution;
II – to judge on ordinary appeal:
a) habeas corpus, writs of mandamus, habeas data and writs of injunction decided in a sole instance by the Superior Courts, in the event of a denial;
b) political crimes;
III – to judge, on extraordinary appeal, cases decided in a sole or last instance, when the decision appealed:
a) is contrary to a provision of this Constitution;
b) declares a treaty or a federal law unconstitutional;
c) considers valid a law or act of a local government contested in the light of this Constitution;
d) considers valid a local law challenged in the light of a federal law.
Paragraph 1. A claim of non-compliance with a fundamental precept deriving from this Constitution shall be examined by the Supreme Federal Court, under the terms of the law.
… (Art. 102) - Portuguese
Compete ao Supremo Tribunal Federal, precipuamente, a guarda da Constituição, cabendo-lhe:
I - processar e julgar, originariamente:
a) a ação direta de inconstitucionalidade de lei ou ato normativo federal ou estadual e a ação declaratória de constitucionalidade de lei ou ato normativo federal;
b) nas infrações penais comuns, o Presidente da República, o Vice-Presidente, os membros do Congresso Nacional, seus próprios Ministros e o Procurador-Geral da República;
c) nas infrações penais comuns e nos crimes de responsabilidade, os Ministros de Estado e os Comandantes da Marinha, do Exército e da Aeronáutica, ressalvado o disposto no art. 52, I, os membros dos Tribunais Superiores, os do Tribunal de Contas da União e os chefes de missão diplomática de caráter permanente;
d) o habeas corpus, sendo paciente qualquer das pessoas referidas nas alíneas anteriores; o mandado de segurança e o habeas data contra atos do Presidente da República, das Mesas da Câmara dos Deputados e do Senado Federal, do Tribunal de Contas da União, do Procurador-Geral da República e do próprio Supremo Tribunal Federal;
e) o litígio entre Estado estrangeiro ou organismo internacional e a União, o Estado, o Distrito Federal ou o Território;
f) as causas e os conflitos entre a União e os Estados, a União e o Distrito Federal, ou entre uns e outros, inclusive as respectivas entidades da administração indireta;
g) a extradição solicitada por Estado estrangeiro;
h) (Revogado pela Emenda Constitucional nº 45, de 2004)
i) o habeas corpus, quando o coator for Tribunal Superior ou quando o coator ou o paciente for autoridade ou funcionário cujos atos estejam sujeitos diretamente à jurisdição do Supremo Tribunal Federal, ou se trate de crime sujeito à mesma jurisdição em uma única instância;
j) a revisão criminal e a ação rescisória de seus julgados;
l) a reclamação para a preservação de sua competência e garantia da autoridade de suas decisões;
m) a execução de sentença nas causas de sua competência originária, facultada a delegação de atribuições para a prática de atos processuais;
n) a ação em que todos os membros da magistratura sejam direta ou indiretamente interessados, e aquela em que mais da metade dos membros do tribunal de origem estejam impedidos ou sejam direta ou indiretamente interessados;
o) os conflitos de competência entre o Superior Tribunal de Justiça e quaisquer tribunais, entre Tribunais Superiores, ou entre estes e qualquer outro tribunal;
p) o pedido de medida cautelar das ações diretas de inconstitucionalidade;
q) o mandado de injunção, quando a elaboração da norma regulamentadora for atribuição do Presidente da República, do Congresso Nacional, da Câmara dos Deputados, do Senado Federal, das Mesas de uma dessas Casas Legislativas, do Tribunal de Contas da União, de um dos Tribunais Superiores, ou do próprio Supremo Tribunal Federal;
r) as ações contra o Conselho Nacional de Justiça e contra o Conselho Nacional do Ministério Público;
II - julgar, em recurso ordinário:
a) o habeas corpus, o mandado de segurança, o habeas data e o mandado de injunção decididos em única instância pelos Tribunais Superiores, se denegatória a decisão;
b) o crime político;
III - julgar, mediante recurso extraordinário, as causas decididas em única ou última instância, quando a decisão recorrida:
a) contrariar dispositivo desta Constituição;
b) declarar a inconstitucionalidade de tratado ou lei federal;
c) julgar válida lei ou ato de governo local contestado em face desta Constituição.
d) julgar válida lei local contestada em face de lei federal.
§ 1.º A argüição de descumprimento de preceito fundamental, decorrente desta Constituição, será apreciada pelo Supremo Tribunal Federal, na forma da lei.
… (Art. 102)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The Constitutional Court may consider and declare with generally binding force:
a) The unconstitutionality of any norm;
b) The illegality of any norms contained in a legislative act, on the grounds of the breach of a law with superior legal force;
c) The illegality of any norms contained in a regional legislative act, on the grounds of the breach of the autonomous region's statute;
d) The illegality of any norms contained in a legislative act issued by an entity that exercises sovereignty, on the grounds of a breach of those of an autonomous region's rights that are enshrined in its statute.
2. The following may ask the Constitutional Court for a declaration of unconstitutionality or illegality with generally binding force:
a) The President of the Republic;
b) The President of the Assembly of the Republic;
c) The Prime Minister;
d) The Ombudsman;
e) The Attorney General;
f) One tenth of the Members of the Assembly of the Republic;
g) When the grounds for the request for a declaration of unconstitutionality are the breach of the rights of the autonomous regions, or the grounds for the request for a declaration of illegality are the breach of the respective statute, Representatives of the Republic, Legislative Assemblies of the autonomous regions, presidents of Legislative Assemblies of the autonomous regions, presidents of Regional Governments, or one tenth of the members of the respective Legislative Assembly.
3. The Constitutional Court may also consider and declare with generally binding force the unconstitutionality or illegality of any norm, on condition that it has already held the norm unconstitutional or illegal in three concrete cases. (Art. 281) - Portuguese1. O Tribunal Constitucional aprecia e declara, com força obrigatória geral:
a) A inconstitucionalidade de quaisquer normas;
b) A ilegalidade de quaisquer normas constantes de acto legislativo com fundamento em violação de lei com valor reforçado;
c) A ilegalidade de quaisquer normas constantes de diploma regional, com fundamento em violação do estatuto da região autónoma;
d) A ilegalidade de quaisquer normas constantes de diploma emanado dos órgãos de soberania com fundamento em violação dos direitos de uma região consagrados no seu estatuto.
2. Podem requerer ao Tribunal Constitucional a declaração de inconstitucionalidade ou de ilegalidade, com força obrigatória geral:
a) O Presidente da República;
b) O Presidente da Assembleia da República;
c) O Primeiro-Ministro;
d) O Provedor de Justiça;
e) O Procurador-Geral da República;
f) Um décimo dos Deputados à Assembleia da República;
g) Os Representantes da República, as Assembleias Legislativas das regiões autónomas, os presidentes das Assembleias Legislativas das regiões autónomas, os presidentes dos Governos Regionais ou um décimo dos deputados à respectiva Assembleia Legislativa, quando o pedido de declaração de inconstitucionalidade se fundar em violação dos direitos das regiões autónomas ou o pedido de declaração de ilegalidade se fundar em violação do respectivo estatuto.
3. O Tribunal Constitucional aprecia e declara ainda, com força obrigatória geral, a inconstitucionalidade ou a ilegalidade de qualquer norma, desde que tenha sido por ele julgada inconstitucional ou ilegal em três casos concretos. (Art. 281)