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The Global Gender Equality Constitutional Database is a repository of gender equality related provisions in 194 constitutions from around the world. The Database was updated in partnership with the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and with support from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Government of Japan. Experience its wealth and depth of information by starting your search now.
Composition and Appointment
- English(1) The President may appoint a woman or man to serve as an acting Deputy Chief Justice or judge of the Constitutional Court if there is a vacancy in any of those offices, or if the person holding such an office is absent. The appointment must be made on the recommendation of the Cabinet member responsible for the administration of justice acting with the concurrence of the Chief Justice, and an appointment as acting Deputy Chief Justice must be made from the ranks of the judges who had been appointed to the Constitutional Court in terms of section 174(4).
… (Sec. 175)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) There shall be in and for Malta such Superior Courts having such powers and jurisdiction as may be provided by any law for the time being in force in Malta.
(2) One of the Superior Courts, composed of such three judges as could, in accordance with any law for the time being in force in Malta, compose the Court of Appeal, shall be known as the Constitutional Court and shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine –
(a) such questions as are referred to in article 63 of the Constitution;
(b) any reference made to it in accordance with article 56 of this Constitution and any matter referred to it in accordance with any law relating to the election of members of the House of Representatives;
(c) appeals from decisions of the Civil Court, First Hall, under article 46 of this Constitution;
(d) appeals from decisions of any court of original jurisdiction in Malta as to the interpretation of this Constitution other than those which may fall under article 46 of this Constitution;
(e) appeals from decisions of any court of original jurisdiction in Malta on questions as to the validity of laws other than those which may fall under article 46 of this Constitution; and
(f) any question decided by a court of original jurisdiction in Malta together with any of the questions referred to in the foregoing paragraphs of this sub-article on which an appeal has been made to the Constitutional Court:
Provided that nothing in this paragraph shall preclude an appeal being brought separately before the Court of Appeal in accordance with any law for the time being in force in Malta.
… (Art. 95) - Maltese(1) Għandu jkun hemm f’MaIta u għal Malta dawk il-Qrati Superjuri li jkollhom dawk is-setgħat u ġurisdizzjoni kif ikun provdut b’xi liġi li għal dak iż-żmien tkun isseħħ f’Malta.
(2) Waħda mill-Qrati Superjuri, magħmula minn tlieta mill-imħallfin li jkunu jistgħu, skont xi liġi li għal dak iż-żmien tkun isseħħ f ’Malta, joqgħodu fil-Qorti tal-Appell, għandha tkun magħrufa bħala l-Qorti Kostituzzjonali u jkollha ġurisdizzjoni li tisma’ u tiddeċidi -
(a) dawk il-kwistjonijiet li huma msemmija fl-artikolu 63 tal-Kostituzzjoni;
(b) kull ħaġa riferita lilha skont l-artikolu 56 ta’ din il-Kostituzzjoni u kull ħaġa riferita lilha skont kull liġi dwar l-elezzjoni tal-membri tal-Kamra tad-Deputati;
(ċ) appelli minn deċiżjonijiet tal-Prim’Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili skont l-artikolu 46 ta’ din il-Kostituzzjoni;
(d) appelli minn deċiżjonijiet ta’ xi qorti ta’ ġurisdizzjoni oriġinali f’Malta fuq kwistjonijiet dwar interpretazzjoni ta’ din il-Kostituzzjoni li ma jkunux dawk li jistgħu jaqgħu taħt l-artikolu 46 ta’ din il- Kostituzzjoni;
(e) appelli minn deċiżjonijiet ta’ xi qorti ta’ ġurisdizzjoni oriġinali f’Malta fuq kwistjonijiet dwar il-validità ta’ liġijiet li ma jkunux dawk li jistgħu jaqgħu taħt l-artikolu 46 ta’ din il-Kostituzzjoni; u
(f) kull kwistjoni deċiża minn qorti ta’ ġurisdizzjoni oriġinali f’Malta flimkien ma’ xi waħda mill-kwistjonijiet imsemmija fil-paragrafi ta’ qabel ta’ dan is-subartikolu li minnha jkun sar appell lill-Qorti Kostituzzjonali:
Iżda ebda ħaġa li tinsab f’dan il-paragrafu ma ttellef li appell jinġieb separatament quddiem il-Qorti tal-Appell skont xi liġi li għal dak iż-żmien ikun hemm isseħħ f’Malta.
… (Art. 95)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishIn case of a state of urgency or of state of siege, the President of the Republic takes, by ordinances deliberated in the Council of Ministers, the measures necessary to respond to the situation.
These ordinances are, on their signature, submitted to the Constitutional Court which, ceasing other matters, declares if they derogate or not from this Constitution. (Art. 145) - FrenchEn cas d’état d’urgence ou d’état de siège, le Président de la République prend, par ordonnances délibérées en Conseil des ministres, les mesures nécessaires pour faire face à la situation.
Ces ordonnances sont, dès leur signature, soumises à la Cour constitutionnelle qui, toutes affaires cessantes, déclare si elles dérogent ou non à la présente Constitution. (Art. 145)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is referred to [a matter] by the President of the Republic, by the President of the National Assembly, by the President of the Senate, the Prime Minister or by a third of the members of each Chamber of the Parliament. (Art. 178)
- FrenchLa Cour constitutionnelle est saisie par le Président de la République, le Président de l’Assemblée nationale, le Président du Sénat, le Premier ministre ou par un tiers des membres de chaque chambre du Parlement. (Art. 178)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Federal Supreme Court may, ex-officio or upon request, upon decision of two thirds of its members, and following reiterated judicial decisions on constitutional matter, issue a summula (restatement of case law) which, as from publication in the official press, shall have a binding effect upon the lower bodies of the Judicial Power and the direct and indirect public administration, in the federal, state, and local levels, and which may also be reviewed or revoked, as set forth in law.
Paragraph 1. The purpose of a summula is to validate, construe, and impart effectiveness to some rules about which there is a current controversy among judicial bodies or among such bodies and the public administration, and such controversy brings about serious juridical insecurity and the filing of multiple lawsuits involving similar issues.
Paragraph 2. Without prejudice to the provisions the law may establish, the issuance, review, or revocation of a summula may be requested by those who may file a direct action of unconstitutionality.
Paragraph 3. An administrative act or judicial decision which contradicts the applicable summula or which unduly applies a summula may be appealed to the Supreme Federal Court, and if the appeal is granted, such Court shall declare the administrative act null and void or overrule the appealed judicial decision, ordering that a new judicial decision be issued, with or without applying the summula, as the case may be. (Art. 103-A) - Portuguese
O Supremo Tribunal Federal poderá, de ofício ou por provocação, mediante decisão de dois terços dos seus membros, após reiteradas decisões sobre matéria constitucional, aprovar súmula que, a partir de sua publicação na imprensa oficial, terá efeito vinculante em relação aos demais órgãos do Poder Judiciário e à administração pública direta e indireta, nas esferas federal, estadual e municipal, bem como proceder à sua revisão ou cancelamento, na forma estabelecida em lei.
§ 1º A súmula terá por objetivo a validade, a interpretação e a eficácia de normas determinadas, acerca das quais haja controvérsia atual entre órgãos judiciários ou entre esses e a administração pública que acarrete grave insegurança jurídica e relevante multiplicação de processos sobre questão idêntica.
§ 2º Sem prejuízo do que vier a ser estabelecido em lei, a aprovação, revisão ou cancelamento de súmula poderá ser provocada por aqueles que podem propor a ação direta de inconstitucionalidade.
§ 3º Do ato administrativo ou decisão judicial que contrariar a súmula aplicável ou que indevidamente a aplicar, caberá reclamação ao Supremo Tribunal Federal que, julgando-a procedente, anulará o ato administrativo ou cassará a decisão judicial reclamada, e determinará que outra seja proferida com ou sem a aplicação da súmula, conforme o caso. (Art. 103-A)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English…
2. The President of the Republic, before ratifying an international agreement may refer it to the Constitutional Tribunal with a request to adjudicate upon its conformity to the Constitution.
… (Art. 133) - Polish…
2. Prezydent Rzeczypospolitej przed ratyfikowaniem umowy międzynarodowej może zwrócić się do Trybunału Konstytucyjnego z wnioskiem w sprawie jej zgodności z Konstytucją.
… (Art. 133)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. All constitutional disputes shall be decided by the House of the Federation.
2. The House of the Federation shall, within thirty days of receipt, decide a constitutional dispute submitted to it by the Council of Constitutional Inquiry. (Art. 83) - Amharic1. የሕገ መንግሥታዊ ክርክር ጉዳይ ሲነሳ በፌዴሬሽኑ ምክር ቤት ውሳኔ ያገኛል፡፡2. የፌዴሬሽን ምክር ቤት፣ የሕገ መንግሥት ጉዳዮች አጣሪ ጉባኤ በሚያቀርብለት ሕገ መንግሥታዊ ጉዳይ ላይ በሠላሣ ቀናት ውስጥ ውሳኔ ይሰጣል፡፡ (አንቀጽ 83)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishProceedings for failure to comply shall be aimed at guaranteeing the application of rules and regulations comprising the legal system, as well as compliance with the rulings or reports of international human rights organizations, when the regulation or decision whose enforcement is being pursued contains an obligation to make it clear, express and enforceable. The petition shall be filed with the Constitutional Court. (Art. 93)
- SpanishLa acción por incumplimiento tendrá por objeto garantizar la aplicación de las normas que integran el sistema jurídico, así como el cumplimiento de sentencias o informes de organismos internacionales de derechos humanos, cuando la norma o decisión cuyo cumplimiento se persigue contenga una obligación de hacer o no hacer clara, expresa y exigible. La acción se interpondrá ante la Corte Constitucional. (Art. 93)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The Constitutional Court shall have the competence of oversight on the constitutionality of the applicable laws and regulations and its judgments shall be issued in the name of the King; …
2. The Constitutional Court shall have the right to interpret the provisions of the Constitution if such is requested therefrom by a decision issued by the Council of Ministers or by a decision taken by either House of the Parliament by majority; … (Art. 59) - Arabic1. تختص المحكمة الدستورية بالرقابة على دستورية القوانين والأنظمة النّافذة وتصدر أحكامها باسم الملك، ...
2. للمحكمة الدستورية حق تفسير نصوص الدستور إذا طلب إليها ذلك بقرار صادر عن مجلس الوزراء أو بقرار يتخذه أحد مجلسي الأمة بالأغلبية، ... (المادة 59)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishA Guarantors’ Panel responsible for ensuring the constitutionality of rules is hereby established…
The Guarantors’ Panel shall:
a) verify the conformity of laws, of regulations having force of law, as well as of customary rules having force of law, with the fundamental principles of the constitutional order set forth or mentioned in this Law, upon direct request of at least twenty members of the Great and General Council, of the Congress of State, of five Township Councils, of a number of citizens making up at least 1.5% of the electorate resulting from the latest and definitive annual revision of the electoral lists, and with reference to proceedings pending before the Republic’s courts, upon request of judges or the parties involved;
b) in the cases envisaged by law, decide on the acceptability of referenda proposals;
c) decide in case of conflicts between constitutional bodies;
d) act as “Regency Syndicate”.
Additional functions may be established by a constitutional law. The constitutional law shall determine the responsibilities of the Guarantors’ Panel and of its single members.
… (Art. 16) - ItalianE' istituito il Collegio Garante della costituzionalita delle norme. …
Il Collegio Garante:
a) verifica, su richiesta diretta di almeno venti Consiglieri, del Congresso di Stato, di cinque Giunte di Castello, della Commissione per le Pari Opportunità, di un numero di cittadini elettori rappresentanti almeno l'1,5% del corpo elettorale quale risultante dall'ultima e definitiva revisione annuale delle liste elettorali, nonché nell'ambito di giudizi pendenti presso i Tribunali della Repubblica, su richiesta dei giudici o delle parti in causa, la rispondenza delle leggi, degli atti aventi forza di legge a contenuto normativo, nonché delle norme anche consuetudinarie aventi forza di legge, ai principi fondamentali dell'ordinamento di cui alla presente legge o da questa richiamati;
b) decide nei casi previsti dalla legge, sull'ammissibilità dei referendum;
c) decide sui conflitti fra organi costituzionali;
d) esercita il Sindacato sui Capitani Reggenti.
Con legge costituzionale potranno essere disposte ulteriori attribuzioni. La legge costituzionale determina il regime delle responsabilità del Collegio Garante e dei singoli membri.
… (Art. 16)