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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.
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishAmong the constitutional and legal functions of the Supreme Court of Justice shall be the following:
1. To guard the integrity of the Constitution. For this purpose, and after hearing the opinion of the Attorney General of the Nation or the Solicitor General of the Administration, the Court in plenary session shall try and rule on cases concerning the unconstitutionality of laws, decrees, decisions, resolutions and other acts that for reasons of substance or form are challenged before it, by any person.
When during the proceedings of a case, the public official entrusted with the administration of Justice considers, or it is observed by one of the parties, that the legal or regulatory provision applicable to the case is unconstitutional, he/she shall submit the question to the cognizance of the Court in plenary session, except when the provision has already been the subject of a decision, and shall order a continuance of the case, until the question of constitutionality is decided.
The parties only shall be able to formulate such observations one time during the process of a case;
… (Art. 206) - SpanishLa Corte Suprema de Justicia tendrá, entre sus atribuciones constitucionales y legales, las siguientes:
1. La guarda de la integridad de la Constitución para lo cual la Corte en pleno conocerá y decidirá, con audiencia del Procurador General de la Nación o del Procurador de la Administración, sobre la inconstitucionalidad de las Leyes, decretos, acuerdos, resoluciones y demás actos que por razones de fondo o de forma impugne ante ella cualquier persona.
Cuando en un proceso el funcionario público encargado de impartir justicia advirtiere o se lo advirtiere alguna de las partes que la disposición legal o reglamentaria aplicable al caso es inconstitucional, someterá la cuestión al conocimiento del pleno de la Corte, salvo que la disposición haya sido objeto de pronunciamiento por parte de ésta, y continuará el curso del negocio hasta colocarlo en estado de decidir.
Las partes sólo podrán formular tales advertencias una sola vez por instancia.
… (Art. 206)
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 Constitutional Court is the highest jurisdiction of the State in constitutional matters. It is given the charge:
– to judge the constitutionality of the organic and ordinary laws, already promulgated or simply voted, of the regulations as well as of the Internal Regulations of the National Assembly and of the Senate;
– to take cognizance of electoral disputes;
– to see to the regularity of the electoral consultations, [and] to examine and to proclaim the definitive results;
– to see to the regularity of the operations of [the] referendum, to examine the complaints and to proclaim the definitive results;
– to receive the oath of the President of the Republic elected;
– to determine the conflicts of competence within the executive power, between the legislative and executive powers and between the State and the territorial collectivities;
– to declare the errors [constater des défauts] of promulgation of the laws definitively voted and the lack of their promulgation in order to permit their entry into force;
– to interpret the Constitution;
– to give its opinion concerning the bills or proposals of constitutional revision and the procedure of [the] referendum;
– to receive the declarations of patrimony. (Art. 95) - FrenchLa Cour Constitutionnelle est la plus haute juridiction de l'Etat en matière constitutionnelle. Elle est chargée de:
- juger de la constitutionnalité des lois organiques et ordinaires, déjà promulguées ou simplement votées, des règlements, ainsi que des Règlements Intérieurs de l'Assemblée Nationale et du Sénat;
- connaître du contentieux électoral;
- veiller à la régularité des consultations électorales, examiner les réclamations et proclamer les résultats définitifs;
- veiller à la régularité des opérations référendaires, examiner les réclamations et proclamer les résultats définitifs;
- recevoir le serment du Président de la République élu;
- trancher les conflits de compétence au sein du pouvoir exécutif, entre les pouvoirs législatif et exécutif, et entre l'État et les collectivités territoriales;
- constater les défauts de promulgation des lois définitivement votées et la carence de leur promulgation afin de permettre leur entrée en vigueur;
- interpréter la Constitution;
- donner son avis sur les projets ou propositions de révision constitutionnelle et la procédure référendaire;
- recevoir les déclarations de patrimoine. (Art. 95)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The Constitutional Council shall with, general binding force, evaluate and pronounce upon the unconstitutionality of laws and the illegality of other normative acts of State offices, at any time during which they are in force.
2. The following may request the Constitutional Council to pronounce upon the unconstitutionality of laws, or on the illegality of normative acts of State offices:
a. the President of the Republic;
b. the President of the Assembly of the Republic;
c. at least one third of the deputies of the Assembly of the Republic;
d. the Prime Minister;
e. the Attorney General of the Republic;
f. the Ombudsman;
g. two thousand citizens.
3. The law shall establish rules on the admission of actions for the evaluation of unconstitutionality. (Art. 244) - Portuguese1. O Conselho Constitucional aprecia e declara, com força obrigatória geral, a inconstitucionalidade das leis e a ilegalidade dos demais actos normativos dos órgãos do Estado, em qualquer momento da sua vigência.
2. Podem solicitar ao Conselho Constitucional a declaração de inconstitucionalidade das leis ou de ilegalidade dos actos normativos dos órgãos do Estado:
a) o Presidente da República;
b) o Presidente da Assembleia da República;
c) um terço, pelo menos, dos deputados da Assembleia da República;
d) o Primeiro-Ministro;
e) o Procurador-Geral da República;
f) o Provedor de Justiça;
g) dois mil cidadãos.
3. A lei regula o regime de admissão das acções de apreciação de inconstitucionalidade. (Art. 244)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of section 22(2), 38(8)(b), 102(2) and 105(10) of this Constitution, any person who alleges that any provisions of this Constitution (other than a provision of Chapter 13 thereof) has been or is being contravened may, if he has a relevant interest, apply to the High Court for a declaration and for relief under this section.
(2) The High Court shall have jurisdiction on an application made under this section to determine whether any provision of this Constitution (other than a provision of Chapter 1 thereof) has been or is being contravened and to make a declaration accordingly.
(3) Where the High Court makes a declaration under this section that a provision of this Constitution has been or is being contravened and the person on whose application the declaration is made has also applied for relief, the High Court may grant to that person such remedy as it considers appropriate, being a remedy available generally under any law in proceedings in the High Court.
(4) The Chief Justice may make rules with respect to the practice and procedure of the High Court in relation to the jurisdiction and powers conferred on the Court by or under this section, including provisions with respect to the time within which any application under this section may be made.
(5) A person shall be regarded as having a relevant interest for the purpose of an application under this section only if the contravention of this Constitution alleged by him is such as to affect his interests.
(6) The rights conferred on a person by this section to apply for a declaration and relief in respect of an alleged contravention of this Constitution shall be in addition to any other action in respect of the same matter that may be available to that person under any law.
(7) Nothing in this section shall confer jurisdiction on the High Court to hear or determine any such question as is referred to in section 36 of this Constitution. (Sec. 96)
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
The international commitments provided for in Article 120 before their ratification, the constitutional laws adopted by parliamentary vote [voie], the organic laws before their promulgation, [and] the regulations of the parliamentary assemblies before their entry into application, must be deferred by the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly or the President of the Senate to the Constitutional Council, which pronounces on their conformity with the Constitution.
... (Art. 134) - French
Les engagements internationaux visés à l'article 120 avant leur ratification, les lois constitutionnelles adoptées par voie parlementaire, les lois organiques avant leur promulgation, les règlements des assemblées parlementaires avant leur mise en application, doivent être déférés par la Président de la République, le Président de l'Assemblée nationale ou le Président du Sénat au Conseil constitutionnel, qui se prononce sur leur conformité à la Constitution.
… (Art. 134)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Where any question as to the interpretation or application of this Constitution arises in any proceedings in any court of law in any part of Nigeria (other than in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the Federal High Court or the National Industrial Court or a High Court) and the court is of the opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court may, and shall if any of the parties to the proceedings so requests, refer the question to the Federal High Court or the National Industrial Court or a High Court having jurisdiction in that part of Nigeria and the Federal High Court or the National Industrial Court or the High Court shall
(a) if it is of opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, refer the question to the Court of Appeal; or
(b) if it is of opinion that the question does not involve a substantial question of law, remit the question to the court that made the reference to be disposed of in accordance with such directions as the Federal High Court or the National Industrial Court or the High Court may think fit to give.
(2) Where any question as to the interpretation or application of this constitution arises in any proceedings in the Federal High Court or the National Industrial Court or a High Court, and the court is of opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court may, and shall if any party to the proceedings so requests, refer the question to the Court of Appeal; and where any question is referred in pursuance of this subsection, the court shall give its decision upon the question and the court in which the question arose shall dispose of the case in accordance with that decision.
(3) Where any question as to the interpretation or application of this constitution arises in any proceedings in the Court of Appeal and the court is of opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court may, and shall if any party to the proceedings so requests, refer the question to the Supreme Court which shall give its decision upon the question and give such directions to the Court of Appeal as it deems appropriate. (Sec. 295)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. Constitutional justice shall be administered by the Constitutional Court, ensuring the primacy of the Constitution.
2. When administering justice, the Constitutional Court shall be independent and shall abide only by the Constitution.
3. The powers of the Constitutional Court shall be stipulated by the Constitution, while the procedure of its formation and functioning shall be stipulated by the Constitution and the Law on the Constitutional Court. (Art. 167) - Armenian1. Սահմանադրական արդարադատությունն իրականացնում է Սահմանադրական դատարանը` ապահովելով Սահմանադրության գերակայությունը:
2. Արդարադատություն իրականացնելիս Սահմանադրական դատարանն անկախ է և ենթարկվում է միայն Սահմանադրությանը:
3. Սահմանադրական դատարանի լիազորությունները սահմանվում են Սահմանադրությամբ, իսկ կազմավորման և գործունեության կարգը` Սահմանադրությամբ և Սահմանադրական դատարանի մասին օրենքով: (Հոդված 167)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishAny court may refer a question of law to the Constitutional Tribunal as to the conformity of a normative act to the Constitution, ratified international agreements or statute, if the answer to such question of law will determine an issue currently before such court. (Art. 193)
- PolishKażdy sąd może przedstawić Trybunałowi Konstytucyjnemu pytanie prawne co do zgodności aktu normatywnego z Konstytucją, ratyfikowanymi umowami międzynarodowymi lub ustawą, jeżeli od odpowiedzi na pytanie prawne zależy rozstrzygnięcie sprawy toczącej się przed sądem. (Art. 193)