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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
- 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
- English
The Constitutional Court pronounces whether state treaties are unlawful. Art. 140 shall apply to political, to law-modifying and to law-amending state treaties and to state treaties modifying the Treaty basis of the European Union, Art. 139 to all other state treaties with the following proviso,
... (Art. 140a) - German
Der Verfassungsgerichtshof erkennt über Rechtswidrigkeit von Staatsverträgen. Auf die politischen, gesetzändernden und gesetzesergänzenden Staatsverträge und auf die Staatsverträge, durch die die vertraglichen Grundlagen der Europäischen Union geändert werden, ist Art. 140, auf alle anderen Staatsverträge Art. 139 sinngemäß mit folgenden Maßgaben anzuwenden:
... (Art. 140a)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Court, at the demand of the President of the Republic or of any member of the National Assembly, decides on the constitutionality of the laws before their promulgation.
It decides[,] of office[,] on the constitutionality of the laws and any regulatory texts which would infringe the fundamental rights of the human person and the public freedoms. It decides more generally on the violations of the rights of the human person and its decision must intervene within a time period of eight days. (Art. 121) - French
La Cour constitutionnelle, à la demande du président de la République ou de tout membre de l'Assemblée nationale, se prononce sur la constitutionnalité des lois avant leur promulgation.
Elle se prononce d'office sur la constitutionnalité des lois et de tout texte réglementaire censés porter atteinte aux droits fondamentaux de la personne humaine et aux libertés publiques. Elle statue plus généralement sur les violations des droits de la personne humaine et sa décision doit intervenir dans un délai de huit jours. (Art. 121)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) After the Shari’ah, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia is the supreme law of the country. It binds the government and guides policy initiatives and decisions in all sections of government.
(2) Any law, or administrative action that is contrary to the Constitution may be invalidated by the Constitutional Court, which has the authority to do so in accordance with this Constitution. (Art. 4) - Somali(1) Shareecada ka sokow, Dastuurka Soomaaliya waa sharciga dalka ugu sarreeya, isaga ayayna xukuumaddu u hoggaansamaysaa, wuxuuna hagayaa hal-abuurka iyo go’aannada siyaasadeed ee qaybaha Dawladda oo dhan.
(2) Sharci kasta ama tallaabo maamul oo ka soo horjeedda Dastuurka, maxkamadda Dastuuriga ah ayaa awood u leh burrinta sharcigaas ama tallaabadaas maamul, si waafaqsan Dastuurkan. (Qodobka 4aad.)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe King consults the Constitutional Council on any proposal aiming at amending the Constitution. (Art. 143)
- Khmerព្រះមហាក្សត្រ ទ្រង់ពិគ្រោះមតិក្រុមប្រឹក្សាធម្មនុញ្ញចំពោះសេចក្តីស្នើទាំងឡាយដែលសុំធ្វើវិសោធនកម្មលើរដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញ។ (មាត្រា ១៤៣)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishIf the Chancellor of Justice finds that a legislative instrument passed by the legislative or executive branch of government or by a local authority is in conflict with the Constitution or a law, he or she makes a proposal to the body which passed the instrument to bring it into conformity with the Constitution or the law within twenty days. If the instrument is not brought into conformity with the Constitution or the law within twenty days, the Chancellor of Justice refers the matter to the Supreme Court who may declare the instrument invalid. (Sec. 142)
- EstonianKui õiguskantsler leiab, et seadusandliku või täidesaatva riigivõimu või kohaliku omavalitsuse õigustloov akt on põhiseaduse või seadusega vastuolus, teeb ta akti vastuvõtnud organile ettepaneku viia see kahekümne päeva jooksul põhiseaduse või seadusega kooskõlla.
Kui akt ei ole kahekümne päeva jooksul põhiseaduse või seadusega kooskõlla viidud, teeb õiguskantsler Riigikohtule ettepaneku tunnistada see akt kehtetuks. (§ 142)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The Constitutional Court shall be the court that has the power, specifically, to administer Justice in matters of a legal and constitutional nature, particularly with respect to:
a) Review of the constitutionality and legality, under the terms of the Constitution;
b) Verification of death and declaration of disability, of impediment or of loss of office of the President of the Republic;
c) Jurisdiction on matters of elections and political party organizations, under the terms of the law;
d) Resolution of conflicts of jurisdiction, under the terms of the law;
e) Writs of amparo.
… (Art. 215) - Portuguese1. O Tribunal Constitucional é o tribunal ao qual compete, especificamente, administrar a Justiça em matérias de natureza jurídicoconstitucional, designadamente, no que se refere a:
a) Fiscalização da constitucionalidade e legalidade, nos termos da Constituição;
b) Verificação da morte e declaração de incapacidade, de impedimento ou de perda de cargo do Presidente da República;
c) Jurisdição em matéria de eleições e de organizações político-partidárias, nos termos da lei;
d) Resolução de conflitos de jurisdição, nos termos da lei;
e) Recurso de amparo.
… (Art. 215)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is the sole body competent to oversee the constitutionality of the following:
- Draft laws, upon the request of the President of the Republic, the Head of Government, or thirty members of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People. The request shall be filed within seven days from the Assembly’s ratification of the draft law or ratification of a draft law in a modified version, after it has been returned from the President of the Republic.
- Constitutional draft laws submitted to it by the President of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People as specified in Article 144 or to determine whether the procedures of amending the Constitution have been respected.
- Treaties presented to it by the President of the Republic before the draft law approving them is signed.
- Laws referred to it by courts as a result of a request filed by a court, in the case of the invocation of a claim of unconstitutionality by one of the parties in litigation, in accordance with the procedures established by law.
- The rules of procedure of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, submitted to it by the Speaker of the Assembly.
The Constitutional Court is also responsible for other tasks that are conferred upon it by the Constitution. (Art. 120) - Arabicتختصّ المحكمة الدستورية دون سواها بمراقبة دستورية:
- مشاريع القوانين بناء على طلب من رئيس الجمهورية أو رئيس الحكومة أو ثلاثين عضوا من أعضاء مجلس نواب الشّعب يُرفع إليها في أجل أقصاه سبعة (7) أيّام من تاريخ مصادقة المجلس على مشروع القانون أو من تاريخ مصادقته على مشروع قانون في صيغة معدّلة بعد أن تمّ ردّه من قبل رئيس الجمهورية.
-مشاريع القوانين الدّستورية التي يعرضها عليها رئيس مجلس نواب الشّعب حسبما هو مقرّر بالفصل 144 أو لمراقبة احترام إجراءات تعديل الدستور.
- المعاهدات التي يعرضها عليها رئيس الجمهورية قبل ختم مشروع قانون الموافقة عليها.
- القوانين التي تحيلها عليها المحاكم تبعا للدّفع بعدم الدستورية بطلب من أحد الخصوم في الحالات وطبق الإجراءات التي يقرها القانون،
- النظام الدّاخلي لمجلس نواب الشعب الذي يعرضه عليها رئيس المجلس.
كما تتولى المهام الأخرى المسندة إليها بمقتضى الدستور. (الفصل 120) - FrenchLa Cour constitutionnelle est seule compétente pour contrôler la constitutionnalité :
- des projets de loi, sur demande du Président de la République, du Chef du Gouvernement ou de trente membres de l’Assemblée des représentants du peuple. La Cour est saisie dans un délai maximum de sept jours à compter de la date d’adoption du projet de loi ou de la date d’adoption du projet de loi amendé, après renvoi par le Président de la République ;
- des projets de loi constitutionnelle que lui soumet le Président de l’Assemblée des représentants du peuple conformément à ce qui est prévu à l’article 144 ou pour contrôler le respect des procédures de révision de la Constitution ;
- des traités que lui soumet le Président de la République avant la promulgation du projet de loi relatif à l’approbation de ces traités ;
- des lois que lui renvoient les tribunaux, suite à une exception d’inconstitutionnalité soulevée par l’une des parties, dans les cas et selon les procédures prévus par la loi ;
- du règlement intérieur de l’Assemblée des représentants du peuple que lui soumet le Président de l’Assemblée.
La Cour exerce les autres attributions qui lui sont conférées par la Constitution. (Art. 120)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1) A Constitutional Court shall be established by way of a specific law as a court of public law to protect the rights guaranteed by the Constitution, to decide in conflicts of jurisdiction between the Courts and the administrative authorities, and to act as a disciplinary court for the Ministers.
2) The Constitutional Court shall also have jurisdiction to review the constitutionality of laws and international treaties and the legality of Government ordinances; in such matters, it may declare their annulment. Finally, it shall also act as an electoral tribunal. (Art. 104) - German1) Im Wege eines besonderen Gesetzes ist ein Staatsgerichtshof als Gerichtshof des öffentlichen Rechtes zum Schutze der verfassungsmässig gewährleisteten Rechte, zur Entscheidung von Kompetenzkonflikten zwischen den Gerichten und den Verwaltungsbehörden und als Disziplinargerichtshof für die Mitglieder der Regierung zu errichten.
2) In seine Kompetenz fallen weiter die Prüfung der Verfassungsmässigkeit von Gesetzen und Staatsverträgen sowie der Gesetzmässigkeit der Regierungsverordnungen; in diesen Angelegenheiten urteilt er kassatorisch. Endlich fungiert er auch als Wahlgerichtshof. (Art. 104)