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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) The Constitutional Court pronounces judgment on the unconstitutionality
1. of laws
a) on application of a court;
b) ex officio in so far as he will have to apply such a law in a suit pending before him;
c) on application by a person who alleges to have infringement of his rights directly by unconstitutionality, if the ordinance has become effective without a judicial decision having been rendered or a ruling having been rendered has become effective for this person;
d) on application by a person who, as a party in a legal matter that has been decided by a court of justice of first instance, alleges infringement of his rights because of the application of an unconstitutional law, on the occasion of an appeal filed against that decision;
(2) of federal laws also on application by a Provincial Government, a third of the members of the National Council or a third of the members of the Federal Council.
(3) of provincial legislation also at the request of the Federal Government or, if the constitutional law of a province so provides, at the request of a third of the members of the Provincial Parliament.
… (Art. 140) - German
(1) Der Verfassungsgerichtshof erkennt über Verfassungswidrigkeit
1. von Gesetzen
a) auf Antrag eines Gerichtes;
b) von Amts wegen, wenn er das Gesetz in einer bei ihm anhängigen Rechtssache anzuwenden hätte;
c) auf Antrag einer Person, die unmittelbar durch diese Verfassungswidrigkeit in ihren Rechten verletzt zu sein behauptet, wenn das Gesetz ohne Fällung einer gerichtlichen Entscheidung oder ohne Erlassung eines Bescheides für diese Person wirksam geworden ist;
d) auf Antrag einer Person, die als Partei einer von einem ordentlichen Gericht in erster Instanz entschiedenen Rechtssache wegen Anwendung eines verfassungswidrigen Gesetzes in ihren Rechten verletzt zu sein behauptet, aus Anlass eines gegen diese Entscheidung erhobenen Rechtsmittels;
2. von Bundesgesetzen auch auf Antrag einer Landesregierung, eines Drittels der Mitglieder des Nationalrates oder eines Drittels der Mitglieder des Bundesrates;
3. von Landesgesetzen auch auf Antrag der Bundesregierung oder, wenn dies landesverfassungsgesetzlich vorgesehen ist, auf Antrag eines Drittels der Mitglieder des Landtages.
… (Art. 140)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Court[,]
- decides obligatorily on:
• the constitutionality of the organic laws before their promulgation;
• the Internal Regulations of the National Assembly, of the High Authority for Broadcasting and of Communication and of the Economic and Social Council prior to their implementation, as well their conformity with the Constitution;
• the constitutionality of the laws and of the regulatory acts supposedly infringing the fundamental rights of the human person and the public freedoms and in general, on the violation of the rights of the human person;
• the conflicts of attributions between the institutions of the State.
• the disputes of the election of the duo President of the Republic and Vice President of the Republic and of the members of the National Assembly;
- sees to the regularity of the election of the duo President of the Republic and Vice President of the Republic; examines the complaints, decides on the irregularities that it has found, by itself, [as] arising and proclaims the results of the ballot; decides on the regularity of the referendum and proclaim the results of it;
- decides, in the case of dispute on the regularity of the legislative elections;
- forms [fait], of right, [its] part of the High Court of Justice with the exception of its President. (Art. 117) - French
La Cour constitutionnelle
- statue obligatoirement sur :
• la constitutionnalité des lois organiques avant leur promulgation ;
• les règlements intérieurs de l’Assemblée nationale, de la Haute Autorité de l’Audiovisuel et de la Communication et du Conseil économique et social avant leur mise en application, quant à leur conformité à la Constitution ;
• la constitutionnalité des lois et des actes réglementaires censés porter atteinte aux droits fondamentaux de la personne humaine et aux libertés publiques en général, sur la violation des droits de la personne humaines ;
• les conflits d’attributions entre les institutions de l’Etat ;
• le contentieux de l’élection du duo Président de la République et vice-président de la République et des membres de l’Assemblée nationale ;
- veille à la régularité de l’élection du duo Président de la République et vice-président de la république ; examine les réclamations, statue sur les irrégularités qu’elle aurait pu, par ellemême, relever et proclame les résultats du scrutin ; statue sur la régularité du référendum et en proclame les résultats ;
- statue, en cas de contestation, sur la régularité des élections législatives ;
- fait de droit partie de la Haute Cour de justice à l’exception de son président. (Art. 117)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court emits opinions [avis] on the interpretation of the Constitution when it is referred to [the matter] by the President of the Republic, by the president of the National Assembly, by the Prime Minister, or by one-tenth (1/10) of the deputies. (Art. 133)
- FrenchLa Cour constitutionnelle émet des avis sur l'interprétation de la Constitution lorsqu'elle est saisie par le Président de la République, le président de l'Assemblée nationale, le Premier ministre, ou un dixième (1/10) des députés. (Art. 133)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. There shall be a Constitutional Court which is an independent body composed of a President, Vice-President and three members, who -as well as the three deputy members -shall be appointed for a period of five years at the recommendation of the National Assembly.
2. The tasks of the Constitutional Court shall be:
a. to verify the purport of Acts or parts thereof against the Constitution, and against applicable agreements concluded with other states and with international organization;
b. to assess the consistency of decisions of government institutions with one or more of the constitutional rights mentioned in Chapter V3.
… (Art. 144) - Dutch1. Er is een Constitutioneel Hof, zijnde een onafhankelijk orgaan, dat gevormd wordt door de voorzitter, de vice-voorzitter en drie leden, die – evenals de drie plaatsvervangende leden – voor een periode van vijf jaren op voordracht van De Nationale Assemblée door de President worden benoemd.
2. Het Constitutioneel Hof heeft tot taak:
a. het toetsen van de inhoud van wetten of gedeelten daarvan aan de Grondwet en aan van toepassing zijnde overeenkomsten met andere mogendheden en met volkenrechtelijke organisaties;
b. Het beoordelen van de verenigbaarheid van besluiten van overheidsorganen met één of meer der in Hoofdstuk V genoemde grondrechten.
... (Art. 144)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Where any question as to the interpretation of this Constitution arises in any proceedings in any subordinate court and the court is of the 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 High Court.
(2) Where any question is referred to the High Court in pursuance of this section, the High Court shall give its decision upon the question and the court in which the question arose shall, subject to any appeal, dispose of the case in accordance with that decision. (Sec. 105)
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
- EnglishThe Supreme Court of Justice has original and exclusive jurisdiction in the hearing and decision of such matters; and must render its decision in accordance with the requirement for final decisions. (Art. 257)
- SpanishA la Suprema Corte de Justicia le compete el conocimiento y la resolución originaria y exclusiva en la materia; y deberá pronunciarse con los requisitos de las sentencias definitivas. (Art. 257)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishIf the Constitutional Council, on a referral from the President of the Republic, from the Prime Minister, from the President of one or the other Houses, or from sixty Members of the National Assembly or sixty Senators, has held that an international undertaking contains a clause contrary to the Constitution, authorization to ratify or approve the international undertaking involved may be given only after amending the Constitution. (1958 Constitution, Art. 54)
- FrenchSi le Conseil constitutionnel, saisi par le Président de la République, par le Premier ministre, par le président de l'une ou l'autre assemblée ou par soixante députés ou soixante sénateurs, a déclaré qu'un engagement international comporte une clause contraire à la Constitution, l'autorisation de ratifier ou d'approuver l'engagement international en cause ne peut intervenir qu'après révision de la Constitution. (Constitution 1958, Art. 54)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court, at the request of the President of the Republic, of the President of the National Assembly, of at least fifteen Deputies, of the Prime Minister, of the Prosecutor General of the Republic and, of the Ombudsman, shall consider and declare:
a) The unconstitutionality of any rules or resolutions of a content that is normative and material or specific and concrete;
b) The illegality of rules and resolutions referred to in the subparagraph above. (Art. 280) - PortugueseO Tribunal Constitucional, a pedido do Presidente da República, do Presidente da Assembleia Nacional, de pelo menos quinze Deputados, do Primeiro Ministro, do Procurador-Geral da República e do Provedor de Justiça, aprecia e declara:
a) A inconstitucionalidade de quaisquer normas ou resoluções de conteúdo material normativo ou individual e concreto;
b) A ilegalidade das normas e resoluções referidas na alínea anterior. (Art. 280)
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.)