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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.
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Jurisdiction and Access
Botswana
- 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
Sao Tome and Principe
- English1. The Constitutional Court shall have jurisdiction to hear appeals against any of the following court decisions:
a) Refusing to apply a legal rule on the grounds of its unconstitutionality;
b) Applying rules whose constitutionality may have been challenged during the proceedings.
2. The Constitutional Court shall also have jurisdiction to hear appeals against any of the following court decisions:
a) Refusing to apply the legal rule of a regional law on the grounds of its illegality by infringement of a law of superior force;
b) Refusing to apply the legal rule of a regional legislative on the grounds of its illegality by infringement of the Political and Administrative Statute of the Autonomous Region of Príncipe or of the general law of the Republic;
c) Refusing to apply the legal rule of a law emanating from a sovereign body on the grounds of illegality by infringement of the Political and Administrative Statute of the Autonomous Region of Príncipe;
d) Applying a rule, whose legality has been challenged during the proceedings on any of the grounds specified in subparagraphs a), b) and c).
3. If a rule, whose application has been refused, consists of an international convention, of a legislative act or of a regulatory decree, the appeals contemplated in subparagraph a) of paragraph 1 and paragraph a) of paragraph 2 of this article are required for public prosecution.
4. The appeals contemplated in subparagraphs b) and d) of paragraph 2 may be instituted only by the party who has challenged the unconstitutionality or illegality, and the law shall regulate the rules on admissibility of these appeals.
5. The Constitutional Court, mandatorily the Public Prosecutor’s Office, shall also have jurisdiction to hear appeals against the decisions of courts that apply a law previously judged unconstitutional or illegal by the Constitutional Court itself.
6. Appeals to the Constitutional Court shall be restricted to the question of unconstitutionality or of illegality, in conformance with the cases. (Art. 149) - Portuguese1. Cabe recurso para o Tribunal Constitucional das decisões dos tribunais:
a) Que recusem a aplicação de qualquer norma com fundamento na sua inconstitucionalidade;
b) Que apliquem norma cuja a inconstitucionalidade haja sido suscitada durante o processo.
2. Cabe igualmente recurso para o Tribunal Constitucional das decisões dos tribunais:
a) Que recusem a aplicação de norma constante de acto legislativo com fundamento na sua ilegalidade por violação de lei com valor reforçado;
b) Que recusem a aplicação de norma constante de diploma regional com fundamento na sua ilegalidade por violação do Estatuto Político-Administrativo da Região Autónoma do Príncipe ou de lei geral da República;
c) Que recusem a aplicação de norma constante de diploma emanado de um órgão de soberania com fundamento na ilegalidade por violação do Estatuto Político-Administrativo da Região Autónoma do Príncipe;
d) Que apliquem norma cuja ilegalidade haja sido suscitada durante o processo com qualquer dos fundamentos referidos nas alíneas a), b) e c).
3. Quando a norma cuja aplicação tiver sido recusada constar de convenção internacional, de acto legislativo ou de decreto regulamentar, os recursos previstos na alínea a) do número 1 e na alínea a) do número 2 deste artigo são obrigatórios para o Ministério Público.
4. Os recursos previstos nas alíneas b) e d) do número 2 só podem ser interpostos, pela parte que haja suscitado a questão da inconstitucionalidade ou da ilegalidade, devendo a lei regular o regime de admissão desses recursos.
5. Cabe ainda recurso para o Tribunal Constitucional, obrigatório para o Ministério Público, das decisões dos tribunais que apliquem norma anteriormente julgada inconstitucional ou ilegal pelo próprio Tribunal Constitucional.
6. Os recursos para o Tribunal Constitucional são restritos à questão da inconstitucionalidade ou da ilegalidade, conforme os casos. (Art. 149)
Jurisdiction and Access
Armenia
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court shall, in the manner stipulated by the Law on the Constitutional Court:
1) Determine the conformity with the Constitution of laws, decisions of the National Assembly, orders and decrees of the President of the Republic, decisions of the Government and the Prime Minister, and sub-legislative normative legal acts;
2) Prior to the adoption of the draft Constitutional Amendments, as well as drafts of legal acts put to a referendum, determine their conformity with the Constitution;
3) Prior to the ratification of an international treaty, determine the conformity with the Constitution of obligations enshrined therein;
4) Resolve disputes arising between constitutional bodies with respect to their constitutional powers;
5) Resolve disputes related to decisions adopted with respect to the results of a referendum or the results of elections of the National Assembly and the President of the Republic;
6) Render a decision on termination of the powers of a parliamentarian;
7) Issue an opinion on the existence of a ground for impeaching the President of the Republic;
8) Render a decision on the impossibility for the President of the Republic to discharge his powers;
9) Solve the question of imposing disciplinary liability on a judge of the Constitutional Court;
10) Solve the question of terminating the powers of a judge of the Constitutional Court,
11) Solve the question on initiating criminal prosecution against a judge of the Constitutional Court or consenting to depriving him of liberty with respect to the performance of his duties; and
12) In cases stipulated by law, render a decision on suspending or prohibiting the activities of a party. (Art. 168) - ArmenianՍահմանադրական դատարանը Սահմանադրական դատարանի մասին օրենքով սահմանված կարգով՝
1) որոշում է օրենքների, Ազգային ժողովի որոշումների, Հանրապետության նախագահի հրամանագրերի և կարգադրությունների, Կառավարության և վարչապետի որոշումների, ենթաօրենսդրական նորմատիվ իրավական ակտերի համապատասխանությունը Սահմանադրությանը.
2) մինչև Սահմանադրության փոփոխությունների նախագծի, ինչպես նաև հանրաքվեի դրվող իրավական ակտերի նախագծերի ընդունումը որոշում է դրանց համապատասխանությունը Սահմանադրությանը.
3) մինչև միջազգային պայմանագրի վավերացումը որոշում է դրանում ամրագրված պարտավորությունների համապատասխանությունը Սահմանադրությանը.
4) լուծում է սահմանադրական մարմինների միջև նրանց սահմանադրական լիազորությունների առնչությամբ առաջացող վեճերը.
5) լուծում է հանրաքվեի, Ազգային ժողովի և Հանրապետության նախագահի ընտրությունների արդյունքներով ընդունված որոշումների հետ կապված վեճերը.
6) որոշում է կայացնում պատգամավորի լիազորությունները դադարեցնելու հարցի վերաբերյալ.
7) եզրակացություն է տալիս Հանրապետության նախագահին պաշտոնանկ անելու հիմքերի առկայության մասին.
8) որոշում է կայացնում Հանրապետության նախագահի լիազորությունների կատարման անհնարինության մասին.
9) լուծում է Սահմանադրական դատարանի դատավորին կարգապահական պատասխանատվության ենթարկելու հարցը.
10) լուծում է Սահմանադրական դատարանի դատավորի լիազորությունները դադարեցնելու հարցը.
11) լուծում է իր լիազորությունների իրականացման կապակցությամբ Սահմանադրական դատարանի դատավորի նկատմամբ քրեական հետապնդում հարուցելու կամ նրան ազատությունից զրկելու վերաբերյալ համաձայնություն տալու հարցը.
12) օրենքով սահմանված դեպքերում որոշում է կայացնում կուսակցության գործունեությունը կասեցնելու կամ արգելելու վերաբերյալ։ (Հոդված 168)
Jurisdiction and Access
France
- 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
Cabo Verde
- 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
South Africa
- 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
China
- 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
Lithuania
- EnglishJudges may not apply any laws that are in conflict with the Constitution.
In cases when there are grounds to believe that a law or another legal act that should be applied in a concrete case is in conflict with the Constitution, the judge shall suspend the consideration of the case and shall apply to the Constitutional Court, requesting that it decide whether the law or another legal act in question is in compliance with the Constitution. (Art. 110) - LithuanianTeisėjas negali taikyti įstatymo, kuris prieštarauja Konstitucijai.
Tais atvejais, kai yra pagrindo manyti, kad įstatymas ar kitas teisinis aktas, kuris turėtų būti taikomas konkrečioje byloje, prieštarauja Konstitucijai, teisėjas sustabdo šios bylos nagrinėjimą ir kreipiasi į Konstitucinį Teismą prašydamas spręsti, ar šis įstatymas ar kitas teisinis aktas atitinka Konstituciją. (110 straipsnis)
Jurisdiction and Access
Congo
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is referred to [a matter], for opinion of conformity, before the promulgation of the organic laws or the implementation of the Internal Regulations of each Chamber of the Parliament.
… (Art. 179) - FrenchLa Cour constitutionnelle est saisie, pour avis de conformité, avant la promulgation des lois organiques ou la mise en application du règlement intérieur de chaque chambre du Parlement.
… (Art. 179)
Jurisdiction and Access
Zambia
- 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)