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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) Subject to subsection (2), the High Court has original jurisdiction to determine any question as to the interpretation or application of this Constitution.
(2) Where —
(a) any question as to the interpretation or application of this Constitution arises in any proceedings in a subordinate court; and
(b) that court is of the opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law,
the court may, and shall if a party to the proceedings so requests, refer the question to the High Court for determination. (Sec. 134)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court decides obligatorily on:
– the constitutionality of the organic laws and of the laws before their promulgation;
– the internal regulations of the National Assembly, of the High Council of the Collectivities and of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council before their entry into application as to their conformity with the Constitution;
– the conflicts of attribution between the institutions of the State;
– the regularity of the presidential elections, legislative [elections] and the operations of [the] referendum of which it proclaims the results. (Art. 86) - FrenchLa Cour Constitutionnelle statue obligatoirement sur :
• la constitutionnalité des lois organiques et des lois avant leur promulgation;
• les règlements intérieurs de l'Assemblée Nationale, du Haut Conseil des Collectivités et du Conseil Economique, Social et Culturel avant leur mise en application quant à leur conformité à la Constitution;
• les conflits d'attribution entre les institutions de l'Etat;
• la régularité des sélections présidentielles, législatives et des opérations de référendum dont elle proclame les résultats. (Art. 86)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. Appeals of unconstitutionality against laws or statutory rules may be lodged by one fifth of the General Council, the Head of Government and three Local Councils. One fifth of the General Council may lodge an appeal of unconstitutionality against the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber. The appeal shall be lodged within the thirty days following the publication of the rule.
… (Art. 99) - Catalan1. Poden interposar recurs d'inconstitucionalitat contra les lleis i els decrets legislatius una cinquena part dels membres del Consell General, el cap de Govern i tres Comuns. Una cinquena part dels membres del Consell General pot interposar recurs d'inconstitucionalitat contra el reglament de la cambra. El termini d'interposició de la demanda és de trenta dies des de la data de publicació de la norma.
… (Art. 99)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English[The following] are duties and attributions of the Constitutional Chamber:
1. to take cognizance [conocer] and to decide [resolver] on the unconstitutionality of the laws and of other normative instruments, declaring the inapplicability of the provisions contrary to this Constitution in each concrete case and in decision [fallo] that will only be effective in relation with that case, and
2. to decide on the unconstitutionality of the definitive or interlocutory sentences, declaring the nullity of those that result [as being] contrary to this Constitution.
The proceeding may be initiated by [an] action before the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, and by way [vía] of an excepción [pleadings of exception] in any instance, in which case the prior records [antecedentes] will rise [se elevarán] to the Court. (Art. 260) - SpanishSon deberes y atribuciones de la Sala Constitucional:
1. conocer y resolver sobre la inconstitucionalidad de las leyes y de otros instrumentos normativos, declarando la inaplicabilidad de las disposiciones contrarias a esta Constitución en cada caso concreto, y en fallo que sólo tendrá efecto con relación a este caso, y
2. decidir sobre la inconstitucionalidad de las sentencias definitivas o interlocutorias, declarando la nulidad de las que resulten contrarias a esta Constitución.
El procedimiento podrá iniciarse por acción ante la Sala Constitucional de la Corte Suprema de Justicia, y por vía de la excepción en cualquier instancia, en cuyo caso se elevarán los antecedentes a la Corte. (Art. 260)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. An appeal shall lie from decisions of the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court to the Judicial Committee as of right in the following cases
a. final decisions, in any civil or criminal proceedings, on questions as to the interpretation of this Constitution;
… (Sec. 81)
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(1) Subject to sections 23(3), 37(10)(b), 50(7) and 116(2), any person who alleges that any provision of this Constitution (other than a provision of Chapter II2) has been or is being contravened may, if he or she 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 II) 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 provision 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 or her is such as to affect his or her 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. (Sec. 96)
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
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is equally competent to decide on the cases specified in the Articles 6, 53, 54, 60, 67, 86, 103 and 110 of the Constitution. (Art. 129)
- FrenchLa Cour constitutionnelle est également compétente pour statuer sur les cas prévus aux articles 6, 53, 54, 60, 67, 86, 103 et 110 de la Constitution. (Art. 129)
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)