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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.
Composition and Appointment
- English(1) A person shall be qualified for appointment as Chief Justice if he or she is qualified to be appointed a judge of the Supreme Court and has been a judge of a superior court in a common law country for not less than ten years.
(2) A person shall be qualified to be appointed a judge of the Supreme Court if he or she holds or has held office as a judge of the Court of Appeal, or as a judge of a court having similar jurisdiction in a common law country, in each case for not less than five years, or if he or she has practised as a legal practitioner before a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in a common law country for not less than twelve years.
… (Sec. 139)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishConstitutional proceedings can be filed by a citizen individually or collectively. (Art. 439)
- SpanishLas acciones constitucionales podrán ser presentadas por cualquier ciudadana o ciudadano individual o colectivamente. (Art. 439)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
1. The Constitutional Court reviews preliminarily the constitutionality of the issues presented for a referendum according to Article 150, paragraphs 1 and 2, Article 151, paragraphs 2 and 3, as well as Article 177, paragraphs 4 and 5, within 60 days.
… (Art. 152) - Albanian
1. Gjykata Kushtetuese shqyrton paraprakisht kushtetutshmërinë e çështjeve të shtruara për referendum sipas nenit 150 paragrafët 1 e 2, nenit 151 paragrafët 2 e 3 edhe sipas nenit 177 paragrafët 4 e 5 brenda 60 ditëve.
… (Neni 152)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Court may be referred to [a matter] of a pleading of unconstitutionality on remand of the Supreme Court or of the Council of State, when one of the parties in the process sustains before a jurisdiction that the legislative or regulatory provision on which the outcome of the litigation depends infringes the rights and the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
... (Art. 195) - Arabic
يمكن إخطار المحكمة الدستورية بالدفع بعدم الدستورية بناء على إحالة من المحكمة العليا أو مجلس الدولة، عندما يدعي أحد األطراف في المحاكمة أمام جهة قضائية أن الحكم التشريعي أو التنظيمي الذي يتوقف عليه مآل النزاع ينتهك حقوقه وحرياته التي يضمنها الدستور.
... (المــادة 195) - French
La Cour constitutionnelle peut être saisie d’une exception d’inconstitutionnalité sur renvoi de la Cour suprême ou du Conseil d’Etat, lorsque l’une des parties au procès soutient devant une juridiction que la disposition législative ou réglementaire dont dépend l’issue du litige porte atteinte à ses droits et libertés tels que garantis par la Constitution.
... (Art. 195)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. Where any question as to the interpretation of this Constitution arises in any proceedings in any subordinate court or tribunal and the court or tribunal is of the opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court or tribunal may, and shall, if any party to the proceedings so requests, refer the question to the High Court.
… (Sec. 128)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Council sees to and decides when it is referred to a matter:
• on the constitutionality of the laws before their promulgation;
• on the constitutionality of the internal regulations of the Senate and of the Chamber of Deputies before their implementation
• on the orders
For the same purposes, the laws in general may be referred to the Constitutional Council, before their promulgation, by the President of the Republic, the President of the Senate, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, a group of fifteen (15) Deputes or of (10) Senators.
The law determines the modalities of organization and of functioning of the Constitutional Council as well as the other entities enabled to refer a matter to it. (Art. 190ter-5) - FrenchLe Conseil Constitutionnel veille et statue lorsqu'il est saisi:
a. sur la constitutionnalité des lois organiques avant leur promulgation;
b. sur la constitutionnalité des règlements intérieurs du Sénat et de la Chambre des Députés avant leur mise en application.
c. sur les arrêtés.
Aux mêmes fins, les lois en général peuvent être déférées au Conseil constitutionnel, avant leur promulgation, par le Président de la République, le Président du Sénat, le Président de la Chambre des Députés, un groupe de quinze (15) députés ou de dix Sénateurs.
La loi détermine les autres entités habilitées à saisir le Conseil Constitutionnel. (Article 190ter.5)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) The Constitutional Court shall act on an initiative from not fewer than one-fifth of all Members of the National Assembly, the President, the Council of Ministers, the Supreme Court of Cassation, the Supreme Administrative Court or the Prosecutor General. A challenge to competence pursuant to para 1 item 3 of the preceding Article may further be filed by a municipal council.
(2) Should it find a discrepancy between law and the Constitution, the Supreme Court of Cassation or the Supreme Administrative Court shall suspend the proceedings on a case and shall refer the matter to the Constitutional Court.
(3) The Ombudsman may approach the Constitutional Court with a request for declaring as unconstitutional a law which infringes human rights and freedoms.
(4) The Supreme Judicial Council may approach the Constitutional Court with a petition to establish unconstitutionality of any law whereby any rights and freedoms of citizens are violated. (Art. 150) - Bulgarian(1) Конституционният съд действува по инициатива най-малко на една пета от народните представители, президента, Министерския съвет, Върховния касационен съд, Върховния административен съд и главния прокурор. Спорове за компетентност по т. 3 на ал. 1 от предходния член могат да се повдигат и от общинските съвети.
(2) Когато установят несъответствие между закона и Конституцията, Върховният касационен съд или Върховният административен съд спират производството по делото и внасят въпроса в Конституционния съд.
(3) Омбудсманът може да сезира Конституционния съд с искане за установяване на противоконституционност на закон, с който се нарушават права и свободи на гражданите.
(4) Висшият адвокатски съвет може да сезира Конституционния съд с искане за установяване на противоконституционност на закон, с който се нарушават права и свободи на гражданите. (Чл. 150)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Council is the institution competent in constitutional and electoral matters. It is charged to decide on the constitutionality of the laws, of the ordinances as well as the conformity of the international treaties and agreements with the Constitution.
It interprets the provisions of the Constitution. It controls the regularity, the transparency and the sincerity of the referendum, of the presidential elections, legislative [elections] and is the judge of electoral disputes.
It proclaims the definitive results of the referendum, [and] of the presidential and legislative elections.
... (Art. 152) - French
Le Conseil constitutionnel est l'institution compétente en matière constitutionnelle et électorale. Il est chargé de statuer sur la constitutionnalité des lois, des ordonnances ainsi que la conformité des traités et accords internationaux avec la Constitution.
Il interprète les dispositions de la Constitution. Il contrôle la régularité, la transparence et la sincérité du référendum, des élections présidentielles, législatives et est juge du contentieux électoral.
Il proclame les résultats définitifs des élections présidentielles, législatives et locales.
... (Art. 152)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe organic laws, before their promulgation and the regulations of the National Assembly before their implementation [mise en application], must be submitted to the Constitutional Council which decides concerning their conformity with the Constitution.
To the same ends, the laws can be referred [déférées] to the Constitutional Council, before their promulgation, by the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly, or by one-third (1/3) of the Deputies composing the National Assembly.
…
The Constitutional Council is competent to take cognizance of a pleadings [exception] of unconstitutionality raised in the course of a process, when it is asserted [soulevée] by one of the parties that the law on which the issue at litigation depends, infringes the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. (Art. 86) - Arabicتقدم للمجلس الدستوري القوانين النظامية قبل إصدارها، والنظام الداخلي للجمعية الوطنية قبل تنفيذه، وذلك للبت في دستوريتهما.
وكذلك لرئيس الجمهورية ولرئيس الجمعية الوطنية ولثلث (1/3) نواب الجمعية الوطنية ، تقديم القانون قبل إصداره للمجلس الدستوري.
...
يخول المجلس الدستوري اختصاص التعهد في شأن دعوى بعدم الدستورية أثيرت أثناء محاكمة وذلك متى دفع أحد الأطراف بأن القانون الذي يتوقف عليه مآل النزاع يمس بالحقوق والحريات التي يضمنها الدستور . (المادّة 86) - FrenchLes lois organiques, avant leur promulgation et les règlements de l’Assemblée Nationale avant leur mise en application, doivent être soumis au Conseil Constitutionnel qui se prononce sur leur conformité à la Constitution.
Aux mêmes fins, les lois peuvent être déférées au Conseil Constitutionnel, avant leur promulgation, par le Président de la République, le Président de l'Assemblée Nationale, ou par le tiers des députés composant l'Assemblée Nationale.
...
Le Conseil Constitutionnel est compétent pour connaitre d’une exception d’inconstitutionnalité soulevée au cours d’un procès, lorsqu’il est soutenu par l’une des parties que la loi dont dépend l’issue du litige, porte atteinte aux droits et libertés garantis par la constitution. (Art. 86)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishWhen the Executive Authority vetoes a bill as unconstitutional and the National Assembly by majority vote insists that it be adopted, the bill shall be sent to the Supreme Court for a decision on its constitutionality. If the Supreme Court's judgment declares the bill constitutional, the Executive Authority is obliged to approve it and have it promulgated. (Art. 171)
- SpanishCuando el Ejecutivo objetare un proyecto por inexequible y la Asamblea Nacional, por la mayoría expresada, insistiere en su adopción, aquél lo pasará a la Corte Suprema de Justicia para que decida sobre su inconstitucionalidad. El fallo de la Corte que declare el proyecto constitucional, obliga al Ejecutivo a sancionarlo y hacerlo promulgar. (Art. 171)