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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 the provisions of sections 33(2), 34(4), 54(18), 69(6), 80(4) and 123(3) of this Constitution, where any question as to the interpretation of this Constitution or the interpretation or application of the Treaty (as defined in section 131 of this Constitution) arises in any court of law established for Belize (other than the High Court or the Court of Appeal), and the court is of the opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court shall 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, subject to subsection (3) below, give its decision upon the question and the court in which the question arose shall dispose of the case in accordance with that decision or, if the decision is the subject of an appeal to the Court of Appeal or the Caribbean Court of Justice, in accordance with the decision of the Court of Appeal or, as the case may be, the Caribbean Court of Justice.
… (Sec. 96)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe processes promoted before the Constitutional Court in the matters to which this Article refers will be regulated by the law in conformity with the following provisions:
1. Any citizen can exercise the public recourses [acciones] provided for in the preceding Article and intervene as impugnor or defender of the norms submitted to control in the processes promoted by others, as well as in those cases where no public action exists.
2. The Procurator General of the Nation must intervene in all these processes.
… (Art. 242) - SpanishLos procesos que se adelanten ante la Corte Constitucional en las materias a que se refiere este título, serán regulados por la ley conforme a las siguientes disposiciones:
1. Cualquier ciudadano podrá ejercer las acciones públicas previstas en el artículo precedente, e intervenir como impugnador o defensor de las normas sometidas a control en los procesos promovidos por otros, así como en aquellos para los cuales no existe acción pública.
2. El Procurador General de la Nación deberá intervenir en todos los procesos.
... (Art. 242)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is the supreme body for controlling, constitutionally interpreting and administering justice in this matter. It exercises national jurisdiction and its seat is in the city of Quito.
The decisions related to the attributions provided for in the Constitution shall be adopted by the plenary of the Court. (Art. 429) - SpanishLa Corte Constitucional es el máximo órgano de control, interpretación constitucional y de administración de justicia en esta materia. Ejerce jurisdicción nacional y su sede es la ciudad de Quito.
Las decisiones relacionadas con las atribuciones previstas en la Constitución serán adoptadas por el pleno de la Corte. (Art. 429)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Court of Constitutionality has the following functions:
a. To take cognizance in sole [unique] instance of the challenges interposed against the laws or provisions of general character, objected to for partial or total unconstitutionality;
b. To take cognizance in sole instance in its status of Extraordinary Tribunal of [the recourse of] amparo, of actions of amparo interposed against the Congress of the Republic, the Supreme Court of Justice, [or] the President or [the] Vice-President of the Republic;
c. To take cognizance on appeal of all [recourses of] amparo interposed before any of the tribunals of justice. If the appeal should be against a resolution of amparo of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Court of Constitutionality shall be expanded by two members [vocales] in the form specified in Article 268;
d. To take cognizance on appeal of all the challenges against the laws objected to for unconstitutionality in specific cases, in any trial, in cassation, or in the cases contemplated by the law in the matter;
e. To issue an opinion regarding the constitutionality of treaties, agreements, and bills of law at the request of any of the organs of the State;
f. To take cognizance and resolve [the] issues concerning to any conflict of jurisdiction in matters of constitutionality;
g. To compile the doctrine and constitutional principles that have been invoked with the purpose of resolving them through [the recourse of] amparo and [through the recourse] of unconstitutionality of the laws, [and] maintain the jurisprudential bulletin or gazette;
h. To issue an opinion on the unconstitutionality of the laws vetoed by the Executive alleging unconstitutionality; and
i. To act, to render opinions [opinar], to dictate, or to take cognizance of those matters under its competence established in the Constitution of the Republic. (Art. 272) - SpanishLa Corte de Constitucionalidad tiene las siguientes funciones:
a) Conocer en única instancia de las impugnaciones interpuestas contra leyes o disposiciones de carácter general, objetadas parcial o totalmente de inconstitucionalidad;
b) Conocer en única instancia en calidad de Tribunal Extraordinario de Amparo en las acciones de amparo interpuestas en contra del Congreso de la República, la Corte Suprema de Justicia, el Presidente y el Vicepresidente de la República;
c) Conocer en apelación de todos los amparos interpuestos ante cualquiera de los tribunales de justicia. Si la apelación fuere en contra de una resolución de amparo de la Corte Suprema de Justicia, la Corte de Constitucionalidad se ampliará con dos vocales en la forma prevista en el artículo 268;
d) Conocer en apelación de todas las impugnaciones en contra de las leyes objetadas de inconstitucionalidad en casos concretos, en cualquier juicio, en casación, o en los casos contemplados por la ley de la materia;
e) Emitir opinión sobre la constitucionalidad de los tratados, convenios y proyectos de ley, a solicitud de cualquiera de los organismos del Estado;
f) Conocer y resolver lo relativo a cualquier conflicto de jurisdicción en materia de constitucionalidad;
g) Compilar la doctrina y principios constitucionales que se vayan sentando con motivo de las resoluciones de amparo y de inconstitucionalidad de las leyes, manteniendo al día el boletín o gaceta jurisprudencial;
h) Emitir opinión sobre la inconstitucionalidad de las leyes vetadas por el Ejecutivo alegando inconstitucionalidad; e
i) Actuar, opinar, dictaminar o conocer de aquellos asuntos de su competencia establecidos en la Constitución de la República. (Art. 272)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
[The following] are attributions of the Supreme Court of Justice:
...
3) To take cognizance of and to resolve the recourses of amparo for violation of rights established in the Constitution, in accordance with the Law of Constitutional Justice.
4) To take cognizance of and to resolve the recourses for unconstitutionality of the law.
... (Art. 164) - Spanish
Son atribuciones de la Corte Suprema de Justicia:
...
3) Conocer y resolver los recursos de amparo por violación de los derechos establecidos en la Constitución, de acuerdo a la Ley de Justicia Constitucional.
4) Conocer y resolver los recursos por inconstitucionalidad de la ley.
... (Art. 164)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) An appeal shall lie from decisions of the Court of Appeal to Her Majesty in Council as of right in the following cases:
…
(c) final decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings that involve a question as to the interpretation of this Constitution;
… (Sec. 99)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe following are powers of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice:
1. To exercise constitutional jurisdiction in accordance with title VIII3 of this Constitution.
…
The powers indicated under (1) shall be exercised by the Constitutional Division; … (Art. 266) - SpanishSon atribuciones del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia:
1. Ejercer la jurisdicción constitucional conforme al Título VIII de esta Constitución.
...
Las atribuciones señaladas en el numeral 1 serán ejercidas por la Sala Constitucional; … (Art. 266)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishI. The Action for Compliance (Accion de Cumplimiento) shall apply to the case of non compliance with provisions of the constitutional or the law on the part of public servants, and has as its objective the guaranteeing of the execution of the norm.
II. The action shall be filed by the affected individual or collective, or by another with sufficient power in name of the affected party, before a competent judge or court, and shall be processed in the same manner as the Action for Constitutional Protection.
… (Art. 134) - SpanishI. La Acción de Cumplimiento procederá en caso de incumplimiento de disposiciones constitucionales o de la ley por parte de servidores públicos, con el objeto de garantizar la ejecución de la norma omitida.
II. La acción se interpondrá por la persona individual o colectiva afectada, o por otra a su nombre con poder suficiente, ante juez o tribunal competente, y se tramitará de la misma forma que la Acción de Amparo Constitucional.
… (Art. 134)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Where any question as to the interpretation of this Constitution arises in any court of law established for Dominica (other than the Court of Appeal, the High Court or a court- martial) and the court is of opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court shall refer the question to the High Court.
… (Sec. 104)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishWhen a Bill of law is returned because the President of the Republic considers it to be unconstitutional and the Legislative Organ ratifies it in the manner established in the preceding Article, the President of the Republic must present it to the Supreme Court of Justice within three business days, so that after hearing the arguments of both [sides], it will decide whether it is or it is not constitutional, within fifteen business days at the latest. … (Art. 138)
- SpanishCuando la devolucion de un proyecto de ley se deba a que el president de la republica lo considera inconstitucional y el organo legislativo lo ratifica en la forma establecida en el articulo que antecede, debera el presidente de la republica dirigirse a la corte suprema de justicia dentro del tercer dia habil, para que esta Oyendo las razones de ambos, decida si es o no constitucional, a mas tardar dentro de quince dias habiles. … (Art. 138)