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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...
(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
- English1. The Constitutional Court shall be the court that has the power, specifically, to administer Justice in matters of a legal and constitutional nature, particularly with respect to:
a) Review of the constitutionality and legality, under the terms of the Constitution;
b) Verification of death and declaration of disability, of impediment or of loss of office of the President of the Republic;
c) Jurisdiction on matters of elections and political party organizations, under the terms of the law;
d) Resolution of conflicts of jurisdiction, under the terms of the law;
e) Writs of amparo.
… (Art. 215) - Portuguese1. O Tribunal Constitucional é o tribunal ao qual compete, especificamente, administrar a Justiça em matérias de natureza jurídicoconstitucional, designadamente, no que se refere a:
a) Fiscalização da constitucionalidade e legalidade, nos termos da Constituição;
b) Verificação da morte e declaração de incapacidade, de impedimento ou de perda de cargo do Presidente da República;
c) Jurisdição em matéria de eleições e de organizações político-partidárias, nos termos da lei;
d) Resolução de conflitos de jurisdição, nos termos da lei;
e) Recurso de amparo.
… (Art. 215)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) The High Court—
…
(c) may decide constitutional matters except those that only the Constitutional Court may decide;
… (Sec. 171)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is referred to [a matter] by the President of the Republic, by the President of the National Assembly, by the President of the Senate, the Prime Minister or by a third of the members of each Chamber of the Parliament. (Art. 178)
- FrenchLa Cour constitutionnelle est saisie par le Président de la République, le Président de l’Assemblée nationale, le Président du Sénat, le Premier ministre ou par un tiers des membres de chaque chambre du Parlement. (Art. 178)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Council sees to respect for the constitutional principles. It controls the constitutionality of the laws.
It guarantees the fundamental rights of the human person and the public freedoms.
It is the regulatory organ of the functioning of the institutions and of the activity of the public powers. (Art. 75) - Arabicيحرص المجلس الدستوري على احترام المبادئ الدستورية.
يراقب دستورية القوانين، ويضمن حقوق الإنسان الأساسية والحريات العامة،
وهو الهيئة المنظمة لعمل المؤسسات ولنشاط السلطات العامة. (المادة 75) - FrenchLe Conseil constitutionnel veille au respect des principes constitutionnels. Il contrôle la constitutionnalité des lois.
Il garantit les droits fondamentaux de la personne humaine et les libertés publiques.
Il est l'organe régulateur du fonctionnement des institutions et de l'activité des pouvoirs publics. (Art. 75)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The international commitments, provided for in Articles 106 to 108 below must be deferred, before their ratification, to the Constitutional Court, either by the President of the Republic or by the Prime Minister, or by the President of the National Assembly, or one-tenth (1/10) of the Deputies, or by the President of the Senate or one-tenth (1/10) of the Senators.
… (Art. 87)4 - French
Les engagements internationaux prévus aux articles 113 à 115 ci-après doivent être déférés, avant leur ratification, à la Cour Constitutionnelle, soit par le Président de la République, soit par le Premier Ministre, soit par le Président de l'Assemblée Nationale ou un dixième (1/10e) des députés, soit par le Président du Sénat ou un dixième (1/10e) des sénateurs.
... (Art. 87)
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 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
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court decides by order [par arrêt], on:
- the constitutionality of the laws;
- the Internal Regulations of the National Assembly before their application and their modifications;
- the conflicts of attribution between the Institutions of the State.
The Constitutional Court is competent to decide on any question of interpretation and of application of the Constitution. (Art. 126) - FrenchLa Cour constitutionnelle se prononce par arrêt, sur :
- la constitutionnalité des lois ;
- le Règlement intérieur de l'Assemblée nationale avant sa mise en application et ses modifications ;
- les conflits d'attribution entre les institutions de l'Etat.
La Cour constitutionnelle est compétente pour statuer sur toute question d'interprétation et d'application de la Constitution. (Art. 126)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The President of the Republic signs the accords of armistice and the peace treaties.
He obtains the opinion of the Constitutional Court on the accords which he reports to it.
... (Art. 102) - Arabic
يوقّع رئيس الجمهوريّة اتّفاقيّات الهدنة ومعاهدات السّلم.
يلتمس رئيس الجمهورية رأي المحكمة الدستورية بشأن الاتّفاقيّات المتعلّقة بهما.
… (المــادة 102) - French
Le Président de la République signe les accords d’armistice et les traités de paix.
Il recueille l’avis de la Cour constitutionnelle sur les accords qui s’y rapportent.
... (Art. 102)