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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) 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
- English1. The Supreme Court shall be the custodian of this Constitution and the constitutions of the states.
2. The Supreme Court shall exercise competences as follows:
a. interpret constitutional provisions at the instance of the President, Government of South Sudan, any state government, or any of the two Houses of the National Legislature;
b. be the court of final judicial instance in respect of any litigation or prosecution under National or state law, including statutory and customary law;
c. have original jurisdiction to decide on disputes that arise under this Constitution and the constitutions of states at the instance of individuals, juridical entities or governments;
d. adjudicate on the constitutionality of laws and set aside or strike down laws or provisions of laws that are inconsistent with this Constitution or the constitutions of the states to the extent of the inconsistency;
e. be a court of review and cassation in respect of any criminal, civil and administrative matters arising out of or under the law;
f. have criminal jurisdiction over the President in accordance with Article 103 (2) herein;
g. have criminal jurisdiction over the Vice President, the Speakers of the National Legislative Assembly and the Council of States and the Justices of the Supreme Court;
h. review death sentences imposed by courts in respect of offences committed under the law;
i. receive appeals against decisions and judgments of the courts of appeal;
j. have original and final jurisdiction to resolve disputes between the states and between the National Government and a state in respect of areas of exclusive, concurrent or residual competences;
k. uphold and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms; and
l. have such other competences as prescribed by this Constitution and the law.
… (Art. 126)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. Court decisions shall be subject to appeal to the Constitutional Court whenever:
a) The courts refuse, on the grounds of unconstitutionality, to apply any rule or resolution of a content that is material and normative or specific and concrete;
b) They apply rules or resolutions of a content that is material and normative or specific and concrete, whose unconstitutionality has been challenged in the proceedings;
c) They apply rules or resolutions of a content that is material and normative or specific and concrete, which have previously been considered unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court itself.
2. Decisions shall also be subject to appeal to the Constitutional Court whenever:
a) They apply resolutions of a content that is material and normative or specific and concrete, which have previously been considered illegal by the Constitutional Court or whose illegality has been challenged in the proceedings.
b) They refuse to apply, on the grounds of illegality, the resolutions referred to in the preceding subparagraph. (Art. 281) - Portuguese1. Cabe recurso para o Tribunal Constitucional, das decisões dos Tribunais que:
a) Recusem, com fundamento em inconstitucionalidade, a aplicação de qualquer norma ou resolução de conteúdo material normativo ou individual e concreto;
b) Apliquem normas ou resoluções de conteúdo material normativo ou individual e concreto cuja inconstitucionalidade haja sido suscitada no processo;
c) Apliquem normas ou resoluções de conteúdo material normativo ou individual e concreto que tenham sido anteriormente julgadas inconstitucionais pelo próprio Tribunal Constitucional.
2. Cabe, ainda, recurso para o Tribunal Constitucional das decisões que:
a) Apliquem resoluções de conteúdo material normativo ou individual e concreto que tenham sido julgadas anteriormente ilegais pelo próprio Tribunal Constitucional ou cuja ilegalidade haja sido suscitada no processo;
b) Recusem aplicar, com fundamento em ilegalidade, as resoluções referidas na alínea anterior. (Art. 281)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The organic laws are those which have for [their] object specifying or completing the provisions relative to the organization or to the functioning of the Institutions, structures and systems specified or qualified as such by the Constitution.
They are voted and modified within the following conditions:
…
- the organic laws can only be promulgated after the declaration by the Constitutional Council of their conformity with the Constitution. (Art. 102) - French
Les lois organiques sont celles qui ont pour objet de préciser ou de compléter les dispositions relatives à l’organisation ou au fonctionnement des Institutions, structures et systèmes prévus ou qualifiés comme tels par la Constitution.
Elles sont votées et modifiées dans les conditions suivantes :
…
- les lois organiques ne peuvent être promulguées qu'après la déclaration par le Conseil constitutionnel de leur conformité à la Constitution. (Art. 102)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English…
(2) Without derogating from the generality of subsection (1) the High Court has jurisdiction -
(a) to enforce the fundamental human rights and freedoms guaranteed by this Constitution; and
(b) to hear and determine any matter of a constitutional nature.
… (Sec. 151)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court decides on:
- the constitutionality of the laws before their promulgation;
- the electoral disputes [contentieux] of the national elections;
- the Internal Regulations of the National Assembly, of the Economic and Social Council, of the High Authority of Communication, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, of the National Institution of Human Rights, of the Mediator of the Republic, [and] of the High Council of the Local Collectivities regarding their conformity to the Constitution;
- the conflicts of attributions between the constitutional organs;
- the exception [pleadings] of unconstitutionality raised before the jurisdictions;
- the recourses formed against the acts of the President of the Republic taken in application of Articles 2, 45, 74 and 90, as well as the recourses formed against the Ordinances taken in application of Article 82, under reserve of their ratification. (Art. 94) - FrenchLa Cour Constitutionnelle statue sur :
- la constitutionnalité des lois avant leur promulgation ;
- le contentieux des élections nationales ;
- le règlement intérieur de l'Assemblée nationale, du Conseil économique et social, de la Haute Autorité de la communication, de la Commission électorale nationale indépendante, de l'Institution nationale des droits humains, du Médiateur de la République, du Haut Conseil des collectivités locales quant à leur conformité à la Constitution.
- les conflits d'attributions entre les organes constitutionnels ;
- l'exception d'inconstitutionnalité soulevée devant les juridictions ;
- les recours formés contre les actes du président de la République pris en application des articles 2, 45, 74 et 90, ainsi que les recours formés contre les ordonnances prises en application de l'article 82, sous réserve de leur ratification. (Art. 94)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
…
Before any ratification, the treaties are submitted by the President of the Republic, to the control of constitutionality of the High Constitutional Court.
… (Art. 137) - French
…
Avant toute ratification, les traités sont soumis par le Président de la République, au contrôle de constitutionnalité de la Haute Cour Constitutionnelle.
… (Art. 137)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The Constitutional Council is a sovereign public office with special jurisdiction to administer justice in matters of a legal-constitutional nature.
… (Art. 240) - Portuguese1. O Conselho Constitucional é o órgão de soberania, ao qual compete especialmente administrar a justiça, em matérias de natureza jurídico-constitucional.
… (Art. 240)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) An appeal shall lie from decisions of the Federal High Court or a High Court to the Court of Appeal as of right in the following cases –
…
(c) decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings on questions as to the interpretation or application of this Constitution;
(d) decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings on questions as to whether any of the provisions of Chapter IV of this Constitution has been, is being or is likely to be, contravened in relation to any person;
… (Sec. 241)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The President of the Republic may ask the Constitutional Court to conduct a prior review of the constitutionality of any rule contained in legislation that has been submitted for enactment, any international treaty submitted to him for ratification or any international agreement sent to him for signature.
2. One tenth of the Members of the National Assembly in full exercise of their office may also request a prior review of the constitutionality of any rule contained in legislation that has been submitted for enactment.
… (Art. 228) - Portuguese1. O Presidente da República pode requerer ao Tribunal Constitucional a apreciação preventiva da constitucionalidade de qualquer norma constante de diploma legal que tenha sido submetido para promulgação, tratado internacional que lhe tenha sido submetido para ratificação ou acordo internacional que lhe tenha sido remetido para assinatura.
2. Pode ainda requerer a apreciação preventiva da constitucionalidade de qualquer norma constante de diploma legal que tenha sido submetido à promulgação um décimo dos Deputados à Assembleia Nacional em efectividade de funções.
... (Art. 228)