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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
- English1. Preventive review of the constitutionality may be requested from the Constitutional Court:
a) By the President of the Republic, in respect of any rule contained in an international treaty or agreement that is referred to it for ratification, as well as in respect of any provision of legislation it has been sent for promulgation as a law, legislative decree or decree-law;
b) By, at least, fifteen Deputies in full exercise of their functions or by the Prime Minister in respect of any rule contained in a legislation act sent to the President for promulgation as law subject to approval by a qualified majority.
… (Art. 278) - Portuguese1. A apreciação preventiva da constitucionalidade pode ser requerida ao Tribunal Constitucional:
a) Pelo Presidente da República, relativamente a qualquer norma constante de tratado ou acordo internacional que lhe tenha sido submetido para ratificação, bem como relativamente a qualquer norma constante de acto legislativo que lhe tenha sido enviado para promulgação como lei, decreto legislativo ou decreto-lei;
b) Por, pelo menos, quinze Deputados em efectividade de funções ou pelo Primeiro Ministro, relativamente a qualquer norma constante de acto legislativo enviado ao Presidente da República para promulgação como lei sujeita a aprovação por maioria qualificada.
… (Art. 278)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Where a court makes an order concerning the constitutional invalidity of any law or any conduct of the President or Parliament, the order has no force unless it is confirmed by the Constitutional Court.
(2) A court which makes an order of constitutional invalidity referred to in subsection (1) may grant a temporary interdict or other temporary relief to a party, or may adjourn the proceedings, pending a decision of the Constitutional Court on the validity of the law or conduct concerned.
(3) Any person with a sufficient interest may appeal, or apply, directly to the Constitutional Court to confirm or vary an order concerning constitutional validity by a court in terms of subsection (1).
(4) If a constitutional matter arises in any proceedings before a court, the person presiding over that court may and, if so requested by any party to the proceedings, must refer the matter to the Constitutional Court unless he or she considers the request is merely frivolous or vexatious.
(5) An Act of Parliament or rules of court must provide for the reference to the Constitutional Court of an order concerning constitutional invalidity made in terms of subsection (1) by a court other than the Constitutional Court.
… (Sec. 175)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is referred to [a matter], for opinion of conformity, before the promulgation of the organic laws or the implementation of the Internal Regulations of each Chamber of the Parliament.
… (Art. 179) - FrenchLa Cour constitutionnelle est saisie, pour avis de conformité, avant la promulgation des lois organiques ou la mise en application du règlement intérieur de chaque chambre du Parlement.
… (Art. 179)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe organic laws, before their promulgation, and the internal regulations of the National Assembly, before their implementation, must be submitted to the Constitutional Council which decides on their conformity with the Constitution. (Art. 78)
- Arabicيتعيّن تقديم القوانين الأساسية قبل إصدارها واللوائح الداخلية للمجلس الوطني قبل تنفيذها إلى المجلس الدستوري الذي يقرر تماشيها مع الدستور.(المادة 78)
- FrenchLes lois organiques, avant leur promulgation, et le règlement intérieur de l'Assemblée nationale, avant sa mise en application, doivent être soumis au Conseil constitutionnel qui se prononce sur leur conformité à la Constitution. (Art. 78)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
Outside of the other competences provided for by the Constitution, the Constitutional Court has at its disposal the power to interpret the Constitution, and the other texts of constitutional status [valeur], in case of doubt or of a lacuna, at the demand of the President of the Republic, of the Prime Minister, of the President of the Senate, of the President of the National Assembly, [or] of one-tenth of the Deputies or of the Senators. (Art. 88)
- French
En dehors des autres compétences prévues par la Constitution, la Cour constitutionnelle dispose du pouvoir d'interpréter la Constitution et les autres textes à valeur constitutionnelle, à la demande du président de la République, du Premier ministre, du président du Sénat, du président de l'Assemblée nationale, d'un dixième des députés ou des sénateurs. (Art. 88)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. In addition to the right of appeal accorded by section 47 of this Constitution, an appeal shall lie as of right to the Court of Appeal from decisions of the High Court in the following cases, that is to say:
a. subject to section 69 of this Constitution, final decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings on questions as to the interpretation of this Constitution, including any such decision made on a reference to the High Court under section 128;
b. final decisions of the High Court in the determination of any question in respect of which a right of access to the High Court is guaranteed by section 17 of this Constitution and final decisions of the High Court under section 22 of this Constitution.
… (Sec. 129)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English…
The laws prior to the Constitution must be modified, if it applies, to render them in conformity with the constitutional rights and freedoms within a time period not exceeding three years counting from the date of promulgation of this Constitutional Law.
In case that the modifications provided for in the preceding paragraph are not adopted [apportées] in the prescribed times, any individual can refer [déférer] these laws to the Constitutional Council for examination of their constitutionality. The provisions declared unconstitutional may not be applied. (Art. 102) - Arabic...
يتوجّب تعديل القوانين السّابقة للدّستور، و عند الاقتضاء- من أجل مطابقتها مع الحقوق و الحريّات الدّستورية في أجل لا يتعدّى ثلاث سنوات(3) اعتبارا من تاريخ صدور هذا القانون الدستوري.
و في حالة عدم إجراء التّعديلات المقرّرة في الفقرة السّابقة في الآجال المحدّدة يجوز لأي شخص أن يطعن في عدم دستورية هذه القوانين أمام المجلس الدستوري. و لا يجوز تطبيق التّرتيبات المحكوم بعدم دستوريتها. (المادّة 102) - French...
Les lois antérieures à la Constitution doivent être modifiées, s’il y a lieu, pour les rendre conformes aux droits et libertés constitutionnels, dans un délai n’excédant pas trois (3) ans pour compter de la date de promulgation de la présente loi constitutionnelle.
Au cas où les modifications prévues à l'alinéa précédent ne sont pas apportées dans les délais prescrits, tout individu pourra déférer ces lois au Conseil constitutionnel pour examen de leur constitutionnalité. Les dispositions déclarées inconstitutionnelles ne peuvent être appliquées. (Art. 102)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) The Supreme Court shall, to the exclusion of any other court, have original jurisdiction in any dispute between the Federation and a state or between states if and in so far as that dispute involves any question (whether of law or fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends.
(2) In addition to the jurisdiction conferred upon it by subsection (1) of this section, the Supreme Court shall have such original jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by any Act of the National Assembly:
Provided that no original jurisdiction shall be conferred upon the Supreme Court with respect to any criminal matter. (Sec. 232)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The Constitutional Court shall, in general be responsible for the administration of justice in legal and constitutional matters, under the terms of the Constitution and the law.
2. The Constitutional Court shall be responsible for:
a) Assessing the constitutionality of any rules and other acts of the state;
b) Providing a prior review of the constitutionality of the laws of parliament;
c) Exercising jurisdiction in other legal and constitutional, electoral and party political matters, under the terms of the Constitution and the law;
d) Assessing appeals against the constitutionality of the decisions of the various courts which have refused to apply particular rules on the grounds that they are unconstitutional;
e) Assessing appeals against the constitutionality of rulings made by the various courts that have applied rules whose constitutionality has been questioned during the relevant proceedings.
… (Art. 180) - Portuguese1. Ao Tribunal Constitucional compete, em geral, administrar a justiça em matérias de natureza jurídico-constitucional, nos termos da Constituição e da lei.
2. Compete ao Tribunal Constitucional:
a) Apreciar a constitucionalidade de quaisquer normas e demais actos do Estado;
b) Apreciar preventivamente a constitucionalidade das leis do parlamento;
c) Exercer jurisdição sobre outras questões de natureza jurídicoconstitucional, eleitoral e político-partidária, nos termos da Constituição e da lei;
d) Apreciar em recurso a constitucionalidade das decisões dos demais Tribunais que recusem a aplicação de qualquer norma com fundamento na sua inconstitucionalidade;
e) Apreciar em recurso a constitucionalidade das decisões dos demais Tribunais que apliquem normas cuja constitucionalidade haja sido suscitada durante o processo.
… (Art. 180)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) There shall be a Supreme Court which shall, in addition to the jurisdiction and powers conferred by this Constitution, have-
(a) original jurisdiction in matters relating to application, contravention, enforcement interpretation of this Constitution;
…
(2) Proceedings in respect of matters relating to the application, contravention, enforcement or interpretation of this Constitution shall take precedence over other matters before the Supreme Court.
… (Art. 125)