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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. Any question as to the interpretation of this Constitution shall be determined by the Court of Appeal sitting as the Constitutional Court.
2. When sitting as a Constitutional Court, the Court of Appeal shall consist of a bench of five members of that Court.
3. A person who alleges that-
a. an Act of Parliament or any other law or anything in or done under the authority of any law; or
b. any act or omission by any person or authority,
is inconsistent with or in contravention of a provision of this Constitution, may petition the Constitutional Court for a declaration to that effect, and for redress where appropriate.
4. Where upon determination of the petition under clause (3) of this article the Constitutional Court considers that there is need for redress in addition to the declaration sought, the Constitutional Court may-
a. grant an order of redress; or
b. refer the matter to the High Court to investigate and determine the appropriate redress.
5. Where any question as to the interpretation of this Constitution arises in any proceedings in a court of law other than a Field Court Martial, the Court-
a. may, if it is of the opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law; and
b. shall, if any party to the proceedings requests it to do so,
refer the question to the constitutional court for decision in accordance with clause (1) of this article.
6. Where any question is referred to the constitutional court under clause (5) of this article, the constitutional court shall give its decision on the question, and the court in which the question arises shall dispose of the case in accordance with that decision.
… (Art. 137)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The Supreme Court of Justice is the highest court of law and the guarantor of a uniform enforcement of the law, and has jurisdiction throughout the national territory.
2. It is also incumbent on the Supreme Court of Justice to administer justice on matters of legal, constitutional and electoral nature.
… (Sec. 124) - Tetum1. Tribunál Supremu Justisa nian mak órgaun boot liu iha órgaun ierarkia tribunál judisiál hotu-hotu ninian, no mós fó garantia atu aplika lei oin ida de’it ho jurisdisaun iha nasaun tomak nia laran.
2. Kompete mós ba Tribunál Supremu Justisa nian atu administra justisa ba buat ne’ebé konaba lia jurídiku-konstitusionál no eleitorál.
… (Art. 124) - Portuguese1. O Supremo Tribunal de Justiça é o mais alto órgão da hierarquia dos tribunais judiciais e o garante da aplicação uniforme da lei, com jurisdição em todo o território nacional.
2. Ao Supremo Tribunal de Justiça compete também administrar justiça em matérias de natureza jurídico-constitucional e eleitoral.
… (Art. 124)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Subject to Subsection (4), the Supreme Court shall, on application by an authority referred to in Subsection (3), give its opinion on any question relating to the interpretation or application of any provision of a Constitutional Law, including (but without limiting the generality of that expression)any question as to the validity of a law or proposed law.
…
(3) The following authorities only are entitled to make application under Subsection (1):-
(a) the Parliament; and
(b) the Head of State, acting with, and in accordance with, the advice of the National Executive Council; and
(c) the Law Officers of Papua New Guinea; and
(d) the Law Reform Commission; and
(e) the Ombudsman Commission; and
(ea) a Provincial Assembly or a Local-level Government; and
(eb) a provincial executive; and
(ec) a body established by a Constitutional Law or an Act of the Parliament specifically for the settlement of disputes between the National Government and Provincial Governments or Local-level Governments, or between Provincial Governments, or between Provincial Governments and Local-level Governments, or Local-level Governments; and
(f) the Speaker, in accordance with Section 137(3) (Acts of Indemnity).
(4) Subject to any Act of the Parliament, the Rules of Court of the Supreme Court may make provision in respect of matters relating to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under this section, and in particular as to-
(a) the form and contents of questions to be decided by the Court; and
(b) the provision of counsel adequate to enable full argument before the Court of any question; and
(c) cases and circumstances in which the Court may decline to give an opinion.
… (Sec. 19)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishEvery person or collective affected by a juridical norm contrary to the Constitution shall have the right to present an Action for Unconstitutionality (Accion de Inconstitucionalidad), pursuant to the procedures established by law. (Art. 132)
- SpanishToda persona individual o colectiva afectada por una norma jurídica contraria a la Constitución tendrá derecho a presentar la Acción de Inconstitucionalidad, de acuerdo con los procedimientos establecidos por la ley. (Art. 132)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
1. The Constitutional Court decides on:
a) compatibility of the law with the Constitution or with international agreements, as foreseen in Article 122;
b) compatibility of international agreements with the Constitution prior to their ratification;
c) compatibility of normative acts of the central and local bodies with the Constitution and international agreements;
ç) conflicts of competencies between state powers, as well as between central government and local government;
d) constitutionality of political parties and other political organizations, as well as their activity, as per Article 9 of this Constitution;
dh) dismissal from duty of the President of the Republic and finding of his/her inability to exercise his/her functions;
e) matters connected to the electability and noncompliance in assuming the functions of the President of the Republic, of deputies, of functionaries of bodies foreseen in the Constitution, as well as to the verification of their election;
ë) constitutionality of the referendum and verification of its results;
f) conclusive adjudication of the complaints of individuals against the acts of the public powers or judicial acts impairing the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, after all effective legal means for the protection of these rights have been exhausted, unless provided otherwise by the Constitution.
2. The Constitutional Court, when recourse being sought for examining a law on the revision of the Constitution, approved by the Assembly according to Article 177, shall control only the compliance with the procedural requirements foreseen in the Constitution. (Art. 131) - Albanian
1. Gjykata Kushtetuese vendos për:
a) pajtueshmërinë e ligjit me Kushtetutën ose me marrëveshjet ndërkombëtare, siç parashikohet në nenin 122;
b) pajtueshmërinë e marrëveshjeve ndërkombëtare me Kushtetutën para ratifikimit të tyre;
c) pajtueshmërinë e akteve normative të organeve qendrore dhe vendore me Kushtetutën dhe me marrëveshjet ndërkombëtare;
ç) mosmarrëveshjet e kompetencës ndërmjet pushteteve, si dhe ndërmjet pushtetit qendror dhe qeverisjes vendore;
d) kushtetutshmërinë e partive dhe të organizatave të tjera politike, si dhe të veprimtarisë së tyre, sipas nenit 9 të kësaj Kushtetute;
dh) shkarkimin nga detyra të Presidentit të Republikës dhe vërtetimin e pamundësisë së ushtrimit të funksioneve të tij;
e) çështjet që lidhen me zgjedhshmërinë dhe papajtueshmëritë në ushtrimin e funksioneve të Presidentit të Republikës, të deputetëve, të funksionarëve të organeve të parashikuara në Kushtetutë, si dhe me verifikimin e zgjedhjes së tyre.
ë) kushtetutshmerinë e referendumit dhe verifikimin e rezultateve të tij;
f) gjykimin përfundimtar të ankesave të individëve kundër çdo akti të pushtetit publik ose vendimi gjyqësor që cenon të drejtat dhe liritë themelore të garantuara në Kushtetutë, pasi të jenë shteruar të gjitha mjetet juridike efektive për mbrojtjen e këtyre të drejtave, përveçse kur parashikohet ndryshe në Kushtetutë.
2. Gjykata Kushtetuese, në rastin kur vihet në lëvizje për shqyrtimin e një ligji për rishikimin e Kushtetutës, të miratuar nga Kuvendi sipas nenit 177, kontrollon vetëm respektimin e procedurës së parashikuar nga Kushtetuta. (Neni 131)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Court is an independent institution responsible for assuring respect for the Constitution.
The Constitutional Court is the regulatory organ of the functioning of the institutions and of the activity of the public powers.
The Constitutional Court establishes the rules concerning its functioning. (Art. 185) - Arabic
المحكمة الدستورية مؤسسة مستقلة مكلفة بضمان احترام الدّستور.
تضبط المحكمة الدستورية سير المؤسسات ونشاط السلطات العمومية.
تحدد المحكمة الدستورية قواعد عملها. (المــادة 185) - French
La Cour constitutionnelle est une institution indépendante chargée d’assurer le respect de la Constitution.
La Cour constitutionnelle est l’organe régulateur du fonctionnement des institutions et de l’activité des pouvoirs publics.
La Cour constitutionnelle fixe les règles relatives à son fonctionnement. (Art. 185)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of sections 22(5), 38(6), 42(8), 57(7), 115(8), 118(3) and 121(10) of this Constitution, any person who alleges that any provision of this Constitution (other than a provision of Chapter I3 thereof) has been or is being contravened may, if he has a relevant interest, apply to the High Court for a declaration and for relief under this section.
(2) The High Court shall have jurisdiction on an application made under this section to determine whether any provision of this Constitution (other than a provision of Chapter I thereof) has been or is being contravened and to make a declaration accordingly.
(3) Where the High Court makes a declaration under this section that a provision of this Constitution has been or is being contravened and the person on whose application the declaration is made has also applied for relief, the High Court may grant to that person such remedy as its considers appropriate, being a remedy available generally under the law of Dominica in proceedings in the High Court.
(4) The Chief Justice may make rules with respect to the practice and procedure of the High Court in relation to the jurisdiction and powers conferred on the Court by or under this section, including provision with respect to the time within which any application under this section may be made.
(5) A person shall be regarded as having a relevant interest for the purpose of an application under this section only if the contravention of this Constitution alleged by him is such as to affect his interests.
(6) The right conferred on a person by this section to apply for a declaration and relief in respect of an alleged contravention of this Constitution shall be in addition to any other action in respect of the same matter that may be available to that person under any other enactment or any rule of law.
(7) Nothing in this section shall confer jurisdiction on the High Court to hear or determine any such question as is referred to in section 40 of this Constitution. (Sec. 103)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English...
3. The Constitutional Court shall uphold this Constitution.
a) The Constitutional Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to decide any dispute that arises under this Constitution between the Entities or between Bosnia and Herzegovina and an Entity or Entities, or between institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including but not limited to:
- Whether an Entity's decision to establish a special parallel relationship with a neighboring state is consistent with this Constitution, including provisions concerning the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Whether any provision of an Entity's constitution or law is consistent with this Constitution.
Disputes may be referred only by a member of the Presidency, by the Chair of the Council of Ministers, by the Chair or a Deputy Chair of either chamber of the Parliamentary Assembly, by one-fourth of the members of either chamber of the Parliamentary Assembly, or by one-fourth of either chamber of a legislature of an Entity.
b) The Constitutional Court shall also have appellate jurisdiction over issues under this Constitution arising out of a judgment of any other court in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
c) The Constitutional Court shall have jurisdiction over issues referred by any court in Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning whether a law, on whose validity its decision depends, is compatible with this Constitution, with the European Convention for Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and its Protocols, or with the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina; or concerning the existence of or the scope of a general rule of public international law pertinent to the court's decision.
… (Art. VI) - Bosnian...
3. Ustavni sud će podržavati ovaj Ustav.
a) Ustavni sud je jedini nadležan da odlučuje o bilo kojem sporu koji se javlja po ovom Ustavu između dva entiteta, ili između Bosne i Hercegovine i jednog ili oba entiteta, te između institucija Bosne i Hercegovine, uključujući ali ne ograničavajući se na to pitanje:
- Da li je odluka entiteta da uspostavi poseban paralelan odnos sa susjednom državom u skladu sa ovim Ustavom, uključujući i odredbe koje se odnose na suverenitet i teritorijalni integritet Bosne i Hercegovine.
- Da li je bilo koja odredba ustava ili zakona jednog entiteta u skladu sa ovim Ustavom.
Sporove može pokrenuti član Predsjedništva, predsjedavajući Vijeća ministara, predsjedavajući, ili njegov zamjenik, bilo kojeg doma Parlamentarne skupštine; jedna četvrtina članova/delegata bilo kojeg doma Parlamentarne skupštine, ili jedna četvrtina članova bilo kojeg doma zakonodavnog organa jednog entiteta.
b) Ustavni sud također ima apelacionu nadležnost u pitanjima koja su sadržana u ovom Ustavu, kada ona postanu predmet spora zbog presude bilo kojeg suda u Bosni i Hercegovini.
c) Ustavni sud je nadležan u pitanjima koja mu je proslijedio bilo koji sud u Bosni i Hercegovini u pogledu toga da li je zakon, o čijem važenju njegova odluka ovisi, kompatibilan sa ovim Ustavom, sa Evropskom konvencijom o ljudskim pravima i osnovnim slobodama i njenim protokolima, ili sa zakonima Bosne i Hercegovine; ili u pogledu postojanja ili domašaja nekog opšteg pravila međunarodnog javnog prava koje je bitno za odluku suda.
… (Član VI) - Croatian...
3. Ustavni sud će podržavati ovaj Ustav.
a) Ustavni sud ima isključivu nadležnost odlučivanja o svim sporovima koji proisteknu iz ovog Ustava između entiteta, ili između Bosne i Hercegovine i jednog ili oba entiteta, ili između institucija Bosne i Hercegovine, uključujući, ali se ne ograničavajući se na to:
- Je li odluka nekog entiteta da uspostavi posebne paralelne odnose sa susjednom državom sukladna ovom Ustavu, uključujući i odredbe koje se tiču suvereniteta i teritorijalnog integriteta Bosne i Hercegovine.
- Je li neka odredba ustava ili zakona jednog entiteta sukladna ovom Ustavu.
Spor može pokrenuti član Predsjedništva, predsjedavajući Vijeća ministara, predsjedavaju-ći ili dopredsjedavajući jednog od domova Parlamentarne skupštine; jedna četvrtina članova/delegata jednog od domova Parlamentarne skupštine, ili jedna četvrtina jednog od domova zakonodavnog tijela jednog entiteta.
b) Ustavni sud također ima prizivnu nadležnost za pitanja iz Ustava koja se pojave na temelju presude bilo kojeg drugog suda u Bosni i Hercegovini.
c) Ustavni sud će imati nadležnost za pitanja koja mu podnese bilo koji sud u Bosni i Hercegovini, a koja se tiču toga je li neki zakon o čijoj valjanosti ovisi njegova odluka sukladno ovom Ustavu, s Europskom konvencijom za ljudska prava i temeljne slobode i njezinim protokolima, ili sa zakonima Bosne i Hercegovine; ili koja se tiču postojanja ili djelokruga nekog općeg pravila međunarodnog javnog prava koje je bitno za odluku suda.
… (Članak VI) - Serbian...
3. Уставни суд ће штитити овај Устав.
а) Уставни суд има искључиву надлежност да одлучује у споровима који по овом Уставу настају између ентитета, или између Босне и Херцеговине и једног или оба ентитета, или између институција Босне и Херцеговине, укључујући, али се не ограничавајући само на то:
- Да ли је одлука неког ентитета да успостави специјални паралелни однос са неком од сусједних држава сагласна овом Уставу, укључујући и одредбе које се односе на суверенитет и територијални интегритет Босне и Херцеговине.
- Да ли је неки члан устава или закона ентитета у сагласности са овим Уставом.
Спорове могу покретати само чланови Предсједништва, предсједавајући Министарског савјета, предсједавајући или замјеник предсједавајућег било којег вијећа Парламентарне скупштине, једна четвртина чланова било којег вијећа Парламентарне скупштине или једна четвртина било ког законодавног вијећа неког ентитета.
b) б)Уставни суд има и апелациону надлежност над питањима по овом Уставу, која проистичу из пресуде сваког суда у Босни и Херцеговини.
c) ц) Уставни суд има надлежност у питањима која му упути било који суд у Босни и Херцеговини, а односи се на то да ли је закон на чијој ваљаности почива његова одлука, сагласан са овим Уставом, Европском конвенцијом о људским правима и основним слободама и њеним протоколима, или са законима Босне и Херцеговине; или у погледу постојања или дјелокруга неког општег правила међународног јавног права које је од значаја за одлуку тог суда.
… (Члан VI)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
Any citizen can refer [a matter] to the Constitutional Court on the constitutionality of the laws, either directly, or by the procedure of the pleadings [exception] of unconstitutionality invoked in a matter which concerns that citizen before a jurisdiction. That [jurisdiction] must defer until the decision the Constitutional Court which must intervene within a time period of thirty days. (Art. 122)
- French
Tout citoyen peut saisir la Cour constitutionnelle sur la constitutionnalité des lois, soit directement, soit par la procédure de l'exception d'inconstitutionnalité invoquée dans une affaire qui le concerne devant une juridiction. Celle-ci doit surseoir jusqu'à la décision de la Cour constitutionnelle qui doit intervenir dans un délai de trente jours. (Art. 122)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
1. The Council of Constitutional Inquiry shall have powers to investigate constitutional disputes. Should the Council, upon consideration of the matter, find it necessary to interpret the Constitution, it shall submit its recommendations thereon to the House of the Federation.
2. Where any Federal or State law is contested as being unconstitutional and such a dispute is submitted to it by any court or interested party, the Council shall consider the matter and submit it to the House of the Federation for a final decision.
3. When issues of constitutional interpretation arise in the courts, the Council shall:
a. Remand the case to the concerned court if it finds there is no need for constitutional interpretation; the interested party, if dissatisfied with the decision of the Council, may appeal to the House of the Federation.
b. Submit its recommendations to the House of the Federation for a final decision if it believes there is a need for constitutional interpretation.
… (Art. 84) - Amharic
1. የሕገ መንግሥት ጉዳዮች አጣሪ ጉባኤ ሕገ መንግሥታዊ ጉዳዮችን የማጣራት ሥልጣን ይኖረዋል፡፡ በሚያደርገው ማጣራት መሰረት ሕገ መንግሥቱ መተርጐም አስፈላጊ ሆኖ ሲያገኘው ለፌዴሬሽን ምክር ቤት በጉዳዩ ላይ የውሳኔ ሐሳብ ያቀርባል፡፡
2. በፌዴራሉ መንግሥትም ሆነ በክልል ሕግ አውጪ አካላት የሚወጡ ሕጐች ከዚህ ሕገ መንግሥት ጋር ይቃረናሉ የሚል ጥያቄ ሲነሳና ጉዳዩም በሚመለከተው ፍርድ ቤት ወይም በባለ ጉዳዩ ሲቀርብለት መርምሮ ለመጨረሻ ውሳኔ ለፌዴሬሽኑ ምክር ቤት ያቀርባል፡፡
3. በፍርድ ቤቶች የሕገ መንግሥት ትርጉም ጥያቄ ሲነሳ፣
ሀ/ ሕገ መንግሥቱን መተርጐም አስፈላጊ ሆኖ ሳያገኘው ሲቀር ጉዳዩን ለሚመለከተው ፍርድ ቤት ይመልሳል፤ በአጣሪ ጉባኤው ውሳኔ ቅር የተሰኘ ባለጉዳይ ቅሬታውን ለፌዴሬሽኑ ምክር ቤት በይግባኝ ማቅረብ ይችላል፡፡
ለ/ የትርጉም ጥያቄ መኖሩን ያመነበት እንደሆነ በጉዳዩ ላይ የሚሰጠውን ሕገ መንግሥታዊ ትርጉም ለፌዴሬሽኑ ምክር ቤት ለመጨረሻ ውሳኔ ያቀርባል፡፡
… (አንቀጽ 84)