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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
- 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 Recourse of Unconstitutionality is established against any law, decree or regulation that is opposed to that provided for by the Political Constitution, [and] may be interposed by any citizen. (Art. 187)
- Spanish
Se establece el Recurso por Inconstitucionalidad contra toda ley, decreto o reglamento que se oponga a lo prescrito por la Constitución Política, el cual podrá ser interpuesto por cualquier ciudadano. (Art. 187)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Where any question as to the interpretation of this Constitution arises in any court of law established for Saint Vincent (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.
(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 dispose of the case in accordance with that decision or, if the decisions is the subject of an appeal to the Court of Appeal or to Her Majesty in Council, in accordance with the decision of the Court of Appeal or, as the case may be, of Her Majesty in Council. (Sec. 97)
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) 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
- 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)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishWhen on the occasion of a pending legal proceeding before a jurisdiction, an exception of unconstitutionality is raised, the Constitutional Council may be referred to the matter on remand from the Court of Cassation.
If the provision is declared unconstitutional, the Constitutional Council returns it to the Parliament which decides sovereignly on the case. The new provision is promulgated. (Art. 190ter-8) - FrenchLorsqu'à l'occasion d'une instance en cours devant une juridiction, il est soulevé une exception d'inconstitutionnalité, le Conseil Constitutionnel peut en être saisi sur renvoi de la Cour de Cassation.
Si la disposition est déclarée inconstitutionnelle, le Conseil Constitutionnel la renvoie au Parlement qui statue souverainement sur le cas. La nouvelle disposition est promulguée. (Art. 190ter.8)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Supreme Court of Justice has the faculty to declare the unconstitutionality of the juridical norms and of the judicial resolutions, in the manner and to the extent [alcances] established in this Constitution and in the law. (Art. 132)
- SpanishLa corte suprema de Justicia tiene facultad para declarar la inconstitucionalidad de las normas jurídicas y de las resoluciones judiciales, en la forma y con los alcances establecidos en esta Constitución y en la ley. (Art. 132)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) An appeal shall lie from decisions of the Court of Appeal to the Judicial Committee as of right in the following cases:
…
(c) final decisions in any civil, criminal or other proceedings which involve a question as to the interpretation of this Constitution;
… (Sec. 109)