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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.
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Jurisdiction and Access
Antigua and Barbuda
- English1. An appeal shall lie from decisions of the Court of Appeal to Her Majesty in Council as of right in the following cases-
…
c. final decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings which involve a question as to the interpretation of this Constitution;
… (Sec. 122)
Jurisdiction and Access
Bulgaria
- English(1) The Constitutional Court shall act on an initiative from not fewer than one-fifth of all Members of the National Assembly, the President, the Council of Ministers, the Supreme Court of Cassation, the Supreme Administrative Court or the Prosecutor General. A challenge to competence pursuant to para 1 item 3 of the preceding Article may further be filed by a municipal council.
(2) Should it find a discrepancy between law and the Constitution, the Supreme Court of Cassation or the Supreme Administrative Court shall suspend the proceedings on a case and shall refer the matter to the Constitutional Court.
(3) The Ombudsman may approach the Constitutional Court with a request for declaring as unconstitutional a law which infringes human rights and freedoms.
(4) The Supreme Judicial Council may approach the Constitutional Court with a petition to establish unconstitutionality of any law whereby any rights and freedoms of citizens are violated. (Art. 150) - Bulgarian(1) Конституционният съд действува по инициатива най-малко на една пета от народните представители, президента, Министерския съвет, Върховния касационен съд, Върховния административен съд и главния прокурор. Спорове за компетентност по т. 3 на ал. 1 от предходния член могат да се повдигат и от общинските съвети.
(2) Когато установят несъответствие между закона и Конституцията, Върховният касационен съд или Върховният административен съд спират производството по делото и внасят въпроса в Конституционния съд.
(3) Омбудсманът може да сезира Конституционния съд с искане за установяване на противоконституционност на закон, с който се нарушават права и свободи на гражданите.
(4) Висшият адвокатски съвет може да сезира Конституционния съд с искане за установяване на противоконституционност на закон, с който се нарушават права и свободи на гражданите. (Чл. 150)
Jurisdiction and Access
Botswana
- 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
Chile
- EnglishAttributions of the Constitutional Tribunal are:
1. To exercise the control of constitutionality of the laws that interpret any precept of the Constitution, of the constitutional organic laws and of the norms of a treaty which concern matters belonging to the latter, prior to their promulgation;
2. To resolve concerning the questions of constitutionality of the original decisions adopted by the Supreme Court, the Courts of Appeal and the Qualifying Tribunal of Elections;
3. To resolve the questions concerning constitutionality which arise during the processing of the Bills of law or of constitutional reform and of the treaties submitted to the approval of the Congress;
4. To resolve the questions which arise concerning the constitutionality of a decree with the force of law;
5. To resolve the questions which arise concerning the constitutionality [of] the convocation to a plebiscite, without prejudice to the attributions which correspond to the Qualifying Tribunal of Elections;
6. To resolve, by the majority of its members in office, [on] the inapplicability of a legal precept having application in any measure that is taken before an ordinary or special tribunal, [having a] result contrary to the Constitution;
7. To resolve, by the majority of four-fifths of its members in office, [on] the unconstitutionality of a legal precept declared inapplicable in conformity with that provided in the previous Numeral;
8. To resolve the complaints in case the President of the Republic does not promulgate a law when he should do so or [when] he promulgates a text different from that which constitutionally corresponds;
9. To resolve [the questions] concerning the constitutionality of a decree or resolution of the President of the Republic which the Office of the Comptroller General has objected to [representar] as[,] in its opinion [estimar][,] unconstitutional, when it is required by the President in conformity with Article 99;
10. To declare the unconstitutionality of the organizations and of the movements or political parties, as well as the responsibility of the persons who have participated in the acts which motivated the declaration of unconstitutionality, in conformity with that provided in the sixth, seventh and eighth paragraphs of Numeral 15 of Article 19 of this Constitution. However, if the affected person is the President of the Republic or the President-elect, the declaration referred to will require, also, the agreement of the Senate adopted by the majority of its members in office;
11. To report to the Senate in the cases to which Article 53, Numeral 7, of this Constitution, refers;
12. To resolve the conflicts of competence which arise between the political or administrative authorities and the tribunals of justice, which do not correspond to the Senate [to resolve];
13. To resolve concerning the constitutional or legal ineligibilities [inhabilidades] which affect a person [from] being appointed Minister of State, [from] remaining in that post, or [from] performing other functions simultaneously;
14. To decide concerning the ineligibilities, incompatibilities and grounds for cessation [of] the responsibilities of the parliamentarians;
15. To qualify the ineligibility invoked by a parliamentarian in the terms of the final paragraph of Article 60 and decide concerning the renunciation of the responsibilities, and
16. To resolve concerning the constitutionality of the supreme decrees, whatever the alleged defect may be, including those that may be issued in the exercise of the independent regulatory power of the President of the Republic, when they concern matters that may be reserved to the law by mandate of Article 63.
In the case of Numeral 1, the Chamber of origin will forward to the Constitutional Tribunal the respective Bill within the five days following the [day] on which it is totally processed by the Congress.3
… (Art. 93) - SpanishSon atribuciones del Tribunal Constitucional:
1º.- Ejercer el control de constitucionalidad de las leyes que interpreten algún precepto de la Constitución, de las leyes orgánicas constitucionales y de las normas de un tratado que versen sobre materias propias de estas últimas, antes de su promulgación;
2º.- Resolver sobre las cuestiones de constitucionalidad de los autos acordados dictados por la Corte Suprema, las Cortes de Apelaciones y el Tribunal Calificador de Elecciones;
3º.- Resolver las cuestiones sobre constitucionalidad que se susciten durante la tramitación de los proyectos de ley o de reforma constitucional y de los tratados sometidos a la aprobación del Congreso;
4º.- Resolver las cuestiones que se susciten sobre la constitucionalidad de un decreto con fuerza de ley;
5º.- Resolver las cuestiones que se susciten sobre constitucionalidad con relación a la convocatoria a un plebiscito, sin perjuicio de las atribuciones que correspondan al Tribunal Calificador de Elecciones;
6°.- Resolver, por la mayoría de sus miembros en ejercicio, la inaplicabilidad de un precepto legal cuya aplicación en cualquier gestión que se siga ante un tribunal ordinario o especial, resulte contraria a la Constitución;
7º.- Resolver por la mayoría de los cuatro quintos de sus integrantes en ejercicio, la inconstitucionalidad de un precepto legal declarado inaplicable en conformidad a lo dispuesto en el numeral anterior;
8º.- Resolver los reclamos en caso de que el Presidente de la República no promulgue una ley cuando deba hacerlo o promulgue un texto diverso del que constitucionalmente corresponda;
9º.- Resolver sobre la constitucionalidad de un decreto o resolución del Presidente de la República que la Contraloría General de la República haya representado por estimarlo inconstitucional, cuando sea requerido por el Presidente en conformidad al artículo 99;
10°.- Declarar la inconstitucionalidad de las organizaciones y de los movimientos o partidos políticos, como asimismo la responsabilidad de las personas que hubieran tenido participación en los hechos que motivaron la declaración de inconstitucionalidad, en conformidad a lo dispuesto en los párrafos sexto, séptimo y octavo del Nº 15º del artículo 19 de esta Constitución. Sin embargo, si la persona afectada fuera el Presidente de la República o el Presidente electo, la referida declaración requerirá, además, el acuerdo del Senado adoptado por la mayoría de sus miembros en ejercicio;
11º.- Informar al Senado en los casos a que se refiere el artículo 53 número 7) de esta Constitución;
12º.- Resolver las contiendas de competencia que se susciten entre las autoridades políticas o administrativas y los tribunales de justicia, que no correspondan al Senado;
13º.- Resolver sobre las inhabilidades constitucionales o legales que afecten a una persona para ser designada Ministro de Estado, permanecer en dicho cargo o desempeñar simultáneamente otras funciones;
14º.- Pronunciarse sobre las inhabilidades, incompatibilidades y causales de cesación en el cargo de los parlamentarios;
15º.- Calificar la inhabilidad invocada por un parlamentario en los términos del inciso final del artículo 60 y pronunciarse sobre su renuncia al cargo, y
16°.- Resolver sobre la constitucionalidad de los decretos supremos, cualquiera sea el vicio invocado, incluyendo aquellos que fueren dictados en el ejercicio de la potestad reglamentaria autónoma del Presidente de la República cuando se refieran a materias que pudieran estar reservadas a la ley por mandato del artículo 63.
En el caso del número 1º, la Cámara de origen enviará al Tribunal Constitucional el proyecto respectivo dentro de los cinco días siguientes a aquél en que quede totalmente tramitado por el Congreso.
... (Art. 93)
Jurisdiction and Access
France
- EnglishIf, during proceedings in progress before a court of law, it is claimed that a legislative provision infringes the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, the matter may be referred by the Conseil d’État or by the Cour de Cassation to the Constitutional Council which shall rule within a determined period.
… (1958 Constitution, Art. 61-1) - FrenchLorsque, à l'occasion d'une instance en cours devant une juridiction, il est soutenu qu'une disposition législative porte atteinte aux droits et libertés que la Constitution garantit, le Conseil constitutionnel peut être saisi de cette question sur renvoi du Conseil d'État ou de la Cour de cassation qui se prononce dans un délai déterminé.
… (Constitution 1958, Art. 61-1)
Jurisdiction and Access
Equatorial Guinea
- English...
2. The Constitutional Tribunal is competent:
a) To take cognizance of the recourses of unconstitutionality of the laws.
b) To take cognizance of the recourses of constitutional amparo against the provisions and acts which violate the rights and freedoms recognized in the Fundamental Law.
c) To proclaim the definitive results of the Presidential, Legislative, [and] Municipal Elections and the Operations of Referendum.
d) To declare the permanent physical or mental incapacity that constitute legal impediment to the fulfillment of the functions of the President of the Republic, of the Vice President of the Republic, of the President of the Chamber of the Deputies and of the President of the Senate.
e) To decide with binding character, concerning the constitutional leglity of the regulatory development of the institutional laws.
f) To take cognizance of the conflicts between the constitutional organs.
g) To take cognizance concerning the declaration of unconstitutionality of the international treaties.
h) [Of] the other matters that the laws attribute to it. (Art. 101) - Spanish...
2. Compete al Tribunal Constitucional:
a) Conocer de los recursos de inconstitucionalidad de las leyes.
b) Conocer de los recursos de amparo constitucional contra las disposiciones y actos que violen los derechos y libertades reconocidos en la Ley Fundamental.
c) Proclamar los resultados definitivos de las Elecciones Presidenciales, Legislativas, Municipales y las Operaciones de Referéndum.
d) Declarar la incapacidad física o mental permanente que constituye impedimento legal para el desempeño de las funciones del Presidente de la República, del Vice-Presidente de la República, del Presidente de la Cámara de los Diputados y del Presidente del Senado.
e) Dictaminar con carácter vinculante, sobre la legalidad constitucional del desarrollo reglamentario de las leyes institucionales.
f) Conocer de los conflictos entre los órganos constitucionales.
g) Conocer sobre la declaración de inconstitucionalidad de los tratados internacionales.
h) Las demás materias que le atribuyen las leyes. (Art. 101) - French...
2. Il appartient au Tribunal constitutionnel:
a) De connaître des demandes d'inconstitutionnalité des lois.
b) De connaître des pourvois fondés sur les droits constitutionnels formés contre les actes et dispositions portant atteinte aux droits et libertés reconnus par la Loi fondamentale.
c) De proclamer les résultats définitifs des élections présidentielles, législatives, municipales et des procédures de référendum.
d) De déclarer l'incapacité physique ou mentale permanente du Président de la République, du Vice-président de la République, du président de la Chambre des députés et du président du Sénat, les rendant juridiquement inaptes à l'exercice de leurs fonctions.
e) De rendre des avis obligatoires sur la constitutionnalité des règlements pris en application des lois organisant les institutions.
f) De connaître des conflits entre les organes constitués.
g) De connaître des déclarations d'inconstitutionnalité des traités internationaux.
h) De connaître des autres matières relevant de sa compétence en vertu des lois. (Art. 101)
Jurisdiction and Access
Cabo Verde
- 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
Ecuador
- EnglishWhen a judge, by virtue of his/her office or at the request of a party, considers that a legal norm is contrary to the Constitution or to international human rights instruments that provide for rights that are more favorable than those enshrined in the Constitution, it shall suspend the case and refer it for consultation to the Constitutional Court, which within no more than forty-five (45) days shall rule on the constitutionality of the norm.
If the Court issues no ruling within the established time-limits, the affected party is entitled to file the corresponding complaint. (Art. 428) - SpanishCuando una jueza o juez, de oficio o a petición de parte, considere que una norma jurídica es contraria a la Constitución o a los instrumentos internacionales de derechos humanos que establezcan derechos más favorables que los reconocidos en la Constitución, suspenderá la tramitación de la causa y remitirá en consulta el expediente a la Corte Constitucional, que en un plazo no mayor a cuarenta y cinco días, resolverá sobre la constitucionalidad de la norma.
Si transcurrido el plazo previsto la Corte no se pronuncia, el perjudicado podrá interponer la acción correspondiente. (Art. 428)
Jurisdiction and Access
Malta
- English(1) There shall be in and for Malta such Superior Courts having such powers and jurisdiction as may be provided by any law for the time being in force in Malta.
(2) One of the Superior Courts, composed of such three judges as could, in accordance with any law for the time being in force in Malta, compose the Court of Appeal, shall be known as the Constitutional Court and shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine –
(a) such questions as are referred to in article 63 of the Constitution;
(b) any reference made to it in accordance with article 56 of this Constitution and any matter referred to it in accordance with any law relating to the election of members of the House of Representatives;
(c) appeals from decisions of the Civil Court, First Hall, under article 46 of this Constitution;
(d) appeals from decisions of any court of original jurisdiction in Malta as to the interpretation of this Constitution other than those which may fall under article 46 of this Constitution;
(e) appeals from decisions of any court of original jurisdiction in Malta on questions as to the validity of laws other than those which may fall under article 46 of this Constitution; and
(f) any question decided by a court of original jurisdiction in Malta together with any of the questions referred to in the foregoing paragraphs of this sub-article on which an appeal has been made to the Constitutional Court:
Provided that nothing in this paragraph shall preclude an appeal being brought separately before the Court of Appeal in accordance with any law for the time being in force in Malta.
… (Art. 95) - Maltese(1) Għandu jkun hemm f’MaIta u għal Malta dawk il-Qrati Superjuri li jkollhom dawk is-setgħat u ġurisdizzjoni kif ikun provdut b’xi liġi li għal dak iż-żmien tkun isseħħ f’Malta.
(2) Waħda mill-Qrati Superjuri, magħmula minn tlieta mill-imħallfin li jkunu jistgħu, skont xi liġi li għal dak iż-żmien tkun isseħħ f ’Malta, joqgħodu fil-Qorti tal-Appell, għandha tkun magħrufa bħala l-Qorti Kostituzzjonali u jkollha ġurisdizzjoni li tisma’ u tiddeċidi -
(a) dawk il-kwistjonijiet li huma msemmija fl-artikolu 63 tal-Kostituzzjoni;
(b) kull ħaġa riferita lilha skont l-artikolu 56 ta’ din il-Kostituzzjoni u kull ħaġa riferita lilha skont kull liġi dwar l-elezzjoni tal-membri tal-Kamra tad-Deputati;
(ċ) appelli minn deċiżjonijiet tal-Prim’Awla tal-Qorti Ċivili skont l-artikolu 46 ta’ din il-Kostituzzjoni;
(d) appelli minn deċiżjonijiet ta’ xi qorti ta’ ġurisdizzjoni oriġinali f’Malta fuq kwistjonijiet dwar interpretazzjoni ta’ din il-Kostituzzjoni li ma jkunux dawk li jistgħu jaqgħu taħt l-artikolu 46 ta’ din il- Kostituzzjoni;
(e) appelli minn deċiżjonijiet ta’ xi qorti ta’ ġurisdizzjoni oriġinali f’Malta fuq kwistjonijiet dwar il-validità ta’ liġijiet li ma jkunux dawk li jistgħu jaqgħu taħt l-artikolu 46 ta’ din il-Kostituzzjoni; u
(f) kull kwistjoni deċiża minn qorti ta’ ġurisdizzjoni oriġinali f’Malta flimkien ma’ xi waħda mill-kwistjonijiet imsemmija fil-paragrafi ta’ qabel ta’ dan is-subartikolu li minnha jkun sar appell lill-Qorti Kostituzzjonali:
Iżda ebda ħaġa li tinsab f’dan il-paragrafu ma ttellef li appell jinġieb separatament quddiem il-Qorti tal-Appell skont xi liġi li għal dak iż-żmien ikun hemm isseħħ f’Malta.
… (Art. 95)
Jurisdiction and Access
Ghana
- English(1) Subject to the jurisdiction of the High Court in the enforcement of the Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms as provided in article 33 of this Constitution, the Supreme Court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction in—
(a) all matters relating to the enforcement or interpretation of this Constitution; and
(b) all matters arising as to whether an enactment was made in excess of the powers conferred on Parliament or any other authority or person by law or under this Constitution.
(2) Where an issue that relates to a matter or question referred to in clause (1) of this article arises in any proceedings in a court other than the Supreme Court, that court shall stay the proceedings and refer the question of law involved to the Supreme Court for determination; and the court in which the question arose shall dispose of the case in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Court. (Art. 130)