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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. Appropriate principles of interpretation of this Constitution shall be developed and employed by the courts to reflect the unique character and supreme status of this Constitution.
2. In interpreting the provisions of this Constitution a court of law shall—
a. promote the values which underlie an open and democratic society;
b. take full account of the provisions of Chapter III and Chapter IV2; and
c. where applicable, have regard to current norms of public international law and comparable foreign case law.
3. Where a court of law declares an act of executive or a law to be invalid, that court may apply such interpretation of that act or law as is consistent with this Constitution.
4. Any law that ousts or purports to oust the jurisdiction of the courts to entertain matters pertaining to this Constitution shall be invalid. (Sec. 11)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishWhen the Executive Authority vetoes a bill as unconstitutional and the National Assembly by majority vote insists that it be adopted, the bill shall be sent to the Supreme Court for a decision on its constitutionality. If the Supreme Court's judgment declares the bill constitutional, the Executive Authority is obliged to approve it and have it promulgated. (Art. 171)
- SpanishCuando el Ejecutivo objetare un proyecto por inexequible y la Asamblea Nacional, por la mayoría expresada, insistiere en su adopción, aquél lo pasará a la Corte Suprema de Justicia para que decida sobre su inconstitucionalidad. El fallo de la Corte que declare el proyecto constitucional, obliga al Ejecutivo a sancionarlo y hacerlo promulgar. (Art. 171)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Federal Supreme Court has the following powers:
1. Decide on different disputes among the member Emirates of the UAE, or between any one or more Emirates and the federal government in case that the dispute is remitted to the Court upon the request of any of the concerned parties.
2. Consider the constitutionality of a federal law if it is challenged by one or more Emirates on the grounds that it is in conflict with the Constitution of the UAE. The Court also has the power to consider the constitutionality of a legislation enacted by an Emirate if it is challenged by a federal authority on the grounds that it is in conflict with the Constitution of the UAE or the federal laws.
3. Consider the constitutionality of laws, legislations and regulations in general if it is so requested by any court in the country while hearing a relevant case. The concerned court shall comply with the decision of the Federal Supreme Court rendered in this connection.
4. Interpret the provisions of the Constitution, if it is so requested by any federal authority or by the Government of any Emirate. Any such interpretation is binding on everyone.
5. Call into account the ministers and senior officials of the UAE appointed by decree for their actions while performing their official duties upon the request of the Supreme Council and in accordance with the relevant law.
6. Decide on the crimes which directly affect the interests of the UAE, such as the crimes relating to the UAE’s internal or external security, forgery of the official records or seals of a federal authority, and counterfeiting of currency.
7. Hear the cases of conflict of jurisdiction between a federal court and a local court in an Emirate.
8. Hear the cases of conflict of jurisdiction between a court in an Emirate and a court in another Emirate. The rules governing these cases are regulated by a federal law.
9. Any other powers provided in the Constitution or which may be conferred upon the Federal Supreme Court by a federal law. (Art. 99) - Arabicتختص المحكمة الاتحادية العليا بالفصل في الأمور التالية:
1. المنازعات المختلفة بين الامارات الأعضاء في الاتحاد ، أو بين أية أمارة أو أكثر وبين حكومة الاتحاد ، متى أحيلت هذه المنازعات الى المحكمة بناء على طلب أي طرف من الأطراف المعنية
.2. بحث دستورية القوانين الاتحادية ، اذا ما طعن فيها من قبل امارة أو أكثر لمخالفتها لدستور الاتحاد. وبحث دستورية التشريعات الصادرة عن احدى الامارات ، اذا ما طعن فيها من قبل احدى السلطات الاتحادية ، لمخالفتها لدستور الاتحاد ، أو للقوانين الاتحادية
.3. بحث دستورية القوانين والتشريعات واللوائح عموما ، اذا ما أحيل اليها هذا الطلب من أية محكمة من محاكم البلاد أثناء دعوى منظورة أمامها وعلى المحكمة المذكورة أن تلتزم بقرار المحكمة الاتحادية العليا الصادر بهذا الصدد
.4. تفسير أحكام الدستور اذا ما طلبت اليها ذلك احدى سلطات الاتحاد ، أو حكومة احدى الامارات . ويعتبر هذا التفسير ملزما للكافة
.5. مساءلة الوزراء ، وكبار موظفي الاتحاد المعينين بمرسوم ، عما يقع منهم من أفعال في أداء وظائفهم الرسمية بناء على طلب المجلس الأعلى ووفقا للقانون الخاص بذلك
.6. الجرائم التي لها مساس مباشر بمصالح الاتحاد ، كالجرائم المتعلقة بأمنه في الداخل أو الخارج ، وجرائم تزوير المحررات أو الأختام الرسمية لاحدى السلطات الاتحادية ، وجرائم تزييف العملة
.7. تنازع الاختصاص بين القضاء الاتحادي والهيئات القضائية المحلية في الامارات
.8. تنازع الاختصاص بين هيئة قضائية في امارة وهيئة قضائية في امارة اخرى وتنظم القواعد الخاصة بذلك بقانون اتحادي
.9. أية اختصاصات أخرى منصوص عليها في هذا الدستور أو يمكن أن تحال اليها بموجب قانون اتحادي. (المادّة 99)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
1. The Constitutional Court resolves constitutional disputes and makes the definitive interpretation of the Constitution.
2. The Constitutional Court is subject only to the Constitution.
… (Art. 124) - Albanian
1. Gjykata Kushtetuese zgjidh mosmarrëveshjet kushtetuese dhe bën interpretimin përfundimtar të Kushtetutës.
2. Gjykata Kushtetuese i nënshtrohet vetëm Kushtetutës.
… (Neni 124)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The President of the Republic signs the accords of armistice and the peace treaties.
He obtains the opinion of the Constitutional Court on the accords which he reports to it.
... (Art. 102) - Arabic
يوقّع رئيس الجمهوريّة اتّفاقيّات الهدنة ومعاهدات السّلم.
يلتمس رئيس الجمهورية رأي المحكمة الدستورية بشأن الاتّفاقيّات المتعلّقة بهما.
… (المــادة 102) - French
Le Président de la République signe les accords d’armistice et les traités de paix.
Il recueille l’avis de la Cour constitutionnelle sur les accords qui s’y rapportent.
... (Art. 102)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English...
(2) The High Court shall have original jurisdiction to hear and adjudicate upon all civil disputes and criminal prosecutions, including cases which involve the interpretation, implementation and upholding of this Constitution and the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed thereunder. The High Court shall also have jurisdiction to hear and adjudicate upon appeals from Lower Courts.
(3) The jurisdiction of the High Court with regard to appeals shall be determined by Act of Parliament. (Art. 80)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. There shall be a Constitutional Court which is an independent body composed of a President, Vice-President and three members, who -as well as the three deputy members -shall be appointed for a period of five years at the recommendation of the National Assembly.
2. The tasks of the Constitutional Court shall be:
a. to verify the purport of Acts or parts thereof against the Constitution, and against applicable agreements concluded with other states and with international organization;
b. to assess the consistency of decisions of government institutions with one or more of the constitutional rights mentioned in Chapter V3.
… (Art. 144) - Dutch1. Er is een Constitutioneel Hof, zijnde een onafhankelijk orgaan, dat gevormd wordt door de voorzitter, de vice-voorzitter en drie leden, die – evenals de drie plaatsvervangende leden – voor een periode van vijf jaren op voordracht van De Nationale Assemblée door de President worden benoemd.
2. Het Constitutioneel Hof heeft tot taak:
a. het toetsen van de inhoud van wetten of gedeelten daarvan aan de Grondwet en aan van toepassing zijnde overeenkomsten met andere mogendheden en met volkenrechtelijke organisaties;
b. Het beoordelen van de verenigbaarheid van besluiten van overheidsorganen met één of meer der in Hoofdstuk V genoemde grondrechten.
... (Art. 144)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThere is for all Belgium a Constitutional Court, the composition, competences and functioning of which are established by the law.
This Court rules by means of judgments on:
1° those conflicts referred to in Article 141;
2° the violation of Articles 10, 11 and 24 by a law, a federate law or a rule as referred to in Article 134;
3° the violation of constitutional articles that the law determines by a law, a federate law or by a rule as referred to in Article 134.
A matter may be referred to the Court by any authority designated by the law, by any person that can prove an interest or, pre-judicially, by any court.
The Court pronounces by a ruling, under the conditions and according to the terms specified by the law, on every referendum described in Article 39bis before it is organised.
In the cases, under the conditions and according to the terms that it specifies, the law can give the Court competence to pronounce by a judgment on appeals lodged against decisions made by legislative assemblies or bodies thereof regarding the control of electoral expenditure incurred in the elections for the House of Representatives.
… (Art. 142) - DutchEr bestaat voor geheel België een Grondwettelijk Hof, waarvan de samenstelling, de bevoegdheid en de werking door de wet worden bepaald.
Dit Hof doet, bij wege van arrest, uitspraak over:
1° de in artikel 141 bedoelde conflicten;
2° de schending door een wet, een decreet of een in artikel 134 bedoelde regel, van de artikelen 10, 11 en 24;
3° de schending door een wet, een decreet of een in artikel 134 bedoelde regel, van de artikelen van de Grondwet die de wet bepaalt.
De zaak kan bij het Hof aanhangig worden gemaakt door iedere bij wet aangewezen overheid, door ieder die doet blijken van een belang of, prejudicieel, door ieder rechtscollege.
Het Hof doet bij wege van beslissing uitspraak over elke in artikel 39bis bedoelde volksraadpleging, voorafgaandelijk aan de organisatie ervan, onder de voorwaarden en op de wijze bepaald door de wet.
De wet kan, in de gevallen en onder de voorwaarden en op de wijze die zij bepaalt, het Hof de bevoegdheid toekennen om, bij wege van arrest, uitspraak te doen over de beroepen die worden ingesteld tegen de beslissingen van wetgevende vergaderingen of hun organen, betreffende de controle van de verkiezingsuitgaven voor de verkiezingen voor de Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers.
… (Art. 142) - FrenchIl y a, pour toute la Belgique, une Cour constitutionnelle, dont la composition, la compétence et le fonctionnement sont déterminés par la loi.
Cette Cour statue par voie d’arrêt sur:
1° les conflits visés à l’article 141;
2° la violation par une loi, un décret ou une règle visée à l’article 134, des articles 10, 11 et 24;
3° la violation par une loi, un décret ou une règle visée à l’article 134, des articles de la Constitution que la loi détermine.
La Cour peut être saisie par toute autorité que la loi désigne, par toute personne justifiant d’un intérêt ou, à titre préjudiciel, par toute juridiction.
La Cour statue par voie de décision sur chaque consultation populaire visée à l’article 39bis, préalablement à son organisation, dans les conditions et selon les modalités fixées par la loi.
La loi peut, dans les cas et selon les conditions et les modalités qu’elle détermine, attribuer à la Cour la compétence de statuer, par voie d’arrêt, sur les recours formés contre les décisions des assemblées législatives ou de leurs organes, en matière de contrôle des dépenses électorales engagées pour les élections pour la Chambre des représentants.
… (Art. 142) - GermanEs gibt für ganz Belgien einen Verfassungsgerichtshof, dessen Zusammensetzung, Zuständigkeit und Arbeitsweise durch Gesetz bestimmt werden.
Dieser Verfassungsgerichtshof befindet im Wege eines Entscheids über:
1. die in Artikel 141 erwähnten Konflikte;
2. die Verletzung der Artikel 10, 11 und 24 durch ein Gesetz, ein Dekret oder eine in Artikel 134 erwähnte Regel;
3. die Verletzung der Verfassungsartikel, die das Gesetz bestimmt, durch ein Gesetz, ein Dekret oder eine in Artikel 134 erwähnte Regel.
Der Verfassungsgerichtshof kann angerufen werden von jeder durch Gesetz bezeichneten Behörde, von jedem, der ein Interesse nachweist, oder, zwecks Vorabentscheidung, von jedem Rechtsprechungsorgan.
Der Verfassungsgerichtshof befindet unter Bedingungen und gemäß Modalitäten, die das Gesetz festlegt, im Wege einer Entscheidung über jede in Artikel 39bis erwähnte Volksbefragung vor deren Organisation.
Das Gesetz kann in Fällen, unter Bedingungen und gemäß Modalitäten, die es bestimmt, dem Verfassungsgerichtshof die Zuständigkeit übertragen, im Wege eines Entscheids über Beschwerden zu befinden, die gegen die von gesetzgebenden Versammlungen oder ihren Organen gefassten Beschlüsse über die Kontrolle der Wahlausgaben für die Wahlen der Abgeordnetenkammer eingelegt werden.
… (Art. 142)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Court, at the demand of the President of the Republic or of any member of the National Assembly, decides on the constitutionality of the laws before their promulgation.
It decides[,] of office[,] on the constitutionality of the laws and any regulatory texts which would infringe the fundamental rights of the human person and the public freedoms. It decides more generally on the violations of the rights of the human person and its decision must intervene within a time period of eight days. (Art. 121) - French
La Cour constitutionnelle, à la demande du président de la République ou de tout membre de l'Assemblée nationale, se prononce sur la constitutionnalité des lois avant leur promulgation.
Elle se prononce d'office sur la constitutionnalité des lois et de tout texte réglementaire censés porter atteinte aux droits fondamentaux de la personne humaine et aux libertés publiques. Elle statue plus généralement sur les violations des droits de la personne humaine et sa décision doit intervenir dans un délai de huit jours. (Art. 121)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The Constitutional Court shall be responsible for reviewing for unconstitutionality and illegality, pursuant to Articles 144 and following.
2. The Constitutional Court shall also be responsible for:
a) Verifying the death and the permanent physical impossibility of the President of the Republic, as well as verifying temporary inability of the President of the Republic to perform official duties;
b) Verifying the forfeiture of office of the President of the Republic, in the cases set forth in paragraph 3 of Article 85 and paragraph 3 of Article 86;
c) Judging in the final instance the regularity and validity of the acts of the electoral proceedings, under the terms of the law;
d) Verifying the death and declaring the incapacitation for the performance of the presidential duties of any candidate for the President of the Republic, for the purposes pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article 78;
e) Verifying the legality of the constitution of political parties and their coalitions, as well as evaluating the legality of their denominations, abbreviations and symbols, and ordering the dissolution, under the terms of the Constitution and of the law.
f) Verifying in advance the constitutionality and legality of national, regional and local referendums, including assessment of the relevant requirements for the respective electorate;
g) Judging at the request of the Deputies, under the terms of the law, appeals relating to loss of parliamentary seat and the elections held in the National Assembly and the Regional and Local Assemblies;
h) Judging actions against elections and resolutions of organs of political parties that, under the terms of the law, may be subject to appeal.
3. It is also the responsibility of the Constitutional Court to exercise such other functions as may be assigned by the Constitution and by the law. (Art. 133) - Portuguese1. Compete ao Tribunal Constitucional apreciar a inconstitucionalidade e a ilegalidade, nos termos dos Artigos 144.º e seguintes.
2. Compete também ao Tribunal Constitucional:
a) Verificar a morte e a impossibilidade física permanente do Presidente da República, bem como verificar os impedimentos temporários do exercício das suas funções;
b) Verificar a perda do cargo do Presidente da República, nos casos previstos no numero 3 do Artigo 85.º e no numero 3 do Artigo 86.º;
c) Julgar em última instância a regularidade e a validade dos actos do processo eleitoral, nos termos da lei;
d) Verificar a morte e declarar a incapacidade para o exercício da função presidencial de qualquer candidato a Presidente da República, para efeitos do disposto no número 2 do Artigo 78.º
e) Verificar a legalidade da constituição de partidos políticos e suas coligações, bem como apreciar a legalidade das suas denominações, siglas e símbolos, e ordenar a respectiva extinção, nos termos da Constituição e da lei;
f) Verificar previamente a constitucionalidade e a legalidade dos referendos nacionais, regionais e locais, incluindo a apreciação dos requisitos relativos ao respectivo universo eleitoral;
g) Julgar, a requerimento dos Deputados, nos termos da lei, os recursos relativos à perda do mandato e às eleições realizadas na Assembleia Nacional e nas Assembleias Regional e Locais;
h) Julgar as acções de impugnação de eleições e de deliberações de órgãos de partidos políticos que, nos termos da lei, sejam recorríveis.
3. Compete ainda ao Tribunal Constitucional exercer as demais funções que lhe sejam atribuídas pela Constituição e pela lei. (Art. 133)