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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
Cameroon
- English(1) The Constitutional Council shall give a final ruling on:
- the constitutionality of laws, treaties and international agreements;
- the constitutionality of the standing orders of the National Assembly and the Senate prior to their implementation;
- conflict of powers between State institutions; between the State and the Regions, and between the Regions.
(2) Matters may be referred to the Constitutional Council by the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate, one-third of the members of the National Assembly or one-third of the Senators.
Presidents of regional executives may refer matters to the Constitutional Council whenever the interests of their Regions are at stake.
(3) Laws as well as treaties and international agreements may, prior to their enactment, be referred to the Constitutional Council by the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate, one-third of the members of the National Assembly, one third of the Senators, or the Presidents of the regional executives pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) above.
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(4) The Constitutional Council shall advice in matters falling under its jurisdiction. (Art. 47) - French(1) Le Conseil Constitutionnel statue souverainement sur :
- La constitutionnalité des lois, des traités et accords internationaux ;
- les règlements intérieurs de lʼAssemblée Nationale et du Sénat, avant leur mise en application, quant à leur conformité à la Constitution ;
- les conflits dʼattribution : entre les institutions de lʼEtat ; entre lʼEtat et les régions ; entre les régions.
(2) Le Conseil Constitutionnel est saisi par le Président de la République, le président de lʼAssemblée Nationale, le président du Sénat, un tiers des députés ou un tiers des sénateurs.
Les présidents des exécutifs des régionaux peuvent saisir le Conseil Constitutionnel lorsque les intérêts de leur région sont en cause.
(3) Avant leur promulgation, les lois ainsi que les traités et accords internationaux peuvent être déférés au Conseil Constitutionnel par le Président de la République, le président de lʼAssemblée Nationale, le président du Sénat, un tiers des députés ou un tiers des sénateurs, les présidents des exécutifs régionaux conformément aux dispositions de lʼalinéa 2 ci-dessus.
...
(4) Le Conseil Constitutionnel donne des avis sur des matières relevant de sa compétence. (Art. 47)
Jurisdiction and Access
South Africa
- English(1) The High Court of South Africa may decide-
(a) any constitutional matter except a matter that-
(i) the Constitutional Court has agreed to hear directly in terms of section 167(6)(a); or
(ii) is assigned by an Act of Parliament to another court of a status similar to the High Court of South Africa; and
(b) any other matter not assigned to another court by an Act of Parliament.
… (Sec. 169)
Jurisdiction and Access
Cyprus
- English1. The Supreme Constitutional Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate on any appeal made against a decision of an Administrative Court having exclusive jurisdiction to decide in the first instance on a recourse made to it on a complaint that a decision, an act or omission of any organ, authority or person, exercising any executive or administrative authority is contrary to any of the provisions of this Constitution or of any law or is made in excess or in abuse of powers vested in such organ or authority or person.
…
2. Such a recourse may be made by a person whose any existing legitimate interest, which he has either as a person or by virtue of being a member of a Community, is adversely and directly affected by such decision or act or omission.
… (Art. 146) - Greek1. Tο Aνώτατον Συνταγματικόν Δικαστήριον κέκτηται αποκλειστικήν δικαιοδοσίαν να αποφασίζη επί πάσης εφέσεως κατά απόφασης Διοικητικού Δικαστηρίου το οποίο έχει αποκλειστική δικαιοδοσία να αποφασίζει σε πρώτο βαθμό επί πάσης προσφυγής υποβαλλομένης κατ’ αποφάσεως, πράξεως ή παραλείψεως οιουδήποτε οργάνου, αρχής ή προσώπου ασκούντων εκτελεστικήν ή διοικητικήν λειτουργίαν επί τω λόγω ότι αυτή είναι αντίθετος προς τας διατάξεις του Συντάγματος ή τον νόμον ή εγένετο καθ’ υπέρβασιν ή κατάχρησιν της εξουσίας της εμπεπιστευμένης εις το όργανον ή την αρχήν ή το πρόσωπον τούτο.
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2. H προσφυγή ασκείται υπό παντός προσώπου, του οποίου προσεβλήθη ευθέως δια της αποφάσεως, της πράξεως ή της παραλείψεως, ίδιον, ενεστώς έννομον συμφέρον, όπερ κέκτηται τούτο είτε ως άτομον είτε ως μέλος κοινότητός τινος.
… (Αρθρον 146) - Turkish1. Yüksek Anayasa Mahkemesi, icrai veya idari bir yetki kullanan herhangi bir organ, makam veya şahsın bir kararının, muamelesinin veya ihmalinin, bu Anayasanın veya herhangi bir kanunun hükümlerine aykırı olduğu veya bunların söz konusu organ veya makam ya da şahsa verilen yetkiyi aşmak veya kötüye kullanmak suretiyle yapıldığı şikâyeti ile bir İdare Mahkemesine yapılan başvurular hakkında İdare Mahkemesinin ilk derece mahkemesi sıfatıyla münhasır yetkili olarak verdiği tüm kararların temyizini karara bağlamak için münhasır yargı yetkisine sahiptir.
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2. Böyle bir müracaat, bir şahıs olması veya bir Cemaate mensup olması dolayısıyla sahip olduğu mevcut meşru bir menfaati, bu gibi karar veya muamele veya ihmal yüzünden olumsuz yönde ve doğrudan doğruya etkilenen bir şahıs tarafından yapılabilir.
... (Madde 146)
Jurisdiction and Access
Sudan
- English…
(4) ...
b. If a dispute arises between authority of a sovereign and an executive character, the Constitutional Court shall be competent to decide on such a dispute.
… (Art. 70) - Arabic…
4. … ب. في حالة نشوء نزاع بين السلطه ذات الطبيعة السيادية و التنفيذية تكون المحكمة الدستورية هي المختصة بالبت في ذلك النزاع
(الماده 75)
Jurisdiction and Access
Netherlands
- English
The constitutionality of Acts of Parliament and treaties shall not be reviewed by the courts. (Art. 120)
- Dutch
De rechter treedt niet in de beoordeling van de grondwettigheid van wetten en verdragen. (Art. 120)
Jurisdiction and Access
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is charged with the control of the constitutionality of the laws and of the acts having the force of law.
The organic laws, before their promulgation, and the Internal Regulations of the parliamentary Chambers and of the Congress, of the Independent National Electoral Commission as well as of the Superior Council for Audiovisual and Communication, before their entry into application, must be submitted to the Constitutional Court which rules on their conformity with the Constitution.
For the same end of examining [the] constitutionality, the laws may be referred to the Constitutional Court, before their promulgation, by the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the President of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate or a tenth of the Deputies or of the Senators.
… (Art. 160) - FrenchLa Cour constitutionnelle est chargée du contrôle de la constitutionnalité des lois et des actes ayant force de loi.
Les lois organiques, avant leur promulgation, et les Règlements intérieurs des Chambres parlementaires et du Congrès, de la Commission électorale nationale indépendante ainsi que du Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel et de la communication, avant leur mise en application, doivent être soumis à la Cour constitutionnelle qui se prononce sur leur conformité à la Constitution.
Aux mêmes fins d’examen de la constitutionnalité, les lois peuvent être déférées à la Cour constitutionnelle, avant leur promulgation, par le Président de la République, le Premier ministre, le Président de l’Assemblée nationale, le Président du Sénat ou le dixième des députés ou des sénateurs.
… (Art. 160)
Jurisdiction and Access
Argentina
- EnglishThe Supreme Court and the lower courts of the Nation are empowered to hear and decide all cases arising under the Constitution and the laws of the Nation, with the exception made in Section 75, subsection 12, and under the treaties made with foreign nations; all cases concerning ambassadors, public ministers and foreign consuls; cases related to admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; matters in which the Nation shall be a party; actions arising between two or more provinces, between one province and the inhabitants of another province, between the inhabitants of different provinces, and between one province or the inhabitants thereof against a foreign state or citizen. (Sec. 116)
- SpanishCorresponde a la Corte Suprema y a los tribunales inferiores de la Nación, el conocimiento y decisión de todas las causas que versen sobre puntos regidos por la Constitución, y por las leyes de la Nación, con la reserva hecha en el inc. 12 del Artículo 75; y por los tratados con las naciones extranjeras; de las causas concernientes a embajadores, ministros públicos y cónsules extranjeros; de las causas de almirantazgo y jurisdicción marítima; de los asuntos en que la Nación sea parte; de las causas que se susciten entre dos o más provincias; entre una provincia y los vecinos de otra; entre los vecinos de diferentes provincias; y entre una provincia o sus vecinos, contra un Estado o ciudadano extranjero. (Art. 116)
Jurisdiction and Access
India
- English(1) An appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court from any judgment, decree or final order in a civil proceeding of a High Court in the territory of India if the High Court certifies under article 134A-
(a) that the case involves a substantial question of law of general importance; and
(b) that in the opinion of the High Court the said question needs to be decided by the Supreme Court.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in article 132, any party appealing to the Supreme Court under clause (1) may urge as one of the grounds in such appeal that a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Constitution has been wrongly decided.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in this article, no appeal shall, unless Parliament by law otherwise provides, lie to the Supreme Court from the judgment, decree or final order of one Judge of a High Court. (Art. 133) - Hindi(1) भारत के राज्यक्षेत्र में किसी उच्च न्यायालय की सिविल कार्यवाही में दिए गए किसी निर्णय, डिक्री या अंतिम आदेश की अपील उच्चतम न्यायालय में होगी यदि उच्च न्यायालय अनुच्छेद 134क के अधीन प्रमाणित कर देता है कि-
(क) उस मामले में विधि का व्यापक महत्व का कोई सारवान प्रश्न अंतर्वलित है; और
(ख) उच्च न्यायालय की राय में उस प्रश्न का उच्चतम न्यायालय द्वारा विनिश्चय आवश्यक है।
(2) अनुच्छेद 132 में किसी बात के होते हुए भी, उच्चतम न्यायालय में खंड (1) के अधीन अपील करने वाला कोई पक्षकार ऐसी अपील के आधारों में यह आधार भी बता सकेगा कि इस संविधान के निर्वचन के बारे में विधि के किसी सारवान प्रश्न का विनिश्चय गलत किया गया है।
(3) इस अनुच्छेद में किसी बात के होते हुए भी, उच्च न्यायालय के एक न्यायाधीश के निर्णय, डिक्री या अंतिम आदेश की अपील उच्चतम न्यायालय में तब तक नहीं होगी जब तक संसद विधि द्वारा अन्यथा उपबंध न करे। (अनुच्छेद 133)
Jurisdiction and Access
Portugal
- English1. Appeal may be made to the Constitutional Court against court decisions:
a) That refuse the application of any norm on the grounds of its unconstitutionality;
b) That apply a norm whose unconstitutionality has been raised during the proceedings.
2. Appeal may also be made to the Constitutional Court against court decisions:
a) That refuse the application of a norm contained in a legislative act, on the grounds that it is illegal because it is in breach of a law which possesses superior legal force;
b) That refuse the application of a norm contained in a regional legislative act, on the grounds that it is illegal because it is in breach of the autonomous region's statute;
c) That refuse the application of a norm contained in a legislative act issued by an entity that exercises sovereignty, on the grounds that it is illegal because it is in breach of an autonomous region's statute;
d) That apply any norm whose illegality on any of the grounds referred to in subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) has been raised during the proceedings.
3. When the norm whose application has been refused is contained in an international convention, a legislative act or a regulatory decree, the Public Prosecutors' Office shall obligatorily lodge the appeal provided for in paragraph (1)(a) or 2(a).
4. The appeals provided for in paragraphs (1)(b) and (2)(d) may only be lodged by the party that raised the question of unconstitutionality or illegality, and the law must regulate the regime governing the admission of such appeals.
5. Appeal may also be made to the Constitutional Court, and the Public Prosecutors' Office shall obligatorily lodge such appeals, against court decisions that apply norms which the Constitutional Court itself has previously held unconstitutional or illegal.
6. Appeals to the Constitutional Court are restricted to the question of unconstitutionality or illegality, as appropriate. (Art. 280) - Portuguese1. Cabe recurso para o Tribunal Constitucional das decisões dos tribunais:
a) Que recusem a aplicação de qualquer norma com fundamento na sua inconstitucionalidade;
b) Que apliquem norma cuja inconstitucionalidade haja sido suscitada durante o processo.
2. Cabe igualmente recurso para o Tribunal Constitucional das decisões dos tribunais:
a) Que recusem a aplicação de norma constante de acto legislativo com fundamento na sua ilegalidade por violação da lei com valor reforçado;
b) Que recusem a aplicação de norma constante de diploma regional com fundamento na sua ilegalidade por violação do estatuto da região autónoma;
c) Que recusem a aplicação de norma constante de diploma emanado de um órgão de soberania com fundamento na sua ilegalidade por violação do estatuto de uma região autónoma;
d) Que apliquem norma cuja ilegalidade haja sido suscitada durante o processo com qualquer dos fundamentos referidos nas alíneas a), b) e c).
3. Quando a norma cuja aplicação tiver sido recusada constar de convenção internacional, de acto legislativo ou de decreto regulamentar, os recursos previstos na alínea a) do n.º 1 e na alínea a) do n.º 2 são obrigatórios para o Ministério Público.
4. Os recursos previstos na alínea b) do n.º 1 e na alínea d) do n.º 2 só podem ser interpostos pela parte que haja suscitado a questão da inconstitucionalidade ou da ilegalidade, devendo a lei regular o regime de admissão desses recursos.
5. Cabe ainda recurso para o Tribunal Constitucional, obrigatório para o Ministério Público, das decisões dos tribunais que apliquem norma anteriormente julgada inconstitucional ou ilegal pelo próprio Tribunal Constitucional.
6. Os recursos para o Tribunal Constitucional são restritos à questão da inconstitucionalidade ou da ilegalidade, conforme os casos. (Art. 280)
Jurisdiction and Access
Colombia
- EnglishThe safeguarding of the integrity and supremacy of the Constitution is entrusted to the Constitutional Court in the strict and precise terms of this article. For such a purpose, it shall fulfill the following functions:
1. Decide on the petitions of unconstitutionality brought by citizens against measures amending the Constitution, no matter what their origin, exclusively for errors of procedure in their formation.
2. Decide, prior to a popular expression of opinion, on the constitutionality of the call for a referendum or a constituent assembly to amend the Constitution, exclusively for errors of procedure in their formation.
3. Decide on the constitutionality of referendums about laws and popular consultations and plebiscites of a national scope, in case of these last ones exclusively for errors of procedure in their convocation and implementation.
4. Decide on the petitions of unconstitutionality brought by citizens against statutes, both for their substantive content as well as for errors of procedure in their formation.
5. Decide on the petitions of unconstitutionality brought by citizens against decrees with the force of law issued by the government on the basis of Article 150, numeral 10, and Article 341 of the Constitution for their substantive content as well as for errors of procedure in their formation.
6. Decide on the exceptions provided for in Article 137 of the Constitution.
7. Decide definitively on the constitutionality of the legislative decrees issued by the government on the basis of Articles 212, 213, and 215 of the Constitution.
8. Decide definitively on the constitutionality of the bills opposed by the government as unconstitutional and of proposed statutory bills, both on account of their substantive content as well as for errors of procedure in their formation.
9. Revise, in the form determined by statute, the judicial decisions connected with the protection of constitutional rights.
10. To decide definitively on the constitutionality [exquibilidad/executability] of the international treaties and on the laws that approve them. To this end, the Government will submit them to the Court, within the six days subsequent to the sanction of the law. Any citizen can intervene to defend or challenge their constitutionality [constitucionalidad]. If the Court declares them constitutional, the Government may effect the exchange of notes; in the contrary case they will not be ratified. When one or several norms of a multilateral treaty are declared unconstitutional [inexquibilidad/unexecutable] by the Constitutional Court, the President of the Republic may only declare consent formulated [with] the corresponding reservation.
11. To settle [Dirimir] the conflicts of competence that occur between the distinct jurisdictions.
… (Art. 241) - SpanishA la Corte Constitucional se le confía la guarda de la integridad y supremacía de la Constitución, en los estrictos y precisos términos de este artículo. Con tal fin, cumplirá las siguientes funciones:
1. Decidir sobre las demandas de inconstitucionalidad que promuevan los ciudadanos contra los actos reformatorios de la Constitución, cualquiera que sea su origen, sólo por vicios de procedimiento en su formación.
2. Decidir, con anterioridad al pronunciamiento popular, sobre la constitucionalidad de la convocatoria a un referendo o a una Asamblea Constituyente para reformar la Constitución, sólo por vicios de procedimiento en su formación.
3. Decidir sobre la constitucionalidad de los referendos sobre leyes y de las consultas populares y plebiscitos del orden nacional. Estos últimos sólo por vicios de procedimiento en su convocatoria y realización.
4. Decidir sobre las demandas de inconstitucionalidad que presenten los ciudadanos contra las leyes, tanto por su contenido material como por vicios de procedimiento en su formación.
5. Decidir sobre las demandas de inconstitucionalidad que presenten los ciudadanos contra los decretos con fuerza de ley dictados por el Gobierno con fundamento en los artículos 150 numeral 10 y 341 de la Constitución, por su contenido material o por vicios de procedimiento en su formación.
6. Decidir sobre las excusas de que trata el artículo 137 de la Constitución.
7. Decidir definitivamente sobre la constitucionalidad de los decretos legislativos que dicte el Gobierno con fundamento en los artículos 212, 213 y 215 de la Constitución.
8. Decidir definitivamente sobre la constitucionalidad de los proyectos de ley que hayan sido objetados por el Gobierno como inconstitucionales, y de los proyectos de leyes estatutarias, tanto por su contenido material como por vicios de procedimiento en su formación.
9. Revisar, en la forma que determine la ley, las decisiones judiciales relacionadas con la acción de tutela de los derechos constitucionales.
10. Decidir definitivamente sobre la exequibilidad de los tratados internacionales y de las leyes que los aprueben. Con tal fin, el Gobierno los remitirá a la Corte, dentro de los seis días siguientes a la sanción de la ley. Cualquier ciudadano podrá intervenir para defender o impugnar su constitucionalidad. Si la Corte los declara constitucionales, el Gobierno podrá efectuar el canje de notas; en caso contrario no serán ratificados. Cuando una o varias normas de un tratado multilateral sean declaradas inexequibles por la Corte Constitucional, el Presidente de la República sólo podrá manifestar el consentimiento formulando la correspondiente reserva.
11. Dirimir los conflictos de competencia que ocurran entre las distintas jurisdicciones.
… (Art. 241)