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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
- 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
- English1. While the Constitutional Court is not legally installed, the administration of justice in matters of a legal and constitutional nature continues to be carried out by the Supreme Court of Justice that shall have the power:
a) To review for constitutionality and legality pursuant to Articles 277 and others thereafter, except as foreseen in paragraph 1, subparagraph b) of Article 278;
b) To verify the death and declare the permanent physical or mental incapacity of the President of the Republic, as well as declare temporary impediments to the exercise of his or her duties;
c) To verify the loss of office of the President in cases of conviction of crimes committed in the exercise of functions and in other cases foreseen in the Constitution;
d) To verify the death and declare the incapacity for the exercise of the presidential function by any candidate for President of the Republic;
e) To verify preventively the constitutionality and legality of national and local referendum proposals;
f) To perform all other functions as may be assigned by the Constitution and by the law.
2. Both the Supreme Court of Justice and the Constitutional Court, specifically, in matters concerning electoral procedures, shall have the power:
a) To receive and admit nominations for President of the Republic;
b) To judge in the final instance the regularity and validity of electoral procedures, under the terms of the law;
c) To judge, at the request of their members and under the terms of the law, appeals related to the loss of office and to the elections held in the National Assembly, in the assemblies of local administrations and, in general, in any elective collegial organs foreseen in the Constitution;
d) To perform all other functions assigned by law.
3. Both the Supreme Court of Justice and the Constitutional Court, specifically in matters concerning political party organizations, shall have the power:
a) To verify the legality of the constitution of political parties and their coalitions, as well as to assess the legality of their names, abbreviations and symbols;
b) To ensure, maintain and update the registration of political parties and their coalitions, under the terms of the law;
c) To declare the illegality of political parties and their coalitions, and order their dissolution, under the terms of the Constitution and the law;
d) To judge the challenges encountered in elections and decisions of organs of political parties that, under the terms of the law, are subject to appeal;
e) To perform all other functions assigned by law. (Art. 294) - Portuguese1. Enquanto o Tribunal Constitucional não for legalmente instalado, a administração da justiça em matérias de natureza jurídico-constitucional continua a ser feita pelo Supremo Tribunal de Justiça, ao qual compete:
a) Fiscalizar a constitucionalidade e a legalidade nos termos dos artigos 277º e seguintes, excepto nos casos previstos no número 1, alínea b) do artigo 278º;
b) Verificar a morte e declarar a incapacidade física ou psíquica permanente do Presidente da República, bem como declarar os impedimentos temporários para o exercício das suas funções;
c) Verificar a perda do cargo do Presidente da República nos casos de condenação por crimes cometidos no exercício de funções e noutros previstos na Constituição;
d) Verificar a morte e declarar a incapacidade para o exercício da função presidencial de qualquer candidato a Presidente da República;
e) Verificar preventivamente a constitucionalidade e legalidade das propostas de referendo nacional e local;
f) Exercer as demais funções que lhe sejam atribuídas pela Constituição e pela lei.
2. Compete, ainda, ao Supremo Tribunal de Justiça enquanto Tribunal Constitucional, especificamente, em matéria de processo eleitoral:
a) Receber e admitir candidaturas para Presidente da República;
b) Julgar em última instância a regularidade e a validade dos actos de processo eleitoral, nos termos da lei;
c) Julgar, a requerimento dos respectivos membros e nos termos da lei, os recursos relativos a perda de mandato e às eleições realizadas na Assembleia Nacional, nas assembleias das autarquias locais e, no geral, em quaisquer órgãos colegiais electivos previstos na Constituição;
d) Exercer as demais funções atribuídas por lei.
3. Compete também ao Supremo Tribunal de Justiça, enquanto Tribunal Constitucional, especificamente, em matéria de organizações político-partidárias:
a) Verificar a legalidade da constituição de partidos politicos e suas coligações, bem como apreciar a legalidade das suas denominações, siglas e símbolos;
b) Assegurar, conservar e actualizar o registo dos partidos politicos e suas coligações, nos termos da lei;
c) Declarar a ilegalidade de partidos políticos e suas coligações, ordenando a respectiva extinção, nos termos da Constituição e da lei;
d) Julgar as acções de impugnação de eleições e deliberações de órgãos de partidos políticos que, nos termos da lei, sejam recorríveis;
e) Exercer as demais funções atribuídas por lei. (Art. 294)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The laws may, before their promulgation, be deferred to the Constitutional Council by the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly or the President of the Senate or by one-tenth at least of the Deputies or the Senators or by the parliamentary groups.
The associations of defense of the Rights of Man legally constituted can equally defer to the Constitutional Council, before their promulgation, the laws concerning the public freedoms.
… (Art. 113) - French
Les lois peuvent, avant leur promulgation, être déférées au Conseil constitutionnel par le Président de la République, le Président de l'Assemblée nationale ou le Président du Sénat ou par un dixième au moins des députés ou des sénateurs ou par les groupes parlementaires.
Les associations de défense des droits de l'homme légalement constituées peuvent également déférer au Conseil constitutionnel, avant leur promulgation, les lois relatives aux libertés publiques.
… (Art. 113)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
Any pleader [plaideur] can, by way of exception [pleadings], raise the unconstitutionality of a law before any jurisdiction.
… (Art. 135) - French
Tout plaideur peut, par voie d’exception, soulever l’inconstitutionnalité d'une loi devant toute juridiction.
… (Art. 135)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The House has the power to interpret the Constitution.
… (Art. 62) - Amharic1. ምክር ቤቱ ሕገ መንግሥቱን የመተርጐም ሥልጣን ይኖረዋል፡፡
… (አንቀጽ 62)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court decides on:
- the constitutionality of the laws before their promulgation;
- the electoral disputes [contentieux] of the national elections;
- the Internal Regulations of the National Assembly, of the Economic and Social Council, of the High Authority of Communication, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, of the National Institution of Human Rights, of the Mediator of the Republic, [and] of the High Council of the Local Collectivities regarding their conformity to the Constitution;
- the conflicts of attributions between the constitutional organs;
- the exception [pleadings] of unconstitutionality raised before the jurisdictions;
- the recourses formed against the acts of the President of the Republic taken in application of Articles 2, 45, 74 and 90, as well as the recourses formed against the Ordinances taken in application of Article 82, under reserve of their ratification. (Art. 94) - FrenchLa Cour Constitutionnelle statue sur :
- la constitutionnalité des lois avant leur promulgation ;
- le contentieux des élections nationales ;
- le règlement intérieur de l'Assemblée nationale, du Conseil économique et social, de la Haute Autorité de la communication, de la Commission électorale nationale indépendante, de l'Institution nationale des droits humains, du Médiateur de la République, du Haut Conseil des collectivités locales quant à leur conformité à la Constitution.
- les conflits d'attributions entre les organes constitutionnels ;
- l'exception d'inconstitutionnalité soulevée devant les juridictions ;
- les recours formés contre les actes du président de la République pris en application des articles 2, 45, 74 et 90, ainsi que les recours formés contre les ordonnances prises en application de l'article 82, sous réserve de leur ratification. (Art. 94)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
…
Before any ratification, the treaties are submitted by the President of the Republic, to the control of constitutionality of the High Constitutional Court.
… (Art. 137) - French
…
Avant toute ratification, les traités sont soumis par le Président de la République, au contrôle de constitutionnalité de la Haute Cour Constitutionnelle.
… (Art. 137)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The Constitutional Council is a sovereign public office with special jurisdiction to administer justice in matters of a legal-constitutional nature.
… (Art. 240) - Portuguese1. O Conselho Constitucional é o órgão de soberania, ao qual compete especialmente administrar a justiça, em matérias de natureza jurídico-constitucional.
… (Art. 240)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) An appeal shall lie from decisions of the Federal High Court or a High Court to the Court of Appeal as of right in the following cases –
…
(c) decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings on questions as to the interpretation or application of this Constitution;
(d) decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings on questions as to whether any of the provisions of Chapter IV of this Constitution has been, is being or is likely to be, contravened in relation to any person;
… (Sec. 241)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
…
Sovereignty is exercised in accordance with this Constitution which is the Supreme Law of the State.
Any law, any regulatory text and any administrative act contrary to these provisions is null and void. Consequently, any citizen has the right to present himself before the Constitutional Court against the laws, texts and acts presumed unconstitutional. (Art. 3) - French
…
La souveraineté s'exerce conformément à la présente Constitution qui est la Loi Suprême de l'Etat.
Toute loi, tout texte réglementaire et tout acte administratif contraires à ces dispositions sont nuls et non avenus. En conséquence, tout citoyen a le droit de se pourvoir devant la Cour constitutionnelle contre les lois, textes et actes présumés inconstitutionnels. (Art. 3)