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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
Any citizen can refer [a matter] to the Constitutional Court on the constitutionality of the laws, either directly, or by the procedure of the pleadings [exception] of unconstitutionality invoked in a matter which concerns that citizen before a jurisdiction. That [jurisdiction] must defer until the decision the Constitutional Court which must intervene within a time period of thirty days. (Art. 122)
- French
Tout citoyen peut saisir la Cour constitutionnelle sur la constitutionnalité des lois, soit directement, soit par la procédure de l'exception d'inconstitutionnalité invoquée dans une affaire qui le concerne devant une juridiction. Celle-ci doit surseoir jusqu'à la décision de la Cour constitutionnelle qui doit intervenir dans un délai de trente jours. (Art. 122)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The Constitutional Court shall be the court that has the power, specifically, to administer Justice in matters of a legal and constitutional nature, particularly with respect to:
a) Review of the constitutionality and legality, under the terms of the Constitution;
b) Verification of death and declaration of disability, of impediment or of loss of office of the President of the Republic;
c) Jurisdiction on matters of elections and political party organizations, under the terms of the law;
d) Resolution of conflicts of jurisdiction, under the terms of the law;
e) Writs of amparo.
… (Art. 215) - Portuguese1. O Tribunal Constitucional é o tribunal ao qual compete, especificamente, administrar a Justiça em matérias de natureza jurídicoconstitucional, designadamente, no que se refere a:
a) Fiscalização da constitucionalidade e legalidade, nos termos da Constituição;
b) Verificação da morte e declaração de incapacidade, de impedimento ou de perda de cargo do Presidente da República;
c) Jurisdição em matéria de eleições e de organizações político-partidárias, nos termos da lei;
d) Resolução de conflitos de jurisdição, nos termos da lei;
e) Recurso de amparo.
… (Art. 215)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is the high jurisdiction of the State in constitutional matter.
It is [the] judge of the constitutionality of the laws, [and] of the international treaties and agreements.
The Constitutional Court is the regulatory organ of the functioning of the institutions and of the activities of the public powers. (Art. 175) - FrenchLa Cour constitutionnelle est la haute juridiction de l’Etat en matière constitutionnelle.
Elle est juge de la constitutionnalité des lois, des traités et accords internationaux.
La Cour constitutionnelle est l’organe régulateur du fonctionnement des institutions et des activités des pouvoirs publics. (Art. 175)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe President of the Republic refers the Constitutional Council to a matter when he deems that a law is contrary to this Constitution. (Art. 35)
- Arabicيحيل رئيس الجمهورية المجلس الدستوري على مسألة عندما يعتبر أن القانون يتنافى مع هذا الدستور. (المادة 35)
- FrenchLe président de la République saisit le Conseil constitutionnel lorsqu'il estime qu'une loi est contraire à la présente Constitution. (Art. 35)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
Any justiciable [person] may, by way of a process before an ordinary tribunal, raise a pleadings [exception] of unconstitutionality against a law or an ordinance which affects recognition [méconnaîtrait] of their fundamental rights.
The presiding judge refers the Constitutional Court to [the matter] by way of prejudicial pleadings [préjudicielle exception].
… (Art. 86) - French
Tout justiciable peut, à l'occasion d'un procès devant un tribunal ordinaire, soulever une exception d'inconstitutionnalité à l’encontre d'une loi ou d'une ordonnance qui méconnaîtrait ses droits fondamentaux.
Le juge du siège saisit la Cour Constitutionnelle par voie d'exception préjudicielle.
… (Art. 86)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English...
(3) Subject to clause (5), the High Court shall have—
…
(d) jurisdiction to hear any question respecting the interpretation of this Constitution including the determination of—
(i) the question whether any law is inconsistent with or in contravention of this Constitution;
(ii) the question whether anything said to be done under the authority of this Constitution or of any law is inconsistent with, or in contravention of, this Constitution;
(iii) any matter relating to constitutional powers of State organs in respect of county governments and any matter relating to the constitutional relationship between the levels of government;
(iv) a question relating to conflict of laws under Article 191;
… (Art. 165) - Swahili...
(3) Kwa kuzingatia ibara ya (5), Mahakama Kuu itakuwa-
…
(d) mamlaka ya kusikiliza shauri lolote kuhusu ufafanuzi wa Katiba hii ikiwa ni pamoja na uamuzi wa-
(i) shauri kwamba iwapo sheria yoyote ipo kinyume au imevunja Katiba hii;
(ii) shauri kwamba iwapo kuna kitu chochote ambacho kimefanywa chini ya mamlaka ya Katiba hii au ya sheria yoyote kipo kinyume au kimevunja Katiba hii;
(iii) jambo lolote linalohusiana na nguvu ya kikatiba ya vyombo vya Serikali kuhusu serikali za kaunti na jambo lolote linalohusiana na uhusiano wa kikatiba kati ya ngazi za serikali;
(iv) shauri linalohusiana na mgongano wa sheria chini ya Kifungu cha 191;
… (Kifungu cha 165)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishWhere any person or any association alleges that any of the rights granted under this Constitution or any legislation or directives are constitutionally contravened, that person or association may invoke the privilege and benefit of court direction, order or writ, including a judgment of unconstitutionality; and anyone injured by an act of the Government or any person acting under its authority, whether in property, contract, tort or otherwise, shall have the right to bring suit for appropriate redress. All such suits brought against the Government shall originate in a Claims Court; appeals from judgment of the Claims Court shall lie directly to the Supreme Court. (Art. 26)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
1. Subject to sections 41(5), 64(5) and 101(1)4, where any person alleges that any provision of this Constitution (other than Chapter II) has been contravened and that his interests are being or are likely to be affected by such contravention, then, without prejudice to any other action with respect to the same matter which is lawfully available, that person may apply to the Supreme Court for a declaration and for relief under this section.
2. The Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction, in any application made by any person in pursuance of subsection (1) or in any other proceedings lawfully brought before the court, to determine whether any provision of this Constitution (other than Chapter II) has been contravened and to make a declaration accordingly:
Provided that the Supreme Court shall, not make a declaration in pursuance of the jurisdiction conferred by this subsection unless it is satisfied that the interests of the person by whom the application under subsection (1) is made or, in the case of other proceedings before the court, a party to these proceedings, are being or are likely to be affected.
3. Where the Supreme Court makes a declaration in pursuance of subsection (2) that any provision of the Constitution has been contravened and the person by whom the application under subsection (1) was made or, in the case of other proceedings before the court, the party in those proceedings in respect of whom declaration is made, seeks relief, the Supreme Court may grant to that person such remedy, being a remedy available against any person in any proceedings in the Supreme Court under any law for the time being in force in Mauritius, as the court considers appropriate.
4. The Chief Justice may make rules with respect to the practice and procedure of the Supreme Court in relation to the jurisdiction and powers conferred on it by this section (including rules with respect to the time within which applications shall be made under subsection (1)).
5. Nothing in this section shall confer jurisdiction on the Supreme Court to hear or determine any such question as is referred to in section 375 or paragraph 2(5), 3(2) or 4(4) of the First Schedule otherwise than upon an application made in accordance with that section or that paragraph, as the case may be. (Sec. 83)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe organic laws, before their promulgation, and the Internal Regulations of the National Assembly, before their application as well as their modifications, must be submitted to the Constitutional Court which decides on their conformity with the Constitution.
To the same end, before their promulgation, the laws may be referred [déférées] to the Constitutional Court by the President of the Republic, by the Prime Minister, by the president of the National Assembly or by one-tenth (1/10) of the Deputies.
… (Art. 131) - FrenchLes lois organiques, avant leur promulgation, et le Règlement intérieur de l'Assemblée nationale, avant sa mise en application ainsi que leurs modifications, doivent être soumis à la Cour constitutionnelle qui se prononce sur leur conformité à la Constitution.
Aux mêmes fins, avant leur promulgation, les lois peuvent être déférées à la Cour constitutionnelle par le Président de la République, le Premier ministre, le président de l'Assemblée nationale ou un dixième (1/10) des députés.
... (Art. 131)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The Constitutional Court shall, in general be responsible for the administration of justice in legal and constitutional matters, under the terms of the Constitution and the law.
2. The Constitutional Court shall be responsible for:
a) Assessing the constitutionality of any rules and other acts of the state;
b) Providing a prior review of the constitutionality of the laws of parliament;
c) Exercising jurisdiction in other legal and constitutional, electoral and party political matters, under the terms of the Constitution and the law;
d) Assessing appeals against the constitutionality of the decisions of the various courts which have refused to apply particular rules on the grounds that they are unconstitutional;
e) Assessing appeals against the constitutionality of rulings made by the various courts that have applied rules whose constitutionality has been questioned during the relevant proceedings.
… (Art. 180) - Portuguese1. Ao Tribunal Constitucional compete, em geral, administrar a justiça em matérias de natureza jurídico-constitucional, nos termos da Constituição e da lei.
2. Compete ao Tribunal Constitucional:
a) Apreciar a constitucionalidade de quaisquer normas e demais actos do Estado;
b) Apreciar preventivamente a constitucionalidade das leis do parlamento;
c) Exercer jurisdição sobre outras questões de natureza jurídicoconstitucional, eleitoral e político-partidária, nos termos da Constituição e da lei;
d) Apreciar em recurso a constitucionalidade das decisões dos demais Tribunais que recusem a aplicação de qualquer norma com fundamento na sua inconstitucionalidade;
e) Apreciar em recurso a constitucionalidade das decisões dos demais Tribunais que apliquem normas cuja constitucionalidade haja sido suscitada durante o processo.
… (Art. 180)