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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.
ABOUT 187 RESULTS
Jurisdiction and Access
South Africa
- English...
(2)(a) The Supreme Court of Appeal, the High Court of South Africa or a court of similar status may make an order concerning the constitutional validity of an Act of Parliament, a provincial Act or any conduct of the President, but an order of constitutional invalidity has no force unless it is confirmed by the Constitutional Court.
(b) A court which makes an order of constitutional invalidity may grant a temporary interdict or other temporary relief to a party, or may adjourn the proceedings, pending a decision of the Constitutional Court on the validity of that Act or conduct.
(c) National legislation must provide for the referral of an order of constitutional invalidity to the Constitutional Court.
(d) Any person or organ of state with a sufficient interest may appeal, or apply, directly to the Constitutional Court to confirm or vary an order of constitutional invalidity by a court in terms of this subsection.
… (Sec. 172)
Jurisdiction and Access
Central African Republic
- EnglishThe President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate, the Prime Minister or one-quarter (1/4) of the members of each Chamber of the Parliament may refer a request for [its] opinion to the Constitutional Court. (Art. 97)
- FrenchLe Président de la République, Ie Président de l'Assemblée Nationale, Ie Président du Sénat, Ie Premier Ministre ou un quart (1/4) des membres de chaque chambre du Parlement peuvent saisir la Cour Constitutionnelle d'une demande d'avis. (Art. 97)
Jurisdiction and Access
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- EnglishIn case of a state of urgency or of state of siege, the President of the Republic takes, by ordinances deliberated in the Council of Ministers, the measures necessary to respond to the situation.
These ordinances are, on their signature, submitted to the Constitutional Court which, ceasing other matters, declares if they derogate or not from this Constitution. (Art. 145) - FrenchEn cas d’état d’urgence ou d’état de siège, le Président de la République prend, par ordonnances délibérées en Conseil des ministres, les mesures nécessaires pour faire face à la situation.
Ces ordonnances sont, dès leur signature, soumises à la Cour constitutionnelle qui, toutes affaires cessantes, déclare si elles dérogent ou non à la présente Constitution. (Art. 145)
Jurisdiction and Access
Ethiopia
- English1. All constitutional disputes shall be decided by the House of the Federation.
2. The House of the Federation shall, within thirty days of receipt, decide a constitutional dispute submitted to it by the Council of Constitutional Inquiry. (Art. 83) - Amharic1. የሕገ መንግሥታዊ ክርክር ጉዳይ ሲነሳ በፌዴሬሽኑ ምክር ቤት ውሳኔ ያገኛል፡፡2. የፌዴሬሽን ምክር ቤት፣ የሕገ መንግሥት ጉዳዮች አጣሪ ጉባኤ በሚያቀርብለት ሕገ መንግሥታዊ ጉዳይ ላይ በሠላሣ ቀናት ውስጥ ውሳኔ ይሰጣል፡፡ (አንቀጽ 83)
Jurisdiction and Access
Guinea
- EnglishThe organic laws are obligatorily submitted by the President of the Republic to the Constitutional Court before their promulgation.
The ordinary laws, before their promulgation, may be referred to the Constitutional Court either by the President of the Republic or by the President of the National Assembly or by one-tenth of the Deputies. (Art. 95) - FrenchLes lois organiques sont obligatoirement soumises par le président de la République à la Cour constitutionnelle avant leur promulgation.
Les lois ordinaires, avant leur promulgation, peuvent être déférées à la Cour constitutionnelle soit par le président de la République, soit par le président de l'Assemblée nationale ou par un dixième des députés. (Art. 95)
Jurisdiction and Access
Malawi
- 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
Mozambique
- English1. The Constitutional Council is competent:
a. to evaluate [apreciar] and to declare the unconstitutionality of the laws and the illegality of the normative acts of the organs of the State;
b. to settle conflicts of competence between the organs of sovereignty;
c. to previously verify the constitutionality of the referenda;
d. to evaluate and to deliberate concerning the dismissal of the Governor of [a] Province and of the Administrator of [a] District, by the President of the Republic;
e. to evaluate and to deliberate concerning the dissolution of the provincial, district and autarchic assemblies, by the Council of Ministers.
2. It belongs also to the Constitutional Council:
a. to verify the legal requisites required for the candidatures to President of the Republic;
b. to declare the permanent incapacity of the President of the Republic;
c. to verify the death and the loss of the mandate of the President of the Republic;
d. to evaluate in last instance, the electoral recourses and complaints, to validate
and to proclaim electoral results in the terms of the law;
e. to decide, in last instance, the legality of the constitution of the political parties and their coalitions, as well as to evaluate the legality of their denominations, acronyms, symbols, and to order the respective extinction in the terms of the Constitution and of the law;
f. to judge the actions of impugning of the elections and of deliberation of the organs of the political parties;
g. to judge the actions that have for [their] object disputes relative to the mandate of the Deputies;
h. to judge the actions that have for [their] object the incompatibilities provided for in the Constitution and in the law.
3. The Constitutional Council exercises the other competences that are attributed to it by law. (Art. 243) - Portuguese1. Compete ao Conselho Constitucional:
a) apreciar e declarar a inconstitucionalidade das leis e a ilegalidade dos actos normativos dos órgãos do Estado;
b) dirimir conflitos de competências entre os órgãos de soberania;
c) verificar previamente a constitucionalidade dos referendos;
d) apreciar e deliberar sobre a demissão do Governador de Província e do Administrador de Distrito, pelo Presidente da República;
e) apreciar e deliberar sobre a dissolução das assembleias provinciais, distritais e autárquicas, pelo Conselho de Ministros.
2. Cabe ainda ao Conselho Constitucional:
a) verificar os requisitos legais exigidos para as candidaturas a Presidente da República;
b) declarar a incapacidade permanente do Presidente da República;
c) verificar a morte e a perda de mandato do Presidente da República;
d) apreciar em última instância, os recursos e as reclamações eleitorais, validar e proclamar os resultados eleitorais nos termos da lei;
e) decidir, em última instância, a legalidade da constituição dos partidos políticos e suas coligações, bem como apreciar a legalidade das suas denominações, siglas, símbolos e ordenar a respectiva extinção nos termos da Constituição e da lei;
f) julgar as acções de impugnação de eleições e de deliberação dos órgãos dos partidos políticos;
g) julgar as acções que tenham por objecto o contencioso relativo ao mandato dos deputados;
h) julgar as acções que tenham por objecto as incompatibilidades previstas na Constituição e na lei.
3. O Conselho Constitucional exerce as demais competências que lhe sejam atribuídas por lei. (Art. 243)
Jurisdiction and Access
Nigeria
- English(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Constitution and in addition to such other jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by an Act of the National Assembly, the Federal High Court shall have and exercise jurisdiction to the exclusion of any other court in civil causes and matters –
…
(q) subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the operation and interpretation of this Constitution in so far as it affects the Federal Government or any of its agencies;
… (Sec. 251)
Jurisdiction and Access
Benin
- English
…
- the organic laws may only be promulgated after declaration by the Constitutional Court of their conformity with the Constitution. (Art. 97) - French
…
- les lois organiques ne peuvent être promulguées qu'après déclaration par la Cour constitutionnelle de leur conformité à la Constitution. (Art. 97)
Jurisdiction and Access
Sierra Leone
- English(1) A person who alleges that an enactment or anything contained in or done under the authority of that or any other enactment is inconsistent with, or is in contravention of a provision of this Constitution, may at any time bring an action in the Supreme Court for a declaration to that effect.
(2) The Supreme Court shall, for the purposes of a declaration under subsection (1), make such orders and give such directions as it may consider appropriate for giving effect to, or enabling effect to be given to, the declaration so made.
… (Sec. 127)