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Jurisdiction and Access
- English...
(3) The Constitutional Court-
(a) is the highest court of the Republic; and
(b) may decide -
(i) constitutional matters; and
(ii) any other matter, if the Constitutional Court grants leave to appeal on the grounds that the matter raises an arguable point of law of general public importance which ought to be considered by that Court; and
(c) makes the final decision whether a matter is within its jurisdiction.
(4) Only the Constitutional Court may -
(a) decide disputes between organs of state in the national or provincial sphere concerning the constitutional status, powers or functions of any of those organs of state;
(b) decide on the constitutionality of any parliamentary or provincial Bill, but may do so only in the circumstances anticipated in section 79 or 121;
(c) decide applications envisaged in section 80 or 122;
(d) decide on the constitutionality of any amendment to the Constitution;
(e) decide that Parliament or the President has failed to fulfil a constitutional obligation; or
(f) certify a provincial constitution in terms of section 144.
(5) The Constitutional Court makes the final decision whether an Act of Parliament, a provincial Act or conduct of the President is constitutional, and must confirm any order of invalidity made by the Supreme Court of Appeal, the High Court of South Africa, or a court of similar status, before that order has any force.
(6) National legislation or the rules of the Constitutional Court must allow a person, when it is in the interests of justice and with leave of the Constitutional Court—
(a) to bring a matter directly to the Constitutional Court; or
(b) to appeal directly to the Constitutional Court from any other court.
(7) A constitutional matter includes any issue involving the interpretation, protection or enforcement of the Constitution. (Sec. 167)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The Public Prosecutor’s Office and persons who, in conformity with the law regulating the constitutionality review process, have legitimacy to file an appeal, shall have the right to appeal with the Constitutional Court.
2. The appeal referred to in the preceding paragraph may only be filed after resort to other appeals provided for in the law of the proceedings in which the judgment was handed down have been exhausted, and the appeal shall be limited to the question of unconstitutionality or illegality, as the case may be.
3. The appeal filed against the decisions referred to in subparagraph c) of paragraph 1 and in the first part of subparagraph a) of paragraph 2 of the preceding article shall be mandatorily filed with the Public Prosecutor’s Office. (Art. 282) - Portuguese1. Podem recorrer para o Tribunal Constitucional, o Ministério Público e as pessoas que, de acordo com a lei reguladora do processo de fiscalização da constitucionalidade, tenham legitimidade para interpor recurso.
2. O recurso referido no artigo anterior só pode ser interposto depois de esgotadas as vias de recurso estabelecidos na lei do processo em que foi proferida a decisão e é restrito à questão da inconstitucionalidade ou da ilegalidade, conforme o caso.
3. O recurso das decisões previstas na alínea c) do número 1 e da primeira parte da alínea a) do nº 2 do artigo antecedente é obrigatório para o Ministério Público. (Art. 282)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. Subject to Article 28, the Constitutional Court has original and final jurisdiction to hear—
a. a matter relating to the interpretation of this Constitution;
b. a matter relating to a violation or contravention of this Constitution;
…
2. Subject to Article 28 (2), where a question relating to this Constitution arises in a court, the person presiding in that court shall refer the question to the Constitutional Court.
3. Subject to Article 28, a person who alleges that—
a. an Act of Parliament or statutory instrument;
b. an action, measure or decision taken under law; or
c. an act, omission, measure or decision by a person or an authority; contravenes this Constitution, may petition the Constitutional Court for redress.
4. A decision of the Constitutional Court is not appealable to the Supreme Court. (Art. 128)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The organic laws are those which have for [their] object specifying or completing the provisions relative to the organization or to the functioning of the Institutions, structures and systems specified or qualified as such by the Constitution.
They are voted and modified within the following conditions:
…
- the organic laws can only be promulgated after the declaration by the Constitutional Council of their conformity with the Constitution. (Art. 102) - French
Les lois organiques sont celles qui ont pour objet de préciser ou de compléter les dispositions relatives à l’organisation ou au fonctionnement des Institutions, structures et systèmes prévus ou qualifiés comme tels par la Constitution.
Elles sont votées et modifiées dans les conditions suivantes :
…
- les lois organiques ne peuvent être promulguées qu'après la déclaration par le Conseil constitutionnel de leur conformité à la Constitution. (Art. 102)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe provisions of law which concern the fundamental rights recognized to any person by the Constitution may be submitted to the Constitutional Council by way of pleadings if it involves an instance in course before a jurisdiction.
The pleadings of unconstitutionality may be raised by any plaintiff before any jurisdiction.
… (Art. 80) - Arabicيجوز تقديم أحكام القوانين المتعلقة بالحقوق الأساسية التي يعترف بها الدستور لأي شخص عبر تقديم مذكرة إذا كانت تتعلق بقضية ماثلة أمام سلطة قضائية.
ويجوز أن يقدم أي مدع دفوع بعدم الدستورية أمام أي سلطة قضائية.
... (المادة 80) - FrenchLes dispositions de la loi qui concernent les droits fondamentaux reconnus à toute personne par la Constitution peuvent être soumises au Conseil constitutionnel par voie d'exception à l'occasion d'une instance en cours devant une juridiction.
L'exception d'inconstitutionnalité peut être soulevée par tout plaideur devant toute jurisdiction.
… (Art. 80)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) A person who alleges that—
(a) any Act of the National Assembly or anything done under the authority of an Act of the National Assembly; or
(b) any act or omission of any person or authority, is inconsistent with or is in contravention of a provision of this Constitution, may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction for a declaration to that effect.
… (Sec. 5)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English…
2. … The Supreme Court, pursuant to its power of judicial review, is empowered to declare any inconsistent laws unconstitutional. (Art. 2)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. An appeal shall lie from decisions of the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court to the Judicial Committee as of right in the following cases
a. final decisions, in any civil or criminal proceedings, on questions as to the interpretation of this Constitution;
… (Sec. 81)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) The Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction, to the exclusion of any other court of law in Nigeria, to hear and determine appeals from the Court of Appeal.
(2) An appeal shall lie from the decisions of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court as of right in the following cases–
…
(b) decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings on questions as to the interpretation or application of this Constitution;
(c) decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings on questions as to whether any of the provisions of Chapter IV4 of this Constitution has been, is being or is likely to be, contravened in relation to any person;
… (Sec. 233)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The President of the Republic, one fifth of the Members in full exercise of their office and the Attorney-General may request the Constitutional Court to rule on unconstitutionality by omission.
… (Art. 232) - Portuguese1. Podem requerer ao Tribunal Constitucional a declaração de inconstitucionalidade por omissão o Presidente da República, um quinto dos Deputados em efectividade de funções e o Procurador-Geral da República.
… (Art. 232)