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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
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is the highest jurisdiction of the State in constitutional matters. It is given the charge:
– to judge the constitutionality of the organic and ordinary laws, already promulgated or simply voted, of the regulations as well as of the Internal Regulations of the National Assembly and of the Senate;
– to take cognizance of electoral disputes;
– to see to the regularity of the electoral consultations, [and] to examine and to proclaim the definitive results;
– to see to the regularity of the operations of [the] referendum, to examine the complaints and to proclaim the definitive results;
– to receive the oath of the President of the Republic elected;
– to determine the conflicts of competence within the executive power, between the legislative and executive powers and between the State and the territorial collectivities;
– to declare the errors [constater des défauts] of promulgation of the laws definitively voted and the lack of their promulgation in order to permit their entry into force;
– to interpret the Constitution;
– to give its opinion concerning the bills or proposals of constitutional revision and the procedure of [the] referendum;
– to receive the declarations of patrimony. (Art. 95) - FrenchLa Cour Constitutionnelle est la plus haute juridiction de l'Etat en matière constitutionnelle. Elle est chargée de:
- juger de la constitutionnalité des lois organiques et ordinaires, déjà promulguées ou simplement votées, des règlements, ainsi que des Règlements Intérieurs de l'Assemblée Nationale et du Sénat;
- connaître du contentieux électoral;
- veiller à la régularité des consultations électorales, examiner les réclamations et proclamer les résultats définitifs;
- veiller à la régularité des opérations référendaires, examiner les réclamations et proclamer les résultats définitifs;
- recevoir le serment du Président de la République élu;
- trancher les conflits de compétence au sein du pouvoir exécutif, entre les pouvoirs législatif et exécutif, et entre l'État et les collectivités territoriales;
- constater les défauts de promulgation des lois définitivement votées et la carence de leur promulgation afin de permettre leur entrée en vigueur;
- interpréter la Constitution;
- donner son avis sur les projets ou propositions de révision constitutionnelle et la procédure référendaire;
- recevoir les déclarations de patrimoine. (Art. 95)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The international commitments provided for in Article 120 before their ratification, the constitutional laws adopted by parliamentary vote [voie], the organic laws before their promulgation, [and] the regulations of the parliamentary assemblies before their entry into application, must be deferred by the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly or the President of the Senate to the Constitutional Council, which pronounces on their conformity with the Constitution.
... (Art. 134) - French
Les engagements internationaux visés à l'article 120 avant leur ratification, les lois constitutionnelles adoptées par voie parlementaire, les lois organiques avant leur promulgation, les règlements des assemblées parlementaires avant leur mise en application, doivent être déférés par la Président de la République, le Président de l'Assemblée nationale ou le Président du Sénat au Conseil constitutionnel, qui se prononce sur leur conformité à la Constitution.
… (Art. 134)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English…
(2) Without derogating from the generality of subsection (1) the High Court has jurisdiction -
(a) to enforce the fundamental human rights and freedoms guaranteed by this Constitution; and
(b) to hear and determine any matter of a constitutional nature.
… (Sec. 151)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is the competent jurisdiction in constitutional, [and] electoral matters and in [matters] of the fundamental rights and freedoms. It judges the constitutionality of the laws, [and] of the ordinances as well as the conformity of the international treaties and agreements to the Constitution.
It guarantees the exercise of the fundamental rights of the human person and of the public freedoms.
It sees to the regularity of the national elections and of the referendums of which [dont] it proclaims the definitive results.
It is the regulatory organ of the functioning and of the activities of the legislative and executive Powers and of the other organs of the State. (Art. 93) - FrenchLa Cour constitutionnelle est la juridiction compétente en matière constitutionnelle, électorale et des droits et libertés fondamentaux. Elle juge de la constitutionnalité des lois, des ordonnances ainsi que de la conformité des traités et accords internationaux à la Constitution.
Elle garantit l'exercice des droits fondamentaux de la personne humaine et des libertés publiques.
Elle veille à la régularité des élections nationales et des référendums dont elle proclame les résultats définitifs.
Elle est l'organe régulateur du fonctionnement et des activités des pouvoirs législatif et exécutif et des autres organes de l'État. (Art. 93)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
A Head of an Institution or one-quarter of the members composing one of the Parliamentary Assemblies or the organs of the Decentralized Territorial Collectivities or the High Council for the Defense of Democracy and of the State of Law may refer to the Constitutional Court, for control of constitutionality, any text with legislative or regulatory value as well as all matters falling into its competence.
If, before a jurisdiction, a party raises an exception of unconstitutionality, that jurisdiction postpones its decision and refers the matter to the High Constitutional Court which decides within the time period of one month.
In the same way, if before a jurisdiction, a party maintains that a provision of a legislative or regulatory text infringes their fundamental rights recognized by the Constitution, that jurisdiction postpones its decision within the same conditions as in the previous paragraph.
… (Art. 118) - French
Un Chef d’Institution ou le quart des membres composant l’une des Assemblées parlementaires ou les organes des Collectivités Territoriales Décentralisées ou le Haut Conseil pour la Défense de la Démocratie et de l’Etat de droit peuvent déférer à la Cour Constitutionnelle, pour contrôle de constitutionnalité, tout texte à valeur législative ou réglementaire ainsi que toutes matières relevant de sa compétence.
Si devant une juridiction, une partie soulève une exception d’inconstitutionnalité, cette juridiction sursoit à statuer et saisit la Haute Cour Constitutionnelle qui statue dans le délai d’un mois.
De même, si devant juridiction, une partie soutient qu’une disposition de texte législatif ou réglementaire porte atteinte à ses droits fondamentaux reconnus par la Constitution, cette juridiction sursoit à statuer dans les mêmes conditions qu’à l’alinéa précédent.
... (Art. 118)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Court is competent to take cognizance of a pleading [exception] of unconstitutionality raised in the course of a process, when it is maintained by one of the parties that the law on which the issue of the litigation depends, infringes the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
An organic law establishes the conditions and modalities of application of this Article. (Art. 133) - Arabic
تختص المحكمة الدستورية بالنظر في كل دفع متعلق بعدم دستورية قانون، أثير أثناء النظر في قضية، وذلك إذا دفع أحد الأطراف بأن القانون، الذي سيطبق في النزاع، يمس بالحقوق وبالحريات التي يضمنها الدستور.
يحدد قانون تنظيمي شروط وإجراءات تطبيق هذا الفصل. (الفصل 133)
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)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) A person who alleges that any provisions of this Constitution, other than a provision of Chapter III3, has been contravened and that the person’s interest is being or is likely to be affected by the contravention may, subject to this article, apply to the Constitutional Court for redress.
(2) The Constitutional Court may decline to entertain an application under clause (1) where the Court is satisfied that the applicant has obtained redress for the contravention under any law and where the applicant has obtained redress in the Constitutional Court for any matter for which an application may be made under clause (1), a court shall not entertain any application for redress for such matter except on appeal from a decision of such court.
(3) Where the Constitutional Court on an application under clause (1) is satisfied that adequate means of redress for the contravention alleged are or have been available to the person concerned in any other court under any other law, the Court may hear the application or transfer the application to the appropriate court for grant of redress in accordance with law.
(4) Upon hearing an application under clause (1), the Constitutional Court may-
(a) declare any act or omission which is the subject of the application to be a contravention of this Constitution;
(b) declare any law or the provision of any law which contravenes this Constitution to be void;
(c) grant any remedy available to the Supreme Court against any person or authority which is the subject of the application or which is a party to any proceedings before the Constitutional Court, as the Court considers appropriate.
…
(6) Where in the course of any proceedings in any court, other than the Court of Appeal or the supreme court sittings as the Constitutional Court, or tribunal, a question arises with regard to whether there has been or is likely to be a contravention of this Constitution, other than Chapter III, the court or tribunal shall, if it is satisfied that the question is not frivolous or vexatious or has not already been the subject of a decision of the Constitutional Court or the Court of Appeal, immediately adjourn the proceedings and refer the question for determination by the Constitutional Court.
(7) Where in an application under clause (1) or where a matter is referred to the Constitutional Court under clause (6), the person alleging the contravention or risk of contravention establishes a prima facie case, the burden of proving that there has not been a contravention or risk of contravention shall, where the allegation is against the State, be on the State.
… (Art. 130)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English…
4. The proposals for a referendum shall be subject to preventive review with respect to their constitutionality and legality.
… (Art. 103) - Portuguese…
4. As propostas de referendo estão sujeitas à fiscalização preventive da constitucionalidade e da legalidade.
… (Art. 103)