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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
- EnglishWhen a judge, by virtue of his/her office or at the request of a party, considers that a legal norm is contrary to the Constitution or to international human rights instruments that provide for rights that are more favorable than those enshrined in the Constitution, it shall suspend the case and refer it for consultation to the Constitutional Court, which within no more than forty-five (45) days shall rule on the constitutionality of the norm.
If the Court issues no ruling within the established time-limits, the affected party is entitled to file the corresponding complaint. (Art. 428) - SpanishCuando una jueza o juez, de oficio o a petición de parte, considere que una norma jurídica es contraria a la Constitución o a los instrumentos internacionales de derechos humanos que establezcan derechos más favorables que los reconocidos en la Constitución, suspenderá la tramitación de la causa y remitirá en consulta el expediente a la Corte Constitucional, que en un plazo no mayor a cuarenta y cinco días, resolverá sobre la constitucionalidad de la norma.
Si transcurrido el plazo previsto la Corte no se pronuncia, el perjudicado podrá interponer la acción correspondiente. (Art. 428)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Court of Constitutionality is a permanent tribunal of privative jurisdiction, of which the essential function is the defense of the constitutional order; [it] acts as a collegiate tribunal with independence from the other organs of the State and exercises [the] specific functions assigned to it by the Constitution and the law of the matter.
… (Art. 268) - SpanishLa Corte de Constitucionalidad es un tribunal permanente de jurisdicción privativa, cuya función esencial es la defensa del orden constitucional; actúa como tribunal colegiado con independencia de los demás organismos del Estado y ejerce funciones específicas que le asigna la Constitución y la ley de la materia.
… (Art. 268)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Supreme Court of Justice will ...
... take cognizance of and will resolve the recourses of unconstitutionality, the conflicts of competences and constitutionality between the Powers of the State and the conflicts of constitutionality, between the central government and the municipal governments and [the governments] of the Autonomous Regions of the Caribbean Coast.
... (Art. 163) - Spanish
La Corte Suprema de Justicia ...
... conocerá y resolverá los recursos por inconstitucionalidad, los conflictos de competencias y constitucionalidad entre Poderes del Estado y los conflictos de constitucionalidad, entre el gobierno central y los gobiernos municipales y de las Regiones Autónomas de la Costa Caribe.
... (Art. 163)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) An appeal shall lie from decisions of the Court of Appeal to Her Majesty in Council as of right in the following cases—
…
(c) final decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings which involve a question as to the interpretation of this Constitution;
… (Sec. 108)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishEvery person or collective affected by a juridical norm contrary to the Constitution shall have the right to present an Action for Unconstitutionality (Accion de Inconstitucionalidad), pursuant to the procedures established by law. (Art. 132)
- SpanishToda persona individual o colectiva afectada por una norma jurídica contraria a la Constitución tendrá derecho a presentar la Acción de Inconstitucionalidad, de acuerdo con los procedimientos establecidos por la ley. (Art. 132)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of sections 22(5), 38(6), 42(8), 57(7), 115(8), 118(3) and 121(10) of this Constitution, any person who alleges that any provision of this Constitution (other than a provision of Chapter I3 thereof) has been or is being contravened may, if he has a relevant interest, apply to the High Court for a declaration and for relief under this section.
(2) The High Court shall have jurisdiction on an application made under this section to determine whether any provision of this Constitution (other than a provision of Chapter I thereof) has been or is being contravened and to make a declaration accordingly.
(3) Where the High Court makes a declaration under this section that a provision of this Constitution has been or is being contravened and the person on whose application the declaration is made has also applied for relief, the High Court may grant to that person such remedy as its considers appropriate, being a remedy available generally under the law of Dominica in proceedings in the High Court.
(4) The Chief Justice may make rules with respect to the practice and procedure of the High Court in relation to the jurisdiction and powers conferred on the Court by or under this section, including provision with respect to the time within which any application under this section may be made.
(5) A person shall be regarded as having a relevant interest for the purpose of an application under this section only if the contravention of this Constitution alleged by him is such as to affect his interests.
(6) The right conferred on a person by this section to apply for a declaration and relief in respect of an alleged contravention of this Constitution shall be in addition to any other action in respect of the same matter that may be available to that person under any other enactment or any rule of law.
(7) Nothing in this section shall confer jurisdiction on the High Court to hear or determine any such question as is referred to in section 40 of this Constitution. (Sec. 103)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishConstitutional proceedings can be filed by a citizen individually or collectively. (Art. 439)
- SpanishLas acciones constitucionales podrán ser presentadas por cualquier ciudadana o ciudadano individual o colectivamente. (Art. 439)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Council sees to and decides when it is referred to a matter:
• on the constitutionality of the laws before their promulgation;
• on the constitutionality of the internal regulations of the Senate and of the Chamber of Deputies before their implementation
• on the orders
For the same purposes, the laws in general may be referred to the Constitutional Council, before their promulgation, by the President of the Republic, the President of the Senate, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, a group of fifteen (15) Deputes or of (10) Senators.
The law determines the modalities of organization and of functioning of the Constitutional Council as well as the other entities enabled to refer a matter to it. (Art. 190ter-5) - FrenchLe Conseil Constitutionnel veille et statue lorsqu'il est saisi:
a. sur la constitutionnalité des lois organiques avant leur promulgation;
b. sur la constitutionnalité des règlements intérieurs du Sénat et de la Chambre des Députés avant leur mise en application.
c. sur les arrêtés.
Aux mêmes fins, les lois en général peuvent être déférées au Conseil constitutionnel, avant leur promulgation, par le Président de la République, le Président du Sénat, le Président de la Chambre des Députés, un groupe de quinze (15) députés ou de dix Sénateurs.
La loi détermine les autres entités habilitées à saisir le Conseil Constitutionnel. (Article 190ter.5)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishWhen the Executive Authority vetoes a bill as unconstitutional and the National Assembly by majority vote insists that it be adopted, the bill shall be sent to the Supreme Court for a decision on its constitutionality. If the Supreme Court's judgment declares the bill constitutional, the Executive Authority is obliged to approve it and have it promulgated. (Art. 171)
- SpanishCuando el Ejecutivo objetare un proyecto por inexequible y la Asamblea Nacional, por la mayoría expresada, insistiere en su adopción, aquél lo pasará a la Corte Suprema de Justicia para que decida sobre su inconstitucionalidad. El fallo de la Corte que declare el proyecto constitucional, obliga al Ejecutivo a sancionarlo y hacerlo promulgar. (Art. 171)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
Constitutional guarantees are:
1. The Action of Habeas Corpus, which proceeds concerning an act or omission, on the part of any authority, functionary or person, which violates or threatens individual freedom or the related constitutional rights.
2. The Action of Amparo, which proceeds against an act or omission, on the part of any authority, functionary, or person, which violates or threatens the other rights recognized by the Constitution, with the exception of those specified in the following paragraph.
It does not proceed against legal norms or or Judicial Resolutions emanating from [the] regular procedure.
3. The Action of Habeas Data, which proceeds against an act or omission, on the part of any authority, functionary, or person, which violates or threatens the rights to which Article 2, paragraphs 5 and 6 of this Constitution, refers.
4. The Action of Unconstitutionality, which proceeds against the norms that have status [rango] of law: laws, legislative decrees, decrees of urgency, treaties, regulations of the Congress, regional norms of general character and municipal ordinances that contravene the Constitution in form or in substance [fondo].
5. The Popular Action [Acción Popular], which proceeds for infraction of the Constitution and of the law, against the regulations, administrative norms and resolutions and decrees of general character, whatever the authority from which they emanate may be.
6. The Action of Cumplimiento [Fulfillment/Mandamus], which proceeds against any authority or functionary that refuses to comply with a legal norm, or an administrative act, without prejudice to the responsibilities of law.
An Organic Law regulates the exercise of these guarantees and the effects of the declaration of unconstitutionality or illegality of the norms.
The exercise of the actions of habeas corpus and of amparo is not suspended during the effectiveness [vigencia] of the regimes of exception to which Article 137 of the Constitution refers.
When actions of this nature are interposed in relation to restricted or suspended rights, the competent jurisdictional organ examines the reasonability and the proportionality of the restrictive act. It does not correspond to the judge to question the declaration of the state of emergency or of siege. (Art. 200) - Spanish
Son garantías constitucionales:
1. La Acción de Hábeas Corpus, que procede ante el hecho u omisión, por parte de cualquier autoridad, funcionario o persona, que vulnera o amenaza la libertad individual o los derechos constitucionales conexos.
2. La Acción de Amparo, que procede contra el hecho u omisión, por parte de cualquier autoridad, funcionario o persona, que vulnera o amenaza los demás derechos reconocidos por la Constitución, con excepción de los señalados en el inciso siguiente.
No procede contra normas legales ni contra Resoluciones Judiciales emanadas de procedimiento regular.
3. La Acción de Hábeas Data, que procede contra el hecho u omisión, por parte de cualquier autoridad, funcionario o persona, que vulnera o amenaza los derechos a que se refiere el Artículo 2º, incisos 5 y 6 de la Constitución.
4. La Acción de Inconstitucionalidad, que procede contra las normas que tienen rango de ley: leyes, decretos legislativos, decretos de urgencia, tratados, reglamentos del Congreso, normas regionales de carácter general y ordenanzas municipales que contravengan la Constitución en la forma o en el fondo.
5. La Acción Popular, que procede, por infracción de la Constitución y de la ley, contra los reglamentos, normas administrativas y resoluciones y decretos de carácter general, cualquiera sea la autoridad de la que emanen.
6. La Acción de Cumplimiento, que procede contra cualquier autoridad o funcionario renuente a acatar una norma legal o un acto administrativo, sin perjuicio de las responsabilidades de ley.
Una ley orgánica regula el ejercicio de estas garantías y los efectos de la declaración de inconstitucionalidad o ilegalidad de las normas.
El ejercicio de las acciones de hábeas corpus y de amparo no se suspende durante la vigencia de los regímenes de excepción a que se refiere el artículo 137º de la Constitución.
Cuando se interponen acciones de esta naturaleza en relación con derechos restringidos o suspendidos, el órgano jurisdiccional competente examina la razonabilidad y la proporcionalidad del acto restrictivo. No corresponde al juez cuestionar la declaración del estado de emergencia ni de sitio. (Art. 200)