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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.
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Jurisdiction and Access
Uruguay
- EnglishThe declaration of the unconstitutionality of a law and the inapplicability of the provisions affected thereby, may be requested by any person who considers that his direct, personal, and legitimate interest is injured:
1. By means of lawsuit, which must be filed before the Supreme Court of Justice;
2. By plea of exception, which may be made in any judicial proceeding.
A judge or court which hears any judicial proceeding, or the Contentious-Administrative Tribunal, as the case may be, may also request the declaration of unconstitutionality of a law and its inapplicability, before rendering a decision.
In this case and in that provided in subparagraph 2 above, the proceedings shall be suspended and the case referred to the Supreme Court of Justice. (Art. 258) - SpanishLa declaración de inconstitucionalidad de una ley y la inaplicabilidad de las disposiciones afectadas por aquélla, podrán solicitarse por todo aquel que se considere lesionado en su interés directo, personal y legítimo:
1º) Por vía de acción, que deberá entablar ante la Suprema Corte de Justicia.
2º) Por vía de excepción, que podrá oponer en cualquier procedimiento judicial.
El Juez o Tribunal que entendiere en cualquier procedimiento judicial, o el Tribunal de lo Contencioso Administrativo, en su caso, también podrá solicitar de oficio la declaración de inconstitucionalidad de una ley y su inaplicabilidad, antes de dictar resolución.
En este caso y en el previsto por el numeral 2º), se suspenderán los procedimientos, elevándose las actuaciones a la Suprema Corte de Justicia. (Art. 258)
Jurisdiction and Access
Argentina
- EnglishThe Supreme Court and the lower courts of the Nation are empowered to hear and decide all cases arising under the Constitution and the laws of the Nation, with the exception made in Section 75, subsection 12, and under the treaties made with foreign nations; all cases concerning ambassadors, public ministers and foreign consuls; cases related to admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; matters in which the Nation shall be a party; actions arising between two or more provinces, between one province and the inhabitants of another province, between the inhabitants of different provinces, and between one province or the inhabitants thereof against a foreign state or citizen. (Sec. 116)
- SpanishCorresponde a la Corte Suprema y a los tribunales inferiores de la Nación, el conocimiento y decisión de todas las causas que versen sobre puntos regidos por la Constitución, y por las leyes de la Nación, con la reserva hecha en el inc. 12 del Artículo 75; y por los tratados con las naciones extranjeras; de las causas concernientes a embajadores, ministros públicos y cónsules extranjeros; de las causas de almirantazgo y jurisdicción marítima; de los asuntos en que la Nación sea parte; de las causas que se susciten entre dos o más provincias; entre una provincia y los vecinos de otra; entre los vecinos de diferentes provincias; y entre una provincia o sus vecinos, contra un Estado o ciudadano extranjero. (Art. 116)
Jurisdiction and Access
Colombia
- EnglishThe safeguarding of the integrity and supremacy of the Constitution is entrusted to the Constitutional Court in the strict and precise terms of this article. For such a purpose, it shall fulfill the following functions:
1. Decide on the petitions of unconstitutionality brought by citizens against measures amending the Constitution, no matter what their origin, exclusively for errors of procedure in their formation.
2. Decide, prior to a popular expression of opinion, on the constitutionality of the call for a referendum or a constituent assembly to amend the Constitution, exclusively for errors of procedure in their formation.
3. Decide on the constitutionality of referendums about laws and popular consultations and plebiscites of a national scope, in case of these last ones exclusively for errors of procedure in their convocation and implementation.
4. Decide on the petitions of unconstitutionality brought by citizens against statutes, both for their substantive content as well as for errors of procedure in their formation.
5. Decide on the petitions of unconstitutionality brought by citizens against decrees with the force of law issued by the government on the basis of Article 150, numeral 10, and Article 341 of the Constitution for their substantive content as well as for errors of procedure in their formation.
6. Decide on the exceptions provided for in Article 137 of the Constitution.
7. Decide definitively on the constitutionality of the legislative decrees issued by the government on the basis of Articles 212, 213, and 215 of the Constitution.
8. Decide definitively on the constitutionality of the bills opposed by the government as unconstitutional and of proposed statutory bills, both on account of their substantive content as well as for errors of procedure in their formation.
9. Revise, in the form determined by statute, the judicial decisions connected with the protection of constitutional rights.
10. To decide definitively on the constitutionality [exquibilidad/executability] of the international treaties and on the laws that approve them. To this end, the Government will submit them to the Court, within the six days subsequent to the sanction of the law. Any citizen can intervene to defend or challenge their constitutionality [constitucionalidad]. If the Court declares them constitutional, the Government may effect the exchange of notes; in the contrary case they will not be ratified. When one or several norms of a multilateral treaty are declared unconstitutional [inexquibilidad/unexecutable] by the Constitutional Court, the President of the Republic may only declare consent formulated [with] the corresponding reservation.
11. To settle [Dirimir] the conflicts of competence that occur between the distinct jurisdictions.
… (Art. 241) - SpanishA la Corte Constitucional se le confía la guarda de la integridad y supremacía de la Constitución, en los estrictos y precisos términos de este artículo. Con tal fin, cumplirá las siguientes funciones:
1. Decidir sobre las demandas de inconstitucionalidad que promuevan los ciudadanos contra los actos reformatorios de la Constitución, cualquiera que sea su origen, sólo por vicios de procedimiento en su formación.
2. Decidir, con anterioridad al pronunciamiento popular, sobre la constitucionalidad de la convocatoria a un referendo o a una Asamblea Constituyente para reformar la Constitución, sólo por vicios de procedimiento en su formación.
3. Decidir sobre la constitucionalidad de los referendos sobre leyes y de las consultas populares y plebiscitos del orden nacional. Estos últimos sólo por vicios de procedimiento en su convocatoria y realización.
4. Decidir sobre las demandas de inconstitucionalidad que presenten los ciudadanos contra las leyes, tanto por su contenido material como por vicios de procedimiento en su formación.
5. Decidir sobre las demandas de inconstitucionalidad que presenten los ciudadanos contra los decretos con fuerza de ley dictados por el Gobierno con fundamento en los artículos 150 numeral 10 y 341 de la Constitución, por su contenido material o por vicios de procedimiento en su formación.
6. Decidir sobre las excusas de que trata el artículo 137 de la Constitución.
7. Decidir definitivamente sobre la constitucionalidad de los decretos legislativos que dicte el Gobierno con fundamento en los artículos 212, 213 y 215 de la Constitución.
8. Decidir definitivamente sobre la constitucionalidad de los proyectos de ley que hayan sido objetados por el Gobierno como inconstitucionales, y de los proyectos de leyes estatutarias, tanto por su contenido material como por vicios de procedimiento en su formación.
9. Revisar, en la forma que determine la ley, las decisiones judiciales relacionadas con la acción de tutela de los derechos constitucionales.
10. Decidir definitivamente sobre la exequibilidad de los tratados internacionales y de las leyes que los aprueben. Con tal fin, el Gobierno los remitirá a la Corte, dentro de los seis días siguientes a la sanción de la ley. Cualquier ciudadano podrá intervenir para defender o impugnar su constitucionalidad. Si la Corte los declara constitucionales, el Gobierno podrá efectuar el canje de notas; en caso contrario no serán ratificados. Cuando una o varias normas de un tratado multilateral sean declaradas inexequibles por la Corte Constitucional, el Presidente de la República sólo podrá manifestar el consentimiento formulando la correspondiente reserva.
11. Dirimir los conflictos de competencia que ocurran entre las distintas jurisdicciones.
… (Art. 241)
Jurisdiction and Access
Ecuador
- 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
Haiti
- 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
Panama
- 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
Saint Lucia
- 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
Bolivia, Plurinational State of
- 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
Dominica
- 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
Dominican Republic
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court shall be responsible for knowing in sole instance:
1. Direct actions of unconstitutionality against the laws, decrees, rules, resolutions and ordinances at the instance of the President of the Republic, of one third of the members of the Senate or of the Chamber of Deputies and any person with legitimate and juridically protected interest.
2. The preventative control of international treaties before their ratification by the legislative organ.
3. Conflicts of responsibility between the public powers at the instance of one of their heads.
4. Any other matter that the law provides. (Art. 185) - SpanishEl Tribunal Constitucional será competente para conocer en única instancia:
1) Las acciones directas de inconstitucionalidad contra las leyes, decretos, reglamentos, resoluciones y ordenanzas, a instancia del Presidente de la República, de una tercera parte de los miembros del Senado o de la Cámara de Diputados y de cualquier persona con interés legítimo y jurídicamente protegido;
2) El control preventivo de los tratados internacionales antes de su ratificación por el órgano legislativo;
3) Los conflictos de competencia entre los poderes públicos, a instancia de uno de sus titulares;
4) Cualquier otra materia que disponga la ley. (Art. 185)