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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
- 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
- English
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the High Court has original jurisdiction to determine any question as to the interpretation or application of this Constitution.
(2) Where —
(a) any question as to the interpretation or application of this Constitution arises in any proceedings in a subordinate court; and
(b) that court is of the opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law,
the court may, and shall if a party to the proceedings so requests, refer the question to the High Court for determination. (Sec. 134)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe National People’s Congress exercises the following functions and powers:
…
(2) to supervise the enforcement of the Constitution;
… (Art. 62) - Chinese全国人民代表大会行使下列职权:
…
(二)监督宪法的实施;
… (第六十二条)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. Appeals of unconstitutionality against laws or statutory rules may be lodged by one fifth of the General Council, the Head of Government and three Local Councils. One fifth of the General Council may lodge an appeal of unconstitutionality against the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber. The appeal shall be lodged within the thirty days following the publication of the rule.
… (Art. 99) - Catalan1. Poden interposar recurs d'inconstitucionalitat contra les lleis i els decrets legislatius una cinquena part dels membres del Consell General, el cap de Govern i tres Comuns. Una cinquena part dels membres del Consell General pot interposar recurs d'inconstitucionalitat contra el reglament de la cambra. El termini d'interposició de la demanda és de trenta dies des de la data de publicació de la norma.
… (Art. 99)
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
- EnglishAll acts which constitute violations of constitutional principles and norms shall be subject to a review of their constitutionality, specifically:
a) Legislation;
b) International treaties, conventions and agreements;
c) Revisions of the Constitution;
d) Referenda. (Art. 227) - PortugueseSão passíveis de fiscalização da constitucionalidade todos os actos que consubstanciem violações de princípios e normas constitucionais, nomeadamente:
a) Os actos normativos;
b) Os tratados, convenções e acordos internacionais;
c) A revisão constitucional;
d) O referendo. (Art. 227)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) The Constitutional Court has jurisdiction:
a) to annul statutes or individual provisions thereof if they are in conflicts with the constitutional order;
b) to annul other legal enactments or individual provisions thereof if they are in conflict with the constitutional order or a statute;
c) over constitutional complaints by the representative body of a self-governing region against an unlawful encroachment by the state;
d) over constitutional complaints against final decisions or other encroachments by public authorities infringing constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights and basic freedoms;
e) over remedial actions from decisions concerning the certification of the election of a deputy or senator;
f) to resolve doubts concerning a deputy or senator’s loss of eligibility to hold office or the incompatibility under Article 25 of some other position or activity with holding the office of deputy or senator;
g) over a constitutional charge brought by the Senate against the president of the republic pursuant to Article 65, paragraph 2;
h) to decide on a petition by the president of the republic seeking the revocation of a joint resolution of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate pursuant to Article 66;
i) to decide on the measures necessary to implement a decision of an international tribunal which is binding on the Czech Republic, in the event that it cannot be otherwise implemented;
j) to determine whether a decision to dissolve a political party or other decision relating to the activities of a political party is in conformity with constitutional acts or other laws;
k) to decide jurisdictional disputes between state bodies and bodies of self-governing regions, unless that power is given by statute to another body.
(2) Prior to the ratification of a treaty under Article 10a or Article 49, the Constitutional Court shall further have jurisdiction to decide concerning the treaty’s conformity with the constitutional order. A treaty may not be ratified prior to the Constitutional Court giving judgment.
(3) A statute may provide that, in place of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Administrative Court shall have jurisdiction:
a) to annul legal enactments other than statutes or individual provisions thereof if they are inconsistent with a statute;
b) to decide jurisdictional disputes between state bodies and bodies of self-governing regions, unless that power is given by statute to another body. (1993 Constitution, Art. 87) - Czech(1) Ústavní soud rozhoduje
a) o zrušení zákonů nebo jejich jednotlivých ustanovení, jsou-li v rozporu s ústavním pořádkem,
b) o zrušení jiných právních předpisů nebo jejich jednotlivých ustanovení, jsou-li v rozporu s ústavním pořádkem nebo zákonem,
c) o ústavní stížnosti orgánů územní samosprávy proti nezákonnému zásahu státu,
d) o ústavní stížnosti proti pravomocnému rozhodnutí a jinému zásahu orgánů veřejné moci do ústavně zaručených základních práv a svobod,
e) o opravném prostředku proti rozhodnutí ve věci ověření volby poslance nebo senátora,
f) v pochybnostech o ztrátě volitelnosti a o neslučitelnosti výkonu funkcí poslance nebo senátora podle čl. 25,
g) o ústavní žalobě Senátu proti prezidentu republiky podle čl. 65 odst. 2,
h) o návrhu prezidenta republiky na zrušení usnesení Poslanecké sněmovny a Senátu podle čl. 66,
i) o opatřeních nezbytných k provedení rozhodnutí mezinárodního soudu, které je pro Českou republiku závazné, pokud je nelze provést jinak,
j) o tom, zda rozhodnutí o rozpuštění politické strany nebo jiné rozhodnutí týkající se činnosti politické strany je ve shodě s ústavními nebo jinými zákony,
k) spory o rozsah kompetencí státních orgánů a orgánů územní samosprávy, nepřísluší-li podle zákona jinému orgánu.
(2) Ústavní soud dále rozhoduje o souladu mezinárodní smlouvy podle čl. 10a a čl. 49 s ústavním pořádkem, a to před její ratifikací. Do rozhodnutí Ústavního soudu nemůže být smlouva ratifikována.
(3) Zákon může stanovit, že namísto Ústavního soudu rozhoduje Nejvyšší správní soud
a) o zrušení právních předpisů nebo jejich jednotlivých ustanovení, jsou-li v rozporu se zákonem,
b) spory o rozsah kompetencí státních orgánů a orgánů územní samosprávy, nepřísluší-li podle zákona jinému orgánu. (Ústava 1993, Čl. 87)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Popular Action (la Accion Popular) shall proceed against any act or omission by the authorities or individuals or collectives that violates or threatens to violate rights and collective interests related to public patrimony, space, security and health, the environment and other rights of a similar nature that are recognized by this Constitution. (Art. 135)
- SpanishLa Acción Popular procederá contra todo acto u omisión de las autoridades o de personas individuales o colectivas que violen o amenacen con violar derechos e intereses colectivos, relacionados con el patrimonio, el espacio, la seguridad y salubridad pública, el medio ambiente y otros de similar naturaleza reconocidos por esta Constitución. (Art. 135)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The organic laws and the regulations of the National Assembly, before their promulgation or their entry into application[,] must be submitted to the Constitutional Council.
To the same ends, the ordinary laws and the treaties submitted to the procedure of ratification, may be deferred to the Constitutional Council, before their promulgation. (Art. 155) - French
Les lois organiques et le règlement de l’Assemblée nationale, avant leur promulgation ou leur mise en application, doivent être soumis au Conseil constitutionnel.
Aux mêmes fins, les lois ordinaires et les traités soumis à la procédure de ratification, peuvent être déférés au Conseil constitutionnel, avant leur promulgation. (Art. 155)
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)