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Composition and Appointment
- English
(1) A person is qualified for appointment as a judge of the Constitutional Court if he or she is a Zimbabwean citizen, is at least forty years old and has a sound knowledge of constitutional law and, in addition, possesses one of the following qualifications—
(a) he or she has been a judge of a court with unlimited jurisdiction in civil or criminal matters in a country in which the common law is Roman-Dutch or English, and English is an officially recognised language; or
(b) for at least twelve years, whether continuously or not, he or she has been qualified to practise as a legal practitioner—
(i) in Zimbabwe; or
(ii) in a country in which the common law is Roman-Dutch or English and English is an officially recognised language;
and is currently so qualified to practise.
…
(2) To be appointed as a judge of the Constitutional Court a person must be a fit and proper person to hold office as a judge. (Sec. 177)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
1. The Constitutional Court reviews preliminarily the constitutionality of the issues presented for a referendum according to Article 150, paragraphs 1 and 2, Article 151, paragraphs 2 and 3, as well as Article 177, paragraphs 4 and 5, within 60 days.
… (Art. 152) - Albanian
1. Gjykata Kushtetuese shqyrton paraprakisht kushtetutshmërinë e çështjeve të shtruara për referendum sipas nenit 150 paragrafët 1 e 2, nenit 151 paragrafët 2 e 3 edhe sipas nenit 177 paragrafët 4 e 5 brenda 60 ditëve.
… (Neni 152)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
Beside the other attributions which are expressly conferred on it by other provisions of the Constitution, the Constitutional Court decides by an decision on the constitutionality of the treaties, the laws and the regulations.
The Constitutional Court may be referred to [the matter] of the constitutionality of the treaties before their ratification, and of the laws before their promulgation.
The Constitutional Court may be referred to [the matter] of the constitutionality of the regulations within a time period of one month, counting from the date of their publication.
The Constitutional Court decides equally by decision on the conventionality of the laws and of the regulations within the conditions established respectively in paragraphs 2 and 3 above.
The Constitutional Court is obligatorily referred to [the matter] of the conformity of the organic laws with the Constitution by the President of the Republic after their adoption by the Parliament. It decides by a decision on the whole of the text.
The Constitutional Court equally decides in the same forms provided for in the previous paragraph of the conformity of the internal regulations of each of the two chambers of the Parliament. (Art. 190) - Arabic
بالإضافة إلى الاختصاصات التي خولتها إياها صراحة أحكام أخرى في الدستور، تفصِل المحكمة الدستورية بقرار في دستورية المعاهدات والقوانين والتنظيمات.
يمكن إخطار المحكمة الدستورية بشأن دستورية المعاهدات قبل التصديق عليها، والقوانين قبل إصدارها.
يمكن إخطار المحكمة الدستورية بشأن دستورية التنظيمات خلال شهر من تاريخ نشرها.
تفصل المحكمة الدستورية بقرار حول توافق القوانين والتنظيمـات مع المعاهدات، ضمن الشروط المحددة، على التوالي، في الفقرتين 2 و 3 أعلاه.
يُخطِر رئــيس الجمهوريّة المحكمة الدستورية وجوبا، حول مطابقة القوانين الــعضويّـة للدستور بعد أن يصـادق عليهـا البرلمان. وتفصل المحكمة الدستورية بقرار بشأن النص كله.
تفصِل المحكمة الدستورية في مطابقة النّظام الدّاخلي لكلّ من غرفتي البرلمان للدستور،حسب الإجراءات المذكورة في الفقرة السّابقة. (المــادة 190) - French
Outre les autres attributions qui lui sont expressément conférées par d’autres dispositions de la Constitution, la Cour constitutionnelle se prononce par une décision sur la constitutionnalité des traités, des lois et des règlements.
La Cour constitutionnelle peut être saisie sur la constitutionnalité des traités avant leur ratification, et sur les lois avant leur promulgation.
La Cour constitutionnelle peut être saisie sur la constitutionnalité des règlements dans un délai d’un mois, à partir de la date de leur publication.
La Cour constitutionnelle se prononce également par décision sur la conventionnalité des lois et des règlements dans les conditions fixées respectivement aux paragraphes 2 et 3 ci-dessus.
La Cour constitutionnelle est saisie obligatoirement par le Président de la République sur la conformité des lois organiques à la Constitution après leur adoption par le Parlement. Elle statue par une décision sur l’ensemble du texte.
La Cour constitutionnelle se prononce également dans les mêmes formes prévues à l’alinéa précédent sur la conformité du règlement intérieur de chacune des deux chambres du Parlement. (Art. 190)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is the sole body competent to oversee the constitutionality of the following:
- Draft laws, upon the request of the President of the Republic, the Head of Government, or thirty members of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People. The request shall be filed within seven days from the Assembly’s ratification of the draft law or ratification of a draft law in a modified version, after it has been returned from the President of the Republic.
- Constitutional draft laws submitted to it by the President of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People as specified in Article 144 or to determine whether the procedures of amending the Constitution have been respected.
- Treaties presented to it by the President of the Republic before the draft law approving them is signed.
- Laws referred to it by courts as a result of a request filed by a court, in the case of the invocation of a claim of unconstitutionality by one of the parties in litigation, in accordance with the procedures established by law.
- The rules of procedure of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, submitted to it by the Speaker of the Assembly.
The Constitutional Court is also responsible for other tasks that are conferred upon it by the Constitution. (Art. 120) - Arabicتختصّ المحكمة الدستورية دون سواها بمراقبة دستورية:
- مشاريع القوانين بناء على طلب من رئيس الجمهورية أو رئيس الحكومة أو ثلاثين عضوا من أعضاء مجلس نواب الشّعب يُرفع إليها في أجل أقصاه سبعة (7) أيّام من تاريخ مصادقة المجلس على مشروع القانون أو من تاريخ مصادقته على مشروع قانون في صيغة معدّلة بعد أن تمّ ردّه من قبل رئيس الجمهورية.
-مشاريع القوانين الدّستورية التي يعرضها عليها رئيس مجلس نواب الشّعب حسبما هو مقرّر بالفصل 144 أو لمراقبة احترام إجراءات تعديل الدستور.
- المعاهدات التي يعرضها عليها رئيس الجمهورية قبل ختم مشروع قانون الموافقة عليها.
- القوانين التي تحيلها عليها المحاكم تبعا للدّفع بعدم الدستورية بطلب من أحد الخصوم في الحالات وطبق الإجراءات التي يقرها القانون،
- النظام الدّاخلي لمجلس نواب الشعب الذي يعرضه عليها رئيس المجلس.
كما تتولى المهام الأخرى المسندة إليها بمقتضى الدستور. (الفصل 120) - FrenchLa Cour constitutionnelle est seule compétente pour contrôler la constitutionnalité :
- des projets de loi, sur demande du Président de la République, du Chef du Gouvernement ou de trente membres de l’Assemblée des représentants du peuple. La Cour est saisie dans un délai maximum de sept jours à compter de la date d’adoption du projet de loi ou de la date d’adoption du projet de loi amendé, après renvoi par le Président de la République ;
- des projets de loi constitutionnelle que lui soumet le Président de l’Assemblée des représentants du peuple conformément à ce qui est prévu à l’article 144 ou pour contrôler le respect des procédures de révision de la Constitution ;
- des traités que lui soumet le Président de la République avant la promulgation du projet de loi relatif à l’approbation de ces traités ;
- des lois que lui renvoient les tribunaux, suite à une exception d’inconstitutionnalité soulevée par l’une des parties, dans les cas et selon les procédures prévus par la loi ;
- du règlement intérieur de l’Assemblée des représentants du peuple que lui soumet le Président de l’Assemblée.
La Cour exerce les autres attributions qui lui sont conférées par la Constitution. (Art. 120)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) The Constitutional Court shall act on an initiative from not fewer than one-fifth of all Members of the National Assembly, the President, the Council of Ministers, the Supreme Court of Cassation, the Supreme Administrative Court or the Prosecutor General. A challenge to competence pursuant to para 1 item 3 of the preceding Article may further be filed by a municipal council.
(2) Should it find a discrepancy between law and the Constitution, the Supreme Court of Cassation or the Supreme Administrative Court shall suspend the proceedings on a case and shall refer the matter to the Constitutional Court.
(3) The Ombudsman may approach the Constitutional Court with a request for declaring as unconstitutional a law which infringes human rights and freedoms.
(4) The Supreme Judicial Council may approach the Constitutional Court with a petition to establish unconstitutionality of any law whereby any rights and freedoms of citizens are violated. (Art. 150) - Bulgarian(1) Конституционният съд действува по инициатива най-малко на една пета от народните представители, президента, Министерския съвет, Върховния касационен съд, Върховния административен съд и главния прокурор. Спорове за компетентност по т. 3 на ал. 1 от предходния член могат да се повдигат и от общинските съвети.
(2) Когато установят несъответствие между закона и Конституцията, Върховният касационен съд или Върховният административен съд спират производството по делото и внасят въпроса в Конституционния съд.
(3) Омбудсманът може да сезира Конституционния съд с искане за установяване на противоконституционност на закон, с който се нарушават права и свободи на гражданите.
(4) Висшият адвокатски съвет може да сезира Конституционния съд с искане за установяване на противоконституционност на закон, с който се нарушават права и свободи на гражданите. (Чл. 150)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The organic laws before their promulgation, the Internal Regulations of the National Assembly, of the High Authority for Broadcasting and of Communication and of the Economic and Social Council prior to their implementation, must be submitted to the Constitutional Court which decides on their conformity with the Constitution. (Art. 123)
- French
Les lois organiques avant leur promulgation, les Règlements intérieurs de l'Assemblée nationale, de la Haute Autorité de l'Audiovisuel et de la Communication et du Conseil économique et social avant leur mise en application, doivent être soumis à la Cour constitutionnelle qui se prononce sur leur conformité à la Constitution. (Art. 123)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
(1) An appeal shall lie from final decisions of the Court of Appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice as of right in the following cases –
…
(c) in any civil or criminal proceedings which involve a question as to the interpretation of this Constitution;
…
(e) in any proceedings that are concerned with the exercise of the jurisdiction conferred upon the High Court relating to redress for the contravention of the provisions of this Constitution for the protection of fundamental rights;
… (Sec. 104)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishIf, during proceedings in progress before a court of law, it is claimed that a legislative provision infringes the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, the matter may be referred by the Conseil d’État or by the Cour de Cassation to the Constitutional Council which shall rule within a determined period.
… (1958 Constitution, Art. 61-1) - FrenchLorsque, à l'occasion d'une instance en cours devant une juridiction, il est soutenu qu'une disposition législative porte atteinte aux droits et libertés que la Constitution garantit, le Conseil constitutionnel peut être saisi de cette question sur renvoi du Conseil d'État ou de la Cour de cassation qui se prononce dans un délai déterminé.
… (Constitution 1958, Art. 61-1)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is the judge of the exceptions of unconstitutionality raised before or by a jurisdiction.
Any person may refer the Constitution Court to [a matter concerning] the unconstitutionality of any legislative or regulatory act.
In addition, he may refer the Constitutional Court to [a matter], by the procedure of the exception of unconstitutionality invoked in a matter concerning him before a jurisdiction.
That [jurisdiction] stays [its] decision and refers the Constitutional Court to [it], all [other] matters ceasing. (Art. 162) - FrenchLa Cour constitutionnelle est juge de l’exception d’inconstitutionnalité soulevée devant ou par une juridiction.
Toute personne peut saisir la Cour constitutionnelle pour inconstitutionnalité de tout acte législatif ou réglementaire.
Elle peut, en outre, saisir la Cour constitutionnelle, par la procédure de l’exception de l’inconstitutionnalité invoquée dans une affaire qui la concerne devant une juridiction.
Celle-ci sursoit à statuer et saisit, toutes affaires cessantes, la Cour constitutionnelle. (Art. 162)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. Preventive review of the constitutionality may be requested from the Constitutional Court:
a) By the President of the Republic, in respect of any rule contained in an international treaty or agreement that is referred to it for ratification, as well as in respect of any provision of legislation it has been sent for promulgation as a law, legislative decree or decree-law;
b) By, at least, fifteen Deputies in full exercise of their functions or by the Prime Minister in respect of any rule contained in a legislation act sent to the President for promulgation as law subject to approval by a qualified majority.
… (Art. 278) - Portuguese1. A apreciação preventiva da constitucionalidade pode ser requerida ao Tribunal Constitucional:
a) Pelo Presidente da República, relativamente a qualquer norma constante de tratado ou acordo internacional que lhe tenha sido submetido para ratificação, bem como relativamente a qualquer norma constante de acto legislativo que lhe tenha sido enviado para promulgação como lei, decreto legislativo ou decreto-lei;
b) Por, pelo menos, quinze Deputados em efectividade de funções ou pelo Primeiro Ministro, relativamente a qualquer norma constante de acto legislativo enviado ao Presidente da República para promulgação como lei sujeita a aprovação por maioria qualificada.
… (Art. 278)