SEARCH DATABASE
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.
Composition and Appointment
- English(1) The President may appoint a woman or man to serve as an acting Deputy Chief Justice or judge of the Constitutional Court if there is a vacancy in any of those offices, or if the person holding such an office is absent. The appointment must be made on the recommendation of the Cabinet member responsible for the administration of justice acting with the concurrence of the Chief Justice, and an appointment as acting Deputy Chief Justice must be made from the ranks of the judges who had been appointed to the Constitutional Court in terms of section 174(4).
… (Sec. 175)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. Appropriate principles of interpretation of this Constitution shall be developed and employed by the courts to reflect the unique character and supreme status of this Constitution.
2. In interpreting the provisions of this Constitution a court of law shall—
a. promote the values which underlie an open and democratic society;
b. take full account of the provisions of Chapter III and Chapter IV2; and
c. where applicable, have regard to current norms of public international law and comparable foreign case law.
3. Where a court of law declares an act of executive or a law to be invalid, that court may apply such interpretation of that act or law as is consistent with this Constitution.
4. Any law that ousts or purports to oust the jurisdiction of the courts to entertain matters pertaining to this Constitution shall be invalid. (Sec. 11)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation will take cognizance of, in the terms that the regulatory law specifies, the following matters:
I. Of the constitutional disputes [controversias] that, concerning the constitutionality of the general norms, acts or omissions, with the exception of those that refer to electoral matters, arise between:
a) The Federation and a federative entity;
b) The Federation and a municipality;
c) The Executive Power and the Congress of the Union; one or either of the Chambers of it or, in such case, the Permanent Commission;
d) One federative entity and another;
...
g) Two municipalities of different States;
h) Two Powers of one same federative entity;
i) One State and one of its municipalities;
j) One Federative Entity and one Municipality of another or one territorial demarcation of the City of Mexico;
k) Two autonomous constitutional organs [órganos] of one federative entity and between one of these and the Executive Power or the Legislative Power of that federative entity, and
l) Two federal autonomous constitutional organs, and between one of these and the Executive Power of the Union or the Congress of the Union.
...
II. Of the actions of unconstitutionality that have for their object to establish [plantear] the possible contradiction between a norm of general character and this Constitution.
The actions of unconstitutionality can be exercised, during the thirty natural days following the date of publication of the norm, by:
a) The equivalent of thirty-three percent of the members of the Chamber of Deputies of the Congress of the Union, against federal laws;
b) The equivalent of thirty-three percent of the members of the Senate, against the federal laws or international treaties celebrated by the Mexican State;
c) The Federal Executive, through [por conducto] the Juridical Councilor of the Government, against the general norms of federal character and of the federal entities;
d) The equivalent of thirty-three percent of the members of any of the Legislatures of the federative entities against the laws enacted by that same organ;
...
f) The political parties with registration before the National Electoral Institute, by [por conducto] their national directorships [dirigencias], against the federal or local electoral laws; and the political parties with registration in a federative entity, by [a través] their directorships, exclusively against the electoral laws enacted by the Legislature of the federative entity that granted the registration to them;
g) The National Commission of Human Rights, against laws of federal character or of the federative entities, as well as international treaties celebrated by the Federal Executive and approved by the Senate of the Republic, that make vulnerable the human rights consecrated in this Constitution and in the international treaties to which Mexico is party. Also the equivalent organs [organismos] of protection of human rights in the federative entities, against laws enacted by the Legislatures.
h) The guarantor organ [organismo] that Article 6 of this Constitution establishes against laws of federal and local character, as well as [against] international treaties celebrated by the Federal Executive and approved by the Senate of the Republic, which infringe [vulneren] the right of the access to public information and the protection of personal data. In the same way, the equivalent guarantor organs [organismos] in the federative entities, against laws enacted [expedidas] by the local Legislatures; and
i) The Attorney General of the Republic regarding federal laws and [laws] of the federative entities, in penal matters and [matters] of penal procedure, as well as those related to the domain [ámbito] of his functions;
... (Art. 105) - Spanish
La Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación conocerá, en los términos que señale la ley reglamentaria, de los asuntos siguientes:
I. De las controversias constitucionales que, sobre la constitucionalidad de las normas generales, actos u omisiones, con excepción de las que se refieran a la materia electoral, se susciten entre:
a) La Federación y una entidad federativa;
b) La Federación y un municipio;
c) El Poder Ejecutivo y el Congreso de la Unión; aquél y cualquiera de las Cámaras de éste o, en su caso, la Comisión Permanente;
d) Una entidad federativa y otra;
…
g) Dos municipios de diversos Estados;
h) Dos Poderes de una misma entidad federativa;
i) Un Estado y uno de sus Municipios;
j) Una Entidad Federativa y un Municipio de otra o una demarcación territorial de la Ciudad de México;
k) Dos órganos constitucionales autónomos de una entidad federativa, y entre uno de éstos y el Poder Ejecutivo o el Poder Legislativo de esa entidad federativa, y
l) Dos órganos constitucionales autónomos federales, y entre uno de éstos y el Poder Ejecutivo de la Unión o el Congreso de la Unión.
…
II. De las acciones de inconstitucionalidad que tengan por objeto plantear la posible contradicción entre una norma de carácter general y esta Constitución.
Las acciones de inconstitucionalidad podrán ejercitarse, dentro de los treinta días naturales siguientes a la fecha de publicación de la norma, por:
a) El equivalente al treinta y tres por ciento de los integrantes de la Cámara de Diputados del Congreso de la Unión, en contra de leyes federales;
b) El equivalente al treinta y tres por ciento de los integrantes del Senado, en contra de las leyes federales o de tratados internacionales celebrados por el Estado Mexicano;
c) El Ejecutivo Federal, por conducto del Consejero Jurídico del Gobierno, en contra de normas generales de carácter federal y de las entidades federativas;
d) El equivalente al treinta y tres por ciento de los integrantes de alguna de las Legislaturas de las entidades federativas en contra de las leyes expedidas por el propio órgano;
…
f) Los partidos políticos con registro ante el Instituto Nacional Electoral, por conducto de sus dirigencias nacionales, en contra de leyes electorales federales o locales; y los partidos políticos con registro en una entidad federativa, a través de sus dirigencias, exclusivamente en contra de leyes electorales expedidas por la Legislatura de la entidad federativa que les otorgó el registro;
g) La Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, en contra de leyes de carácter federal o de las entidades federativas, así como de tratados internacionales celebrados por el Ejecutivo Federal y aprobados por el Senado de la República, que vulneren los derechos humanos consagrados en esta Constitución y en los tratados internacionales de los que México sea parte. Asimismo, los organismos de protección de los derechos humanos equivalentes en las entidades federativas, en contra de leyes expedidas por las Legislaturas;
h) El organismo garante que establece el artículo 6° de esta Constitución en contra de leyes de carácter federal y local, así como de tratados internacionales celebrados por el Ejecutivo Federal y aprobados por el Senado de la República, que vulneren el derecho al acceso a la información pública y la protección de datos personales. Asimismo, los organismos garantes equivalentes en las entidades federativas, en contra de leyes expedidas por las Legislaturas locales; e
i) El Fiscal General de la República respect de leyes federales y de las entidades federativas, en materia penal y procesal penal, así como las relacionadas con el ámbito de sus funciones;
... (Art. 105)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) An appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court from any judgment, decree or final order of a High Court in the territory of India, whether in a civil, criminal or other proceeding, if the High Court certifies under article 134A that the case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Constitution.
...
(3) Where such a certificate is given, any party in the case may appeal to the Supreme Court on the ground that any such question as aforesaid has been wrongly decided. (Art. 132) - Hindi(1) भारत के राज्यक्षेत्र में किसी उच्च न्यायालय की सिविल, दांडिक या अन्य कार्यवाही में दिए गए किसी निर्णय, डिक्री या अंतिम आदेश की अपील उच्चतम न्यायालय में होगी यदि वह उच्च न्यायालय अनुच्छेद 134क के अधीन प्रमाणित कर देता है कि उस मामले में इस संविधान के निर्वाचन के बारे में विधि का कोई सारवान प्रश्न अंतर्वलित है।
...
(3) जहां ऐसा प्रमाणपत्र दे दिया गया है वहाँ उस मामले में कोई पक्षकार इस आधार पर उच्चतम न्यायालय में अपील कर सकेगा कि पूर्वोक्त किसी प्रश्न का विनिश्चय गलत किया गया है। (अनुच्छेद 132)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The President of the Republic may ask the Constitutional Court to undertake the prior consideration of the constitutionality of any norm contained in an international treaty that is submitted to him for ratification, in any decree that is sent to him for enactment as a law or executive law, or in any international agreement, the decree approving which is sent to him for signature.
2. Representatives of the Republic may also ask the Constitutional Court to undertake the prior consideration of the constitutionality of any norm contained in a regional legislative decree that is sent to them for signature.
…
4. In addition to the President of the Republic himself, the Prime Minister or one fifth of all the Members of the Assembly of the Republic in full exercise of their office may ask the Constitutional Court to conduct a prior review of the constitutionality of any rule laid down by any decree that is sent to the President of the Republic for enactment as an organisational law.
… (Art. 278) - Portuguese1. O Presidente da República pode requerer ao Tribunal Constitucional a apreciação preventiva da constitucionalidade de qualquer norma constante de tratado internacional que lhe tenha sido submetido para ratificação, de decreto que lhe tenha sido enviado para promulgação como lei ou como decreto-lei ou de acordo internacional cujo decreto de aprovação lhe tenha sido remetido para assinatura.
2. Os Representantes da República podem igualmente requerer ao Tribunal Constitucional a apreciação preventiva da constitucionalidade de qualquer norma constante de decreto legislativo regional que lhes tenha sido enviado para assinatura.
…
4. Podem requerer ao Tribunal Constitucional a apreciação preventiva da constitucionalidade de qualquer norma constante de decreto que tenha sido enviado ao Presidente da República para promulgação como lei orgânica, além deste, o Primeiro-Ministro ou um quinto dos Deputados à Assembleia da República em efectividade de funções.
… (Art. 278)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The Constitutional Council is competent:
a. to evaluate [apreciar] and to declare the unconstitutionality of the laws and the illegality of the normative acts of the organs of the State;
b. to settle conflicts of competence between the organs of sovereignty;
c. to previously verify the constitutionality of the referenda;
d. to evaluate and to deliberate concerning the dismissal of the Governor of [a] Province and of the Administrator of [a] District, by the President of the Republic;
e. to evaluate and to deliberate concerning the dissolution of the provincial, district and autarchic assemblies, by the Council of Ministers.
2. It belongs also to the Constitutional Council:
a. to verify the legal requisites required for the candidatures to President of the Republic;
b. to declare the permanent incapacity of the President of the Republic;
c. to verify the death and the loss of the mandate of the President of the Republic;
d. to evaluate in last instance, the electoral recourses and complaints, to validate
and to proclaim electoral results in the terms of the law;
e. to decide, in last instance, the legality of the constitution of the political parties and their coalitions, as well as to evaluate the legality of their denominations, acronyms, symbols, and to order the respective extinction in the terms of the Constitution and of the law;
f. to judge the actions of impugning of the elections and of deliberation of the organs of the political parties;
g. to judge the actions that have for [their] object disputes relative to the mandate of the Deputies;
h. to judge the actions that have for [their] object the incompatibilities provided for in the Constitution and in the law.
3. The Constitutional Council exercises the other competences that are attributed to it by law. (Art. 243) - Portuguese1. Compete ao Conselho Constitucional:
a) apreciar e declarar a inconstitucionalidade das leis e a ilegalidade dos actos normativos dos órgãos do Estado;
b) dirimir conflitos de competências entre os órgãos de soberania;
c) verificar previamente a constitucionalidade dos referendos;
d) apreciar e deliberar sobre a demissão do Governador de Província e do Administrador de Distrito, pelo Presidente da República;
e) apreciar e deliberar sobre a dissolução das assembleias provinciais, distritais e autárquicas, pelo Conselho de Ministros.
2. Cabe ainda ao Conselho Constitucional:
a) verificar os requisitos legais exigidos para as candidaturas a Presidente da República;
b) declarar a incapacidade permanente do Presidente da República;
c) verificar a morte e a perda de mandato do Presidente da República;
d) apreciar em última instância, os recursos e as reclamações eleitorais, validar e proclamar os resultados eleitorais nos termos da lei;
e) decidir, em última instância, a legalidade da constituição dos partidos políticos e suas coligações, bem como apreciar a legalidade das suas denominações, siglas, símbolos e ordenar a respectiva extinção nos termos da Constituição e da lei;
f) julgar as acções de impugnação de eleições e de deliberação dos órgãos dos partidos políticos;
g) julgar as acções que tenham por objecto o contencioso relativo ao mandato dos deputados;
h) julgar as acções que tenham por objecto as incompatibilidades previstas na Constituição e na lei.
3. O Conselho Constitucional exerce as demais competências que lhe sejam atribuídas por lei. (Art. 243)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Subject to sections 23(3), 37(10)(b), 50(7) and 116(2), any person who alleges that any provision of this Constitution (other than a provision of Chapter II2) has been or is being contravened may, if he or she 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 II) 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 it considers appropriate, being a remedy available generally under any law 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 or her is such as to affect his or her interests.
(6) The rights 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 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 36. (Sec. 96)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
1. The Constitutional Court is the highest judicial authority exercising constitutional review through constitutional litigation in order to protect the foundations of the constitutional order, fundamental human and civil rights and freedoms, and to ensure the supremacy and direct operation of the Constitution.
2. The Constitutional Court:
1) provides official interpretation of the Constitution;
2) adjudicate cases on the conformity of laws and other normative legal acts of the Kyrgyz Republic with the Constitution;
3) give an opinion on the constitutionality of international treaties to which the Kyrgyz Republic is a party that have not entered into force;
4) resolves disputes over competence between the branches of government;
5) give an opinion on a draft law amending and supplementing this Constitution;
6) give an opinion on the observance of the prescribed procedure for bringing charges against the President.
3. Everyone has the right to challenge the constitutionality of a law and other normative legal acts if he considers that they violate the rights and freedoms recognised by the Constitution.
...
6. Judicial decisions based on provisions of laws found to be unconstitutional shall be reviewed by the court on a case-by-case basis following complaints by citizens whose rights and freedoms have been affected.
... (Art. 97) - Russian
1. Конституционный суд является высшим органом судебной власти, осуществляющим конституционный контроль посредством конституционного судопроизводства в целях защиты основ конституционного строя, основных прав и свобод человека и гражданина, обеспечения верховенства и прямого действия Конституции.
2. Конституционный суд:
1) дает официальное толкование Конституции;
2) разрешает дела о соответствии законов и иных нормативных правовых актов Кыргызской Республики Конституции;
3) дает заключение о конституционности не вступивших в силу международных договоров, участницей которых является Кыргызская Республика;
4) разрешает споры о компетенции между ветвями государственной власти;
5) дает заключение к проекту закона об изменениях и дополнениях в настоящую Конституцию;
6) дает заключение о соблюдении установленного порядка выдвижения обвинения против Президента.
3. Каждый вправе оспорить конституционность закона и иных нормативных правовых актов, если считает, что ими нарушаются права и свободы, признаваемые Конституцией.
...
6. Судебные решения, основанные на нормах законов, признанных неконституционными, пересматриваются судом в каждом конкретном случае по жалобам граждан, чьи права и свободы были затронуты.
... (Статья 97) - Kyrgyz
1. Конституциялык сот конституциялык сот өндүрүшү аркылуу конституциялык түзүлүштүн негиздерин, адамдын жана жарандын негизги укуктарын жана эркиндиктерин коргоо, Конституциянын үстөмдүгүн жана түздөн-түз колдонулушун камсыз кылуу максатында конституциялык контролду жүзөгө ашыруучу сот бийлигинин жогорку органы болуп саналат.
2. Конституциялык сот:
1) Конституцияны расмий чечмелеп берет;
2) Кыргыз Республикасынын мыйзамдарынын жана башка ченемдик укуктук актыларынын Конституцияга ылайык келүүсү тууралуу иштерди чечет;
3) Кыргыз Республикасы катышуучусу болуп саналган, күчүнө кире элек эл аралык келишимдердин конституциялуулугу жөнүндө корутунду берет;
4) мамлекеттик бийлик бутактарынын ортосундагы компетенциялар жөнүндө талаштарды чечет;
5) ушул Конституцияга өзгөртүүлөр жана толуктоолор жөнүндө мыйзам долбооруна корутунду берет;
6) Президентке каршы айып коюунун белгиленген тартибинин сакталгандыгы жөнүндө корутунду берет.
3. Ар бир адам Конституцияда таанылган укуктары жана эркиндиктери мыйзамдарда жана башка ченемдик актыларда бузулду деп эсептесе, алардын конституциялуулугун талашууга укуктуу.
...
6. Конституциялык эмес деп таанылган мыйзамдардын ченемдерине негизделген сот чечимдери ар бир конкреттүү учурда укуктарына жана эркиндиктерине шек келтирилген жарандардын даттануулары боюнча сот тарабынан кайра каралат.
... (97-берене)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
(1) The Constitutional Court shall decide on the conformity of negotiated international treaties to which the assent of the National Council of the Slovak Republic with the Constitution and constitutional law is necessary.
(2) The President of the Slovak Republic or the Government may submit a proposal for a decision pursuant to paragraph 1 to the Constitutional Court prior to the presentation of a negotiated international treaty for discussion of the National Council of the Slovak Republic.
… (Art. 125a) - Slovak
(1) Ústavný súd rozhoduje o súlade dojednaných medzinárodných zmlúv, na ktoré je potrebný súhlas Národnej rady Slovenskej republiky, s ústavou alebo s ústavným zákonom.
(2) Návrh na rozhodnutie podľa odseku 1 môţe podať ústavnému súdu prezident Slovenskej republiky alebo vláda pred tým, ako predloţí dojednanú medzinárodnú zmluvu na rokovanie Národnej rady Slovenskej republiky.
… (Čl. 125a)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Constitution and in addition to such other jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by an Act of the National Assembly, the Federal High Court shall have and exercise jurisdiction to the exclusion of any other court in civil causes and matters –
…
(q) subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the operation and interpretation of this Constitution in so far as it affects the Federal Government or any of its agencies;
… (Sec. 251)