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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.
Composition and Appointment
- English
Appointments to the judiciary must reflect broadly the diversity and gender composition of Zimbabwe. (Sec. 184)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Court shall exercise control over the constitutionality of normative legal acts in the state by means of constitutional judicial proceedings in order to protect the constitutional order of the Republic of Belarus, human and citizen's rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, to ensure the supremacy of the Constitution and its direct action in the territory of the Republic of Belarus.
... (Art. 116) - Belarusian
Канстытуцыйны Суд ажыццяўляе кантроль за канстытуцыйнасцю нарматыўных прававых актаў у дзяржаве праз канстытуцыйнае судаводства з мэтай абароны канстытуцыйнага ладу Рэспублікі Беларусь, гарантаваных Канстытуцыяй правоў і свабод чалавека і грамадзяніна, забеспячэння вяршэнства Канстытуцыі і яе прамога дзеяння на тэрыторыі Рэспублікі Беларусь.
… (Артыкул 116) - Russian
Конституционный Суд осуществляет контроль за конституционностью нормативных правовых актов в государстве посредством конституционного судопроизводства в целях защиты конституционного строя Республики Беларусь, гарантированных Конституцией прав и свобод человека и гражданина, обеспечения верховенства Конституции и ее прямого действия на территории Республики Беларусь.
… (Статья 116)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Court, at the demand of the President of the Republic or of any member of the National Assembly, decides on the constitutionality of the laws before their promulgation.
It decides[,] of office[,] on the constitutionality of the laws and any regulatory texts which would infringe the fundamental rights of the human person and the public freedoms. It decides more generally on the violations of the rights of the human person and its decision must intervene within a time period of eight days. (Art. 121) - French
La Cour constitutionnelle, à la demande du président de la République ou de tout membre de l'Assemblée nationale, se prononce sur la constitutionnalité des lois avant leur promulgation.
Elle se prononce d'office sur la constitutionnalité des lois et de tout texte réglementaire censés porter atteinte aux droits fondamentaux de la personne humaine et aux libertés publiques. Elle statue plus généralement sur les violations des droits de la personne humaine et sa décision doit intervenir dans un délai de huit jours. (Art. 121)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is charged with the control of the constitutionality of the laws and of the acts having the force of law.
The organic laws, before their promulgation, and the Internal Regulations of the parliamentary Chambers and of the Congress, of the Independent National Electoral Commission as well as of the Superior Council for Audiovisual and Communication, before their entry into application, must be submitted to the Constitutional Court which rules on their conformity with the Constitution.
For the same end of examining [the] constitutionality, the laws may be referred to the Constitutional Court, before their promulgation, by the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the President of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate or a tenth of the Deputies or of the Senators.
… (Art. 160) - FrenchLa Cour constitutionnelle est chargée du contrôle de la constitutionnalité des lois et des actes ayant force de loi.
Les lois organiques, avant leur promulgation, et les Règlements intérieurs des Chambres parlementaires et du Congrès, de la Commission électorale nationale indépendante ainsi que du Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel et de la communication, avant leur mise en application, doivent être soumis à la Cour constitutionnelle qui se prononce sur leur conformité à la Constitution.
Aux mêmes fins d’examen de la constitutionnalité, les lois peuvent être déférées à la Cour constitutionnelle, avant leur promulgation, par le Président de la République, le Premier ministre, le Président de l’Assemblée nationale, le Président du Sénat ou le dixième des députés ou des sénateurs.
… (Art. 160)
Jurisdiction and Access
- 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
- EnglishWhen determining a case, the courts refuse to give effect to a law or other legislation that is in conflict with the Constitution.
The Supreme Court declares invalid any law or other legislation that is in conflict with the letter and spirit of the Constitution. (Sec. 152) - EstonianKohus jätab kohtuasja lahendamisel kohaldamata mis tahes seaduse või muu õigusakti, kui see on vastuolus põhiseadusega.
Riigikohus tunnistab kehtetuks mis tahes seaduse või muu õigusakti, kui see on vastuolus põhiseaduse sätte ja mõttega. (§ 152)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The President of the Republic shall have the power:
…
p) To request, from the Constitutional Court, the preventive review of the constitutionality or legality of the proposals for a referendum at the national level;
q) To request, from the Constitutional Court, the preventive evaluation of the constitutionality of International Treaties;
r) To request, from the Constitutional Court, the review of the constitutionality of legal rules;
… (Art. 135) - Portuguese1. Compete ao Presidente da República:
…
p) Requerer ao Tribunal Constitucional a fiscalização preventiva da constitucionalidade ou da legalidade das propostas de referendo a nível nacional;
q) Requerer ao Tribunal Constitucional a apreciação preventiva da constitucionalidade dos Tratados Internacionais;
r) Requerer ao Tribunal Constitucional a fiscalização da constitucionalidade das normas jurídicas;
… (Art. 135)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Court is the judge of the constitutionality of the laws and of the regularity of the elections. It guarantees the fundamental rights of the human person and the public freedoms. It is the regulatory organ of the functioning of the institutions and of the activity of the public powers.
... (Art. 83)3 - French
La Cour constitutionnelle est la plus haute juridiction de l'État en matière constitutionnelle. Elle est juge de la constitutionnalité des lois et de la régularité des élections. Elle garantit les droits fondamentaux de la personne humaine et les libertés publiques. Elle est l’organe régulateur du fonctionnement des institutions et de l’activité des pouvoirs publics.
... (Art. 83)
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 Constitutional Court shall consider and adopt decisions on whether the laws of the Republic of Lithuania or other acts adopted by the Seimas are in conflict with the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania.
The Constitutional Court shall also consider whether the following are in conflict with the Constitution and laws:
1) the acts of the President of the Republic;
2) the acts of the Government of the Republic.
The Constitutional Court shall present conclusions on:
1) whether there were the violations of election laws during the elections of the President of the Republic or the elections of the Members of the Seimas;
2) whether the state of health of the President of the Republic allows him to continue to hold office;
3) whether the international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania are in conflict with the Constitution;
4) whether the concrete actions of the Members of the Seimas and state officials against whom an impeachment case has been instituted are in conflict with the Constitution (Art. 105) - LithuanianKonstitucinis Teismas nagrinėja ir priima sprendimą, ar neprieštarauja Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucijai Lietuvos Respublikos įstatymai ir kiti Seimo priimti aktai.
Konstitucinis Teismas taip pat nagrinėja, ar neprieštarauja Konstitucijai ir įstatymams:
1) Respublikos Prezidento aktai;
2) Respublikos Vyriausybės aktai.
Konstitucinis Teismas teikia išvadas:
1) ar nebuvo pažeisti rinkimų įstatymai per Respublikos Prezidento ar Seimo narių rinkimus;
2) ar Respublikos Prezidento sveikatos būklė leidžia jam ir toliau eiti pareigas;
3) ar Lietuvos Respublikos tarptautinės sutartys neprieštarauja Konstitucijai;
4) ar Seimo narių ir valstybės pareigūnų, kuriems pradėta apkaltos byla, konkretūs veiksmai prieštarauja Konstitucijai. (105 straipsnis)