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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
France
- EnglishIf the Constitutional Council, on a referral from the President of the Republic, from the Prime Minister, from the President of one or the other Houses, or from sixty Members of the National Assembly or sixty Senators, has held that an international undertaking contains a clause contrary to the Constitution, authorization to ratify or approve the international undertaking involved may be given only after amending the Constitution. (1958 Constitution, Art. 54)
- FrenchSi le Conseil constitutionnel, saisi par le Président de la République, par le Premier ministre, par le président de l'une ou l'autre assemblée ou par soixante députés ou soixante sénateurs, a déclaré qu'un engagement international comporte une clause contraire à la Constitution, l'autorisation de ratifier ou d'approuver l'engagement international en cause ne peut intervenir qu'après révision de la Constitution. (Constitution 1958, Art. 54)
Jurisdiction and Access
Cabo Verde
- 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
Nigeria
- English(1) The Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction, to the exclusion of any other court of law in Nigeria, to hear and determine appeals from the Court of Appeal.
(2) An appeal shall lie from the decisions of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court as of right in the following cases–
…
(b) decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings on questions as to the interpretation or application of this Constitution;
(c) decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings on questions as to whether any of the provisions of Chapter IV4 of this Constitution has been, is being or is likely to be, contravened in relation to any person;
… (Sec. 233)
Jurisdiction and Access
Trinidad and Tobago
- English(1) An appeal shall lie from decisions of the Court of Appeal to the Judicial Committee as of right in the following cases:
…
(c) final decisions in any civil, criminal or other proceedings which involve a question as to the interpretation of this Constitution;
… (Sec. 109)
Jurisdiction and Access
Lithuania
- EnglishJudges may not apply any laws that are in conflict with the Constitution.
In cases when there are grounds to believe that a law or another legal act that should be applied in a concrete case is in conflict with the Constitution, the judge shall suspend the consideration of the case and shall apply to the Constitutional Court, requesting that it decide whether the law or another legal act in question is in compliance with the Constitution. (Art. 110) - LithuanianTeisėjas negali taikyti įstatymo, kuris prieštarauja Konstitucijai.
Tais atvejais, kai yra pagrindo manyti, kad įstatymas ar kitas teisinis aktas, kuris turėtų būti taikomas konkrečioje byloje, prieštarauja Konstitucijai, teisėjas sustabdo šios bylos nagrinėjimą ir kreipiasi į Konstitucinį Teismą prašydamas spręsti, ar šis įstatymas ar kitas teisinis aktas atitinka Konstituciją. (110 straipsnis)
Jurisdiction and Access
Comoros
- EnglishThe Supreme Court is the highest jurisdiction of the Union in judicial, administrative, [and] constitutional matters and [matters] of accounts.
… (Art. 96) - Arabicالمحكمة العليا هي أعلى سلطة قضائية في الاتحاد في الشؤون والحسابات القضائية والإدارية والدستورية.
... (المادة 96) - FrenchLa Cour Suprême est la plus haute juridiction de l’Union en matière judiciaire, administrative, constitutionnelle, électorale et des comptes.
… (Art. 96)
Jurisdiction and Access
Seychelles
- English(1) A person who alleges that any provisions of this Constitution, other than a provision of Chapter III3, has been contravened and that the person’s interest is being or is likely to be affected by the contravention may, subject to this article, apply to the Constitutional Court for redress.
(2) The Constitutional Court may decline to entertain an application under clause (1) where the Court is satisfied that the applicant has obtained redress for the contravention under any law and where the applicant has obtained redress in the Constitutional Court for any matter for which an application may be made under clause (1), a court shall not entertain any application for redress for such matter except on appeal from a decision of such court.
(3) Where the Constitutional Court on an application under clause (1) is satisfied that adequate means of redress for the contravention alleged are or have been available to the person concerned in any other court under any other law, the Court may hear the application or transfer the application to the appropriate court for grant of redress in accordance with law.
(4) Upon hearing an application under clause (1), the Constitutional Court may-
(a) declare any act or omission which is the subject of the application to be a contravention of this Constitution;
(b) declare any law or the provision of any law which contravenes this Constitution to be void;
(c) grant any remedy available to the Supreme Court against any person or authority which is the subject of the application or which is a party to any proceedings before the Constitutional Court, as the Court considers appropriate.
…
(6) Where in the course of any proceedings in any court, other than the Court of Appeal or the supreme court sittings as the Constitutional Court, or tribunal, a question arises with regard to whether there has been or is likely to be a contravention of this Constitution, other than Chapter III, the court or tribunal shall, if it is satisfied that the question is not frivolous or vexatious or has not already been the subject of a decision of the Constitutional Court or the Court of Appeal, immediately adjourn the proceedings and refer the question for determination by the Constitutional Court.
(7) Where in an application under clause (1) or where a matter is referred to the Constitutional Court under clause (6), the person alleging the contravention or risk of contravention establishes a prima facie case, the burden of proving that there has not been a contravention or risk of contravention shall, where the allegation is against the State, be on the State.
… (Art. 130)
Jurisdiction and Access
Bangladesh
- English(1) There shall be a Supreme Court for Bangladesh (to be known as the Supreme Court of Bangladesh) comprising the Appellate Division and the High Court Division.
… (Art. 94) - Bengali(১) "বাংলাদেশ সুপ্রীম কোর্ট" নামে বাংলাদেশের একটি সর্বোচ্চ আদালত থাকিবে এবং আপীল বিভাগ ও হাইকোর্ট বিভাগ লইয়া তাহা গঠিত হইবে।
… (অনুচ্ছেদ ৯৪)
Jurisdiction and Access
Poland
- English1. The following may make application to the Constitutional Tribunal regarding matters specified in Article 188:
1) the President of the Republic, the Marshal of the Sejm, the Marshal of the Senate, the Prime Minister, 50 Deputies, 30 Senators, the First President of the Supreme Court, the President of the Chief Administrative Court, the Public Prosecutor-General, the President of the Supreme Chamber of Control, the Commissioner for Citizens' Rights,
2) the National Council of the Judiciary, to the extent specified in Article 186, para. 2;
3) the constitutive organs of units of local self-government;
4) the national organs of trade unions as well as the national authorities of employers' organizations and occupational organizations;
5) churches and religious organizations;
6) the subjects referred to in Article 79 to the extent specified therein.
2. The subjects referred to in para. 1 subparas. 3-5, may make such application if the normative act relates to matters relevant to the scope of their activity. (Art. 191) - Polish1. Z wnioskiem w sprawach, o których mowa w art. 188, do Trybunału Konstytucyjnego wystąpić mogą:
1.) Prezydent Rzeczypospolitej, Marszałek Sejmu, Marszałek Senatu, Prezes Rady Ministrów, 50 posłów, 30 senatorów, Pierwszy Prezes Sądu Najwyższego, Prezes Naczelnego Sądu Administracyjnego, Prokurator Generalny, Prezes Najwyższej Izby Kontroli, Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich,
2.) Krajowa Rada Sądownictwa w zakresie, o którym mowa w art. 186 ust. 2,
3.) organy stanowiące jednostek samorządu terytorialnego,
4.) ogólnokrajowe organy związków zawodowych oraz ogólnokrajowe władze organizacji pracodawców i organizacji zawodowych,
5.) kościoły i inne związki wyznaniowe,
6.) podmioty określone w art. 79 w zakresie w nim wskazanym.
2. Podmioty, o których mowa w ust. 1 pkt 3-5, mogą wystąpić z takim wnioskiem, jeżeli akt normatywny dotyczy spraw objętych ich zakresem działania. (Art. 191)
Jurisdiction and Access
Togo
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is the jurisdiction given the charge of seeing to respect for the provisions of the Constitution.
The Constitutional Court judges the regularity of the referendum consultations, [and] of the presidential, legislative and senatorial elections. It decides on the challenges to these consultations and elections.
It is the judge of the constitutionality of the laws.
The laws may, before their promulgation, be deferred to the Constitutional Court by the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the President of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate, the President of High Authority of Audiovisuals and of Communications [Haute Autorité de l'Audiovisuel et de la Communication], the President of the Economic and Social Council, the President of the National Commission of the Rights of Man, the President of the Superior Council of the Magistrature, the Mediator of the Republic, the presidents of the parliamentary groups or one-fifth (1/5) of the members of the National Assembly or of the Senate.
To the same ends, the organic laws, before their promulgation, the internal regulations of the National Assembly and of the Senate, those of the High Authority of Audiovisuals and of Communications, [those] of the Economic and Social Council [those] of the National Commission of the Rights of Man, [and those] of the Superior Council of the Magistrature must be submitted to it before their application.
The Constitutional Court may be referred to [the matter] of a demand for [its] opinion on the meaning of the constitutional provisions by the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the President of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate, the President of High Authority of Audiovisuals and of Communications, the President of the Economic and Social Council, the President of the National Commission of the Rights of Man, the President of the Superior Council of the Magistrature, the Mediator of the Republic and the presidents of the parliamentary groups.
An organic law determines the other authorities and juridical [morale] persons who can refer the Constitutional Court [to matters], in matters of protection of fundamental rights.
In the course of a judicial instance, any physical or juridical person may, in limine litis, before the courts and tribunals, raise the pleadings [exception] of the unconstitutionality of a law. In this case, the jurisdiction suspends its decision and refers [the matter] to the constitutional court. … (Art. 104) - FrenchLa Cour constitutionnelle est la juridiction chargée de veiller au respect des dispositions de la Constitution.
La Cour constitutionnelle juge de la régularité des consultations référendaires, des élections présidentielles, législatives et sénatoriales. Elle statue sur le contentieux de ces consultations et élections.
Elle est juge de la constitutionnalité des lois.
Les lois peuvent, avant leur promulgation, lui être déférées par le Président de la République, le Premier ministre, le Président de l’Assemblée nationale, le Président du Sénat, le Président de la Haute Autorité de l’Audiovisuel et de la Communication, le Président du Conseil économique et social, le Président de la Commission nationale des droits de l’Homme, le Président du Conseil Supérieur de la magistrature, le Médiateur de la République, les présidents des groupes parlementaires ou un cinquième (1/5eme) des membres de l’Assemblée nationale ou du Sénat.
Aux mêmes fins, les lois organiques, avant leur promulgation, les règlements intérieurs de l’Assemblée nationale et du Sénat, ceux de la Haute Autorité de l’audiovisuel et de la communication, du Conseil économique et social, de la Commission nationale des droits de l’homme et du Conseil supérieur de la magistrature, avant leur application, doivent lui être soumis.
La Cour constitutionnelle peut être saisie d’une demande d’avis sur le sens des dispositions constitutionnelles par le Président de la République, le Premier ministre, le Président de l’Assemblée nationale, le Président du Sénat, le Président de la Haute Autorité de l’Audiovisuel et de la Communication, le Président du Conseil économique et social, le Président de la Commission Nationale des Droits de l’Homme, le Président du Conseil supérieur de la magistrature, le Médiateur de la République et les présidents des groupes parlementaires.
Une loi organique détermine les autres autorités et les personnes morales qui peuvent saisir la Cour constitutionnelle, en matière de protection des droits fondamentaux.
Au cours d’une instance judiciaire, toute personne physique ou morale peut, in limine litis, devant les cours et tribunaux, soulever l’exception d’inconstitutionnalité d’une loi. Dans ce cas, la juridiction sursoit à statuer et saisit la Cour constitutionnelle. ... (Art. 104)