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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
- 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
- EnglishIn Latvia, there shall be a Constitutional Court, which, within its jurisdiction as provided for by law, shall review cases concerning the conformity of laws with the Constitution, as well as other cases conferred within the jurisdiction thereof by law. The Constitutional Court is entitled to declare laws or other enactments or parts thereof invalid.
… (Art. 85) - LatvianLatvijā pastāv Satversmes tiesa, kas likumā noteiktās kompetences ietvaros izskata lietas par likumu atbilstību Satversmei, kā arī citas ar likumu tās kompetencē nodotās lietas. Satversmes tiesa ir tiesīga atzīt par spēkā neesošiem likumus un citus aktus vai to daļas.
... (Art. 85)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court, at the demand of the President of the Republic, of the President of the National Assembly, of the President of the Senate, of the Prime Minister or of one-quarter (1/4) of the members of each Chamber of the Parliament, decides concerning the constitutionality of the laws before their promulgation. (Art. 96)
- FrenchLa Cour Constitutionnelle, à la demande du Président de la République, du Président de l'Assemblée Nationale, du Président du Sénat, du Premier Ministre ou d'un quart (1/4) des membres de chaque chambre du Parlement, se prononcent sur la constitutionalité des lois avant leur promulgation. (Art. 96)
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
- English
The constitutionality of Acts of Parliament and treaties shall not be reviewed by the courts. (Art. 120)
- Dutch
De rechter treedt niet in de beoordeling van de grondwettigheid van wetten en verdragen. (Art. 120)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
Any pleader [plaideur] can, by way of exception [pleadings], raise the unconstitutionality of a law before any jurisdiction.
… (Art. 135) - French
Tout plaideur peut, par voie d’exception, soulever l’inconstitutionnalité d'une loi devant toute juridiction.
… (Art. 135)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
In cases brought before the Courts, the Courts have the power and the duty to review whether applying a statutory provision is contrary to the Constitution, and whether applying other decisions under the exercise of public authority is contrary to the Constitution or the law of the land. (Art. 89)
- Norwegian
I saker som reises for domstolene, har domstolene rett og plikt til å prøve om det strider mot Grunnloven å anvende en lovbestemmelse, og om det strider mot Grunnloven eller landets lover å anvende andre beslutninger truffet under utøving av offentlig myndighet. (§ 89)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Supreme Federal Court is responsible, essentially, for safeguarding the Constitution, and it is within its competence:
I – to institute legal proceeding and trial, in the first instance, of:
a) direct actions of unconstitutionality of a federal or state law or normative act, and declaratory actions of constitutionality of a federal law or normative act;
b) in common criminal offenses, the President of the Republic, the Vice-President, the members of the National Congress, its own Justices and the Attorney-General of the Republic;
c) in common criminal offenses and crimes of malversation, the Ministers of State and the Commanders of the Navy, the Army, and the Air Force, except as provided in article 52, I, the members of the Superior Courts, those of the Federal Audit Court and the heads of permanent diplomatic missions;
d) habeas corpus, when the petitioner is any one of the persons referred to in the preceding subitems; the writ of mandamus and habeas data against acts of the President of the Republic, of the Directing Boards of the Chamber of Deputies and of the Federal Senate, of the Federal Audit Court, of the Attorney-General of the Republic and of the Supreme Federal Court itself;
e) litigation between a foreign State or an international organization and the Union, a state, the Federal District or a territory;
f) disputes and conflicts between the Union and the states, the Union and the Federal District, or between one another, including the respective indirect administration bodies;
g) extradition requested by a foreign state;
h) (revoked);
i) habeas corpus, when the constraining party is a Superior Court, or when the constraining party or the petitioner is an authority or employee whose acts are directly subject to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Federal Court, or in the case of a crime, subject to the same jurisdiction in one sole instance;
j) criminal review of and actions to overrule its final judgements;
l) claims for the preservation of its powers and guarantee of the authority of its decisions;
m) enforcement of court decisions in the cases where it has original competence, the delegation of duties to perform procedural acts being allowed;
n) a suit in which all members of the judicature are directly or indirectly involved, and a suit in which more than half of the members of the court of origin are disqualified or have a direct or indirect interest;
o) conflicts of powers between the Superior Court of Justice and any other courts, between Superior Courts, or between the latter and any other court;
p) petitions of provisional remedy in direct actions of unconstitutionality;
q) writs of injunction, when drawing up of the regulation is the responsibility of the President of the Republic, of the National Congress, of the Chamber of Deputies, of the Federal Senate, of the Directing Boards of one of these legislative houses, of the Federal Audit Court, of one of the Superior Courts, or of the Supreme Federal Court itself;
r) lawsuits against the National Council of Justice and against the National Council of the Public Prosecution;
II – to judge on ordinary appeal:
a) habeas corpus, writs of mandamus, habeas data and writs of injunction decided in a sole instance by the Superior Courts, in the event of a denial;
b) political crimes;
III – to judge, on extraordinary appeal, cases decided in a sole or last instance, when the decision appealed:
a) is contrary to a provision of this Constitution;
b) declares a treaty or a federal law unconstitutional;
c) considers valid a law or act of a local government contested in the light of this Constitution;
d) considers valid a local law challenged in the light of a federal law.
Paragraph 1. A claim of non-compliance with a fundamental precept deriving from this Constitution shall be examined by the Supreme Federal Court, under the terms of the law.
… (Art. 102) - Portuguese
Compete ao Supremo Tribunal Federal, precipuamente, a guarda da Constituição, cabendo-lhe:
I - processar e julgar, originariamente:
a) a ação direta de inconstitucionalidade de lei ou ato normativo federal ou estadual e a ação declaratória de constitucionalidade de lei ou ato normativo federal;
b) nas infrações penais comuns, o Presidente da República, o Vice-Presidente, os membros do Congresso Nacional, seus próprios Ministros e o Procurador-Geral da República;
c) nas infrações penais comuns e nos crimes de responsabilidade, os Ministros de Estado e os Comandantes da Marinha, do Exército e da Aeronáutica, ressalvado o disposto no art. 52, I, os membros dos Tribunais Superiores, os do Tribunal de Contas da União e os chefes de missão diplomática de caráter permanente;
d) o habeas corpus, sendo paciente qualquer das pessoas referidas nas alíneas anteriores; o mandado de segurança e o habeas data contra atos do Presidente da República, das Mesas da Câmara dos Deputados e do Senado Federal, do Tribunal de Contas da União, do Procurador-Geral da República e do próprio Supremo Tribunal Federal;
e) o litígio entre Estado estrangeiro ou organismo internacional e a União, o Estado, o Distrito Federal ou o Território;
f) as causas e os conflitos entre a União e os Estados, a União e o Distrito Federal, ou entre uns e outros, inclusive as respectivas entidades da administração indireta;
g) a extradição solicitada por Estado estrangeiro;
h) (Revogado pela Emenda Constitucional nº 45, de 2004)
i) o habeas corpus, quando o coator for Tribunal Superior ou quando o coator ou o paciente for autoridade ou funcionário cujos atos estejam sujeitos diretamente à jurisdição do Supremo Tribunal Federal, ou se trate de crime sujeito à mesma jurisdição em uma única instância;
j) a revisão criminal e a ação rescisória de seus julgados;
l) a reclamação para a preservação de sua competência e garantia da autoridade de suas decisões;
m) a execução de sentença nas causas de sua competência originária, facultada a delegação de atribuições para a prática de atos processuais;
n) a ação em que todos os membros da magistratura sejam direta ou indiretamente interessados, e aquela em que mais da metade dos membros do tribunal de origem estejam impedidos ou sejam direta ou indiretamente interessados;
o) os conflitos de competência entre o Superior Tribunal de Justiça e quaisquer tribunais, entre Tribunais Superiores, ou entre estes e qualquer outro tribunal;
p) o pedido de medida cautelar das ações diretas de inconstitucionalidade;
q) o mandado de injunção, quando a elaboração da norma regulamentadora for atribuição do Presidente da República, do Congresso Nacional, da Câmara dos Deputados, do Senado Federal, das Mesas de uma dessas Casas Legislativas, do Tribunal de Contas da União, de um dos Tribunais Superiores, ou do próprio Supremo Tribunal Federal;
r) as ações contra o Conselho Nacional de Justiça e contra o Conselho Nacional do Ministério Público;
II - julgar, em recurso ordinário:
a) o habeas corpus, o mandado de segurança, o habeas data e o mandado de injunção decididos em única instância pelos Tribunais Superiores, se denegatória a decisão;
b) o crime político;
III - julgar, mediante recurso extraordinário, as causas decididas em única ou última instância, quando a decisão recorrida:
a) contrariar dispositivo desta Constituição;
b) declarar a inconstitucionalidade de tratado ou lei federal;
c) julgar válida lei ou ato de governo local contestado em face desta Constituição.
d) julgar válida lei local contestada em face de lei federal.
§ 1.º A argüição de descumprimento de preceito fundamental, decorrente desta Constituição, será apreciada pelo Supremo Tribunal Federal, na forma da lei.
… (Art. 102)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Federal Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction over the following:
First: Overseeing the constitutionality of laws and regulations in effect.
Second: Interpreting the provisions of the Constitution.
Third: Settling matters that arise from the application of the federal laws, decisions, regulations, instructions, and procedures issued by the federal authority. The law shall guarantee the right of direct appeal to the Court to the Council of Ministers, those concerned individuals, and others.
Fourth: Settling disputes that arise between the federal government and the governments of the regions and governorates, municipalities, and local administrations.
Fifth: Settling disputes that arise between the governments of the regions and governments of the governorates.
Sixth: Settling accusations directed against the President, the Prime Minister and the Ministers, and this shall be regulated by law.
Seventh: Ratifying the final results of the general elections for membership in the Council of Representatives.
Eighth:
A. Settling competency disputes between the federal judiciary and the judicial institutions of the regions and governorates that are not organized in a region.
B. Settling competency disputes between judicial institutions of the regions or governorates that are not organized in a region. (Art. 93) - Arabicتختصّ المحكمة الاتحادية العليا بما يأتي:
اولاً:ـ الرقابة على دستورية القوانين والانظمة النافذة.
ثانياً:ـ تفسير نصوص الدستور.
ثالثاً :ـ الفصل في القضايا التي تنشأ عن تطبيق القوانين الاتحادية، والقرارات والانظمة والتعليمات، والاجراءات الصادرة عن السلطة الاتحادية، ويكفل القانون حق كل من مجلس الوزراء، وذوي الشأن من الافراد وغيرهم، حق الطعن المباشر لدى المحكمة.
رابعاً :ـ الفصل في المنازعات التي تحصل بين الحكومة الاتحادية، وحكومات الاقاليم والمحافظات والبلديات والادارات المحلية.
خامساً :ـ الفصل في المنازعات التي تحصل فيما بين حكومات الاقاليم أو المحافظات.
سادساً :ـ الفصل في الاتهامات الموجهة الى رئيس الجمهورية، ورئيس مجلس الوزراء والوزراء، وينظم ذلك بقانون.
سابعاً :ـ المصادقة على النتائج النهائية للانتخابات العامة لعضوية مجلس النواب.
ثامناً :ـ
أ ـ الفصل في تنازع الاختصاص بين القضاء الاتحادي، والهيئات القضائية للأقاليم والمحافظات غير المنتظمة في أقليم.
ب ـ الفصل في تنازع الاختصاص فيما بين الهيئات القضائية للأقاليم، أو المحافظات غير المنتظمة في أقليم. (المادة 93)