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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.
Political Rights and Association
- English
National sovereignty resides in the People who exercise it through democratic instruments[,] deciding and participating freely in the construction and perfecting of the economic, political, cultural and social system of the nation. The people exercise the sovereign power through their representatives freely elected by universal, equal, direct and secret suffrage, barring any other individual or group of persons from arrogating this representation. It may be also exercised directly by means of the referendum and of the plebiscite. In the same way, it will be able to [podrd] exercise it through other direct mechanisms, such as the participative budgets, the citizen initiatives, the territorial Councils, the territorial and communal assemblies of the indigenous and Afro-descendant Peoples, the sectoral Councils, and other procedures [procedimientos] that this Constitution and the laws establish. (Art. 2)
- Spanish
La soberanía nacional reside en el pueblo y la ejerce a través de instrumentos democráticos decidiendo y participando libremente en la construcción y perfeccionamiento del sistema económico, político, cultural y social de la nación. El poder soberano lo ejerce el pueblo por medio de sus representantes libremente elegidos por sufragio universal, igual, directo y secreto, sin que ninguna otra persona o reunión de personas pueda arrogarse esta representación. También lo puede ejercer de forma directa a través del referéndum y el plebiscito. Asimismo, podrá ejercerlo a través de otros mecanismos directos, como los presupuestos participativos, las iniciativas ciudadanas, los Consejos territoriales, las asambleas territoriales y comunales de los pueblos originarios y afrodescendientes, los Consejos sectoriales, y otros procedimientos que se establezcan en la presente Constitución y las leyes. (Art. 2)
Political Rights and Association
- EnglishMen and women have equal civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights. The State will promote the conditions and will create the adequate mechanisms for, making equality real and effective, by leveling [allanando] the obstacles that prevent or hinder its exercise and facilitating the participation of women in all areas [ámbitos] of the national life. (Art. 48)
- SpanishEl hombre y la mujer tienen iguales derechos civiles, políticos, sociales, económicos y culturales. El Estado promoverá las condiciones y creará los mecanismos adecuados para que la igualdad sea real y efectiva, allanando los obstáculos que impidan o dificulten su ejercicio y facilitando la participación de la mujer en todos los ámbitos de la vida nacional. (Art. 48)
Political Rights and Association
- EnglishAll Haitians, regardless of sex or marital status, who have attained twenty-one years of age may exercise their political and civil rights if the meet the other conditions prescribed by the Constitution and by law. (Art. 17)
- FrenchLes haïtiens sans distinction de sexe et d'état civil, âgé de dix-huit (18) ans accomplis, peuvent exercer leurs droits civils et politiques s'ils réunissent les autres conditions prévues par la Constitution et par la loi. (Art. 17)
Political Rights and Association
- English
Citizens have [the] right to participate in public matters by means of referendum; legislative initiative; removal or revocation of authorities and [the] demand of rendition of accounts. They also have the right to be elected and to freely elect their representatives, in accordance with the conditions and procedures determined by organic law.
It is [a] right and duty of residents [vecinos] to participate in the municipal government of their jurisdiction. The law [establishes] norms and promotes the direct and indirect mechanisms of their participation. The citizen in enjoyment of his civil capacity has the right to vote. For the exercise of this right, to be inscribed in the corresponding register is required.
The vote is personal, equal, free, secret and obligatory up to the age of seventy years. It is optional after this age.
The law establishes the mechanisms to guarantee State neutrality during the electoral processes and the citizen participation.
Any act that prohibits or limits [the] citizen [in] the exercise of these rights is null and punishable. (Art. 31) - Spanish
Los ciudadanos tienen derecho a participar en los asuntos públicos mediante referéndum; iniciativa legislativa; remoción o revocación de autoridades y demanda de rendición de cuentas. Tienen también el derecho de ser elegidos y de elegir libremente a sus representantes, de acuerdo con las condiciones y procedimientos determinados por ley orgánica.
Es derecho y deber de los vecinos participar en el gobierno municipal de su jurisdicción. La ley norma y promueve los mecanismos directos e indirectos de su participación.
Tienen derecho al voto los ciudadanos en goce de su capacidad civil. Para el ejercicio de este derecho se requiere estar inscrito en el registro correspondiente.
El voto es personal, igual, libre, secreto y obligatorio hasta los setenta años. Es facultativo después de esa edad.
La ley establece los mecanismos para garantizar la neutralidad estatal durante los procesos electorales y de participación ciudadana.
Es nulo y punible todo acto que prohíba o limite al ciudadano el ejercicio de sus derechos. (Art. 31)
Political Rights and Association
- EnglishThe quality of [being] in full exercise of citizenship [ciudadano en ejercicio] is a prior and indispensable condition for exercising the right of suffrage, to be elected and to perform public responsibilities [cargos] which have authority or jurisdiction attached [to them]. (Art. 99)
- SpanishLa calidad de ciudadano en ejercicio es condición previa e indispensable para ejercer el derecho de sufragio, para ser elegido y para desempeñar cargos públicos que lleven anexa autoridad o jurisdicción. (Art. 99)
Political Rights and Association
- English
Nicaraguan citizens have the right to organize or affiliate in political parties, with the objective to participate in, to exercise[,] and to opt for[,] power. (Art. 55)
- Spanish
Los ciudadanos nicaragüenses tienen derecho de organizar o afiliarse a partidos políticos, con el fin de participar, ejercer y optar al poder. (Art. 55)
Political Rights and Association
- EnglishCuban citizens have the right to participate in the formation, exercise, and monitoring of the power of the State, for which purpose they may, in accordance with the laws:
a. Be registered within the electoral registry;
b. Propose and nominate candidates;
c. Elect officials and be elected for office;
d. Participate in elections, plebiscites, referendums, popular consultations, as well as other forms of democratic participation;
e. Make pronouncements regarding the release of documents or information for the purposes of accountability that are provided by elected officials;
f. Revoke the mandate of elected officials;
g. Exercise the powers of the legislature as well as the power of constitutional reform;
h. Perform public functions or roles, and
i. Be informed of the management of the organs and authorities of the State. (Art. 80) - SpanishLos ciudadanos cubanos tienen derecho a participar en la conformación, ejercicio y control del poder del Estado; en razón a esto pueden, de conformidad con la Constitución y las leyes:
a) estar inscriptos en el registro electoral;
b) proponer y nominar candidatos;
c) elegir y ser elegidos;
d) participar en elecciones, plebiscitos, referendos, consultas populares y otras formas de participación democrática;
e) pronunciarse sobre la rendición de cuenta que les presentan los elegidos;
f) revocar el mandato de los elegidos;
g) ejercer la iniciativa legislativa y de reforma de la Constitución;
h) desempeñar funciones y cargos públicos; y
i) estar informados de la gestión de los órganos y autoridades del Estado. (Art. 80)
Political Rights and Association
- EnglishThe right to form political parties and their freedom of action are guaranteed. … (Art. 10)
Political Rights and Association
- EnglishThe right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax. (Amendment XXIV, Sec. 1)
Political Rights and Association
- EnglishSuffrage is a right and a public duty.
Voting shall be universal, obligatory, egalitarian, direct, free and secret. (Art. 44) - SpanishEl sufragio es un derecho y una función pública.
El voto es universal, obligatorio, igualitario, directo, libre y secreto. (Art. 44)