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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(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
- English
The organic laws and the regulations of the National Assembly, before their promulgation or their entry into application[,] must be submitted to the Constitutional Council.
To the same ends, the ordinary laws and the treaties submitted to the procedure of ratification, may be deferred to the Constitutional Council, before their promulgation. (Art. 155) - French
Les lois organiques et le règlement de l’Assemblée nationale, avant leur promulgation ou leur mise en application, doivent être soumis au Conseil constitutionnel.
Aux mêmes fins, les lois ordinaires et les traités soumis à la procédure de ratification, peuvent être déférés au Conseil constitutionnel, avant leur promulgation. (Art. 155)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) The sole function of the Special Constitutional Court of the United Republic is to hear and give a conciliatory decision over a matter referred to it concerning the interpretation of this Constitution where such interpretation or its application is in dispute between the Government of the United Republic and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar.
… (Art. 126)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) The Constitutional Council shall give a final ruling on:
- the constitutionality of laws, treaties and international agreements;
- the constitutionality of the standing orders of the National Assembly and the Senate prior to their implementation;
- conflict of powers between State institutions; between the State and the Regions, and between the Regions.
(2) Matters may be referred to the Constitutional Council by the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate, one-third of the members of the National Assembly or one-third of the Senators.
Presidents of regional executives may refer matters to the Constitutional Council whenever the interests of their Regions are at stake.
(3) Laws as well as treaties and international agreements may, prior to their enactment, be referred to the Constitutional Council by the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate, one-third of the members of the National Assembly, one third of the Senators, or the Presidents of the regional executives pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) above.
...
(4) The Constitutional Council shall advice in matters falling under its jurisdiction. (Art. 47) - French(1) Le Conseil Constitutionnel statue souverainement sur :
- La constitutionnalité des lois, des traités et accords internationaux ;
- les règlements intérieurs de lʼAssemblée Nationale et du Sénat, avant leur mise en application, quant à leur conformité à la Constitution ;
- les conflits dʼattribution : entre les institutions de lʼEtat ; entre lʼEtat et les régions ; entre les régions.
(2) Le Conseil Constitutionnel est saisi par le Président de la République, le président de lʼAssemblée Nationale, le président du Sénat, un tiers des députés ou un tiers des sénateurs.
Les présidents des exécutifs des régionaux peuvent saisir le Conseil Constitutionnel lorsque les intérêts de leur région sont en cause.
(3) Avant leur promulgation, les lois ainsi que les traités et accords internationaux peuvent être déférés au Conseil Constitutionnel par le Président de la République, le président de lʼAssemblée Nationale, le président du Sénat, un tiers des députés ou un tiers des sénateurs, les présidents des exécutifs régionaux conformément aux dispositions de lʼalinéa 2 ci-dessus.
...
(4) Le Conseil Constitutionnel donne des avis sur des matières relevant de sa compétence. (Art. 47)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
On referral [of a matter] by the President of the Republic, the bills or proposals of law may be submitted for [its] opinion to the Constitutional Council.
On referral [of a matter] by the President of the National Assembly or of the President of the Senate, the bills or proposals of law may be submitted for [its] opinion to the Constitutional Council. (Art. 133) - French
Sur saisine du Président de la République, les projets ou propositions de loi peuvent être soumis pour avis au Conseil constitutionnel.
Sur saisine du Président de l’Assemblée nationale ou du Président du Sénat, les projets ou propositions de loi peuvent être soumis pour avis au Conseil constitutionnel. (Art. 133)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The Supreme Court shall be the court of last resort; and shall be presided over by the Chief Justice.
2. The Supreme Court shall have:
a. sole jurisdiction of interpreting this Constitution and the constitutionality of any law enacted or any action taken by government;
b. sole jurisdiction of hearing and adjudicating upon charges against a President who has been impeached by the National Assembly pursuant to the provisions of Article 41(6)(a) and (b) hereof; and
c. the power of hearing and adjudicating cases appealed from lower courts pursuant to law.
… (Art. 49)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is the competent jurisdiction in constitutional, [and] electoral matters and in [matters] of the fundamental rights and freedoms. It judges the constitutionality of the laws, [and] of the ordinances as well as the conformity of the international treaties and agreements to the Constitution.
It guarantees the exercise of the fundamental rights of the human person and of the public freedoms.
It sees to the regularity of the national elections and of the referendums of which [dont] it proclaims the definitive results.
It is the regulatory organ of the functioning and of the activities of the legislative and executive Powers and of the other organs of the State. (Art. 93) - FrenchLa Cour constitutionnelle est la juridiction compétente en matière constitutionnelle, électorale et des droits et libertés fondamentaux. Elle juge de la constitutionnalité des lois, des ordonnances ainsi que de la conformité des traités et accords internationaux à la Constitution.
Elle garantit l'exercice des droits fondamentaux de la personne humaine et des libertés publiques.
Elle veille à la régularité des élections nationales et des référendums dont elle proclame les résultats définitifs.
Elle est l'organe régulateur du fonctionnement et des activités des pouvoirs législatif et exécutif et des autres organes de l'État. (Art. 93)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
A Head of an Institution or one-quarter of the members composing one of the Parliamentary Assemblies or the organs of the Decentralized Territorial Collectivities or the High Council for the Defense of Democracy and of the State of Law may refer to the Constitutional Court, for control of constitutionality, any text with legislative or regulatory value as well as all matters falling into its competence.
If, before a jurisdiction, a party raises an exception of unconstitutionality, that jurisdiction postpones its decision and refers the matter to the High Constitutional Court which decides within the time period of one month.
In the same way, if before a jurisdiction, a party maintains that a provision of a legislative or regulatory text infringes their fundamental rights recognized by the Constitution, that jurisdiction postpones its decision within the same conditions as in the previous paragraph.
… (Art. 118) - French
Un Chef d’Institution ou le quart des membres composant l’une des Assemblées parlementaires ou les organes des Collectivités Territoriales Décentralisées ou le Haut Conseil pour la Défense de la Démocratie et de l’Etat de droit peuvent déférer à la Cour Constitutionnelle, pour contrôle de constitutionnalité, tout texte à valeur législative ou réglementaire ainsi que toutes matières relevant de sa compétence.
Si devant une juridiction, une partie soulève une exception d’inconstitutionnalité, cette juridiction sursoit à statuer et saisit la Haute Cour Constitutionnelle qui statue dans le délai d’un mois.
De même, si devant juridiction, une partie soutient qu’une disposition de texte législatif ou réglementaire porte atteinte à ses droits fondamentaux reconnus par la Constitution, cette juridiction sursoit à statuer dans les mêmes conditions qu’à l’alinéa précédent.
... (Art. 118)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. Supreme Court decisions harmonising questions of law and other decisions made on grounds of unconstitutionality must be referred to the Constitutional Council in the following cases:
a. in the event of a refusal to apply any rule on grounds of its unconstitutionality;
b. when the Attorney General of the Republic or the Public Prosecution Service requests an abstract evaluation of the constitutionality or legality of a rule whose application has been refused, on grounds of unconstitutionality or illegality, by judicial decision from which there is no appeal.
2. The law shall regulate the rules on admissibility of appeals contemplated in this provision. (Art. 246) - Portuguese1. Devem ser remetidos obrigatoriamente para o Conselho Constitucional, os acórdãos e outras decisões com fundamento na inconstitucionalidade, nos seguintes casos:
a) quando se recuse a aplicação de qualquer norma com base na sua inconstitucionalidade;
b) quando o Procurador-Geral da República ou o Ministério Público solicite a apreciação abstracta da constitucionalidade ou da legalidade de qualquer norma, cuja aplicação tenha sido recusada, com a justificação de inconstitucionalidade ou ilegalidade, por decisão judicial insusceptível de recurso.
2. A lei regula o regime de admissão dos recursos previstos nesta disposição. (Art. 246)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English…
2. Questions of unconstitutionality may be raised officiously by the court, the Public Prosecutor or by either party.
3. Should the question of unconstitutionality be raised, the incident shall be filed separately with the Constitutional Court, which shall decide.
… (Art. 129) - Portuguese…
2. A questão da inconstitucionalidade pode ser levantada oficiosamente pelo tribunal, pelo Ministério Público ou por qualquer das partes.
3. Admitida a questão da inconstitucionalidade, o incidente sobe em separado para o Tribunal Constitucional, que decidirá.
… (Art. 129)