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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) Where any question as to the interpretation of this Constitution arises in any proceedings in any subordinate court and the court is of the opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court may, and shall, if any party to the proceedings so requests, refer the question to the High Court.
(2) Where any question is referred to the High Court in pursuance of this section, the High Court shall give its decision upon the question and the court in which the question arose shall, subject to any appeal, dispose of the case in accordance with that decision. (Sec. 105)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. Appropriate principles of interpretation of this Constitution shall be developed and employed by the courts to reflect the unique character and supreme status of this Constitution.
2. In interpreting the provisions of this Constitution a court of law shall—
a. promote the values which underlie an open and democratic society;
b. take full account of the provisions of Chapter III and Chapter IV2; and
c. where applicable, have regard to current norms of public international law and comparable foreign case law.
3. Where a court of law declares an act of executive or a law to be invalid, that court may apply such interpretation of that act or law as is consistent with this Constitution.
4. Any law that ousts or purports to oust the jurisdiction of the courts to entertain matters pertaining to this Constitution shall be invalid. (Sec. 11)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe organic laws are submitted by the Prime Minister to the Constitutional Court before their promulgation.
The other categories of law, before their promulgation, can be deferred to the Constitutional Court either by the President of the Republic, or by the Prime Minister, or by the President of the National Assembly or [by] one-tenth of the Deputies, or by the President of the High Council of the Collectivities or [by] one-tenth of the National Councilors, or by the President of the Supreme Court. (Art. 88) - FrenchLes lois organiques sont soumises par le Premier Ministre à la Cour Constitutionnelle avant leur promulgation.
Les autres catégories de lois, avant leur promulgation, peuvent être déférées à la Cour Constitutionnelle soit par le Président de la République, soit par le Premier Ministre, soit par le Président de l'Assemblée Nationale ou un dixième des députés, soit par le Haut Conseil des Collectivités ou un dixième des Conseillers Nationaux, soit par le Président de la Cour Suprême. (Art. 88)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
Constitutional guarantees are:
1. The Action of Habeas Corpus, which proceeds concerning an act or omission, on the part of any authority, functionary or person, which violates or threatens individual freedom or the related constitutional rights.
2. The Action of Amparo, which proceeds against an act or omission, on the part of any authority, functionary, or person, which violates or threatens the other rights recognized by the Constitution, with the exception of those specified in the following paragraph.
It does not proceed against legal norms or or Judicial Resolutions emanating from [the] regular procedure.
3. The Action of Habeas Data, which proceeds against an act or omission, on the part of any authority, functionary, or person, which violates or threatens the rights to which Article 2, paragraphs 5 and 6 of this Constitution, refers.
4. The Action of Unconstitutionality, which proceeds against the norms that have status [rango] of law: laws, legislative decrees, decrees of urgency, treaties, regulations of the Congress, regional norms of general character and municipal ordinances that contravene the Constitution in form or in substance [fondo].
5. The Popular Action [Acción Popular], which proceeds for infraction of the Constitution and of the law, against the regulations, administrative norms and resolutions and decrees of general character, whatever the authority from which they emanate may be.
6. The Action of Cumplimiento [Fulfillment/Mandamus], which proceeds against any authority or functionary that refuses to comply with a legal norm, or an administrative act, without prejudice to the responsibilities of law.
An Organic Law regulates the exercise of these guarantees and the effects of the declaration of unconstitutionality or illegality of the norms.
The exercise of the actions of habeas corpus and of amparo is not suspended during the effectiveness [vigencia] of the regimes of exception to which Article 137 of the Constitution refers.
When actions of this nature are interposed in relation to restricted or suspended rights, the competent jurisdictional organ examines the reasonability and the proportionality of the restrictive act. It does not correspond to the judge to question the declaration of the state of emergency or of siege. (Art. 200) - Spanish
Son garantías constitucionales:
1. La Acción de Hábeas Corpus, que procede ante el hecho u omisión, por parte de cualquier autoridad, funcionario o persona, que vulnera o amenaza la libertad individual o los derechos constitucionales conexos.
2. La Acción de Amparo, que procede contra el hecho u omisión, por parte de cualquier autoridad, funcionario o persona, que vulnera o amenaza los demás derechos reconocidos por la Constitución, con excepción de los señalados en el inciso siguiente.
No procede contra normas legales ni contra Resoluciones Judiciales emanadas de procedimiento regular.
3. La Acción de Hábeas Data, que procede contra el hecho u omisión, por parte de cualquier autoridad, funcionario o persona, que vulnera o amenaza los derechos a que se refiere el Artículo 2º, incisos 5 y 6 de la Constitución.
4. La Acción de Inconstitucionalidad, que procede contra las normas que tienen rango de ley: leyes, decretos legislativos, decretos de urgencia, tratados, reglamentos del Congreso, normas regionales de carácter general y ordenanzas municipales que contravengan la Constitución en la forma o en el fondo.
5. La Acción Popular, que procede, por infracción de la Constitución y de la ley, contra los reglamentos, normas administrativas y resoluciones y decretos de carácter general, cualquiera sea la autoridad de la que emanen.
6. La Acción de Cumplimiento, que procede contra cualquier autoridad o funcionario renuente a acatar una norma legal o un acto administrativo, sin perjuicio de las responsabilidades de ley.
Una ley orgánica regula el ejercicio de estas garantías y los efectos de la declaración de inconstitucionalidad o ilegalidad de las normas.
El ejercicio de las acciones de hábeas corpus y de amparo no se suspende durante la vigencia de los regímenes de excepción a que se refiere el artículo 137º de la Constitución.
Cuando se interponen acciones de esta naturaleza en relación con derechos restringidos o suspendidos, el órgano jurisdiccional competente examina la razonabilidad y la proporcionalidad del acto restrictivo. No corresponde al juez cuestionar la declaración del estado de emergencia ni de sitio. (Art. 200)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) The Constitutional Court shall be the principal organ for the protection of the Fundamental Law.
(2) The Constitutional Court
a) shall examine the compliance of Acts which have been adopted but not yet promulgated with the Fundamental Law;
b) shall, at the initiative of a judge, review the conformity with the Fundamental Law of any law applicable in a particular case as a priority but within no more than ninety days;
c) shall, on the basis of a constitutional complaint, review the conformity with the Fundamental Law of any law applied in a particular case;
d) shall, on the basis of a constitutional complaint, review the conformity with the Fundamental Law of any judicial decision;
e) shall, at the initiative of the Government, one quarter of the Members of the National Assembly, the President of the Curia, the Prosecutor General or the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, review the conformity with the Fundamental Law of any law;
f) shall examine any law for conflict with any international treaties;
g) shall exercise further functions and powers as laid down in the Fundamental Law and in a cardinal Act.
(3) The Constitutional Court
a) shall, within its powers set out in paragraph (2) b), c), and e), annul any law or any provision of a law which conflicts with the Fundamental Law;
b) shall, within its powers set out in paragraph (2) d), annul any judicial decision which conflicts with the Fundamental Law;
c) may, within its powers set out in paragraph (2) f), annul any law or any provision of a law which conflicts with an international treaty; and shall determine legal consequences as set out in a cardinal Act.
(4) Those provisions of a law that were not requested to be reviewed may be reviewed and annulled by the Constitutional Court only if there is a close substantive connection between them and the provisions requested to be reviewed.
(5) The Constitutional Court may review the Fundamental Law or the amendment of the Fundamental Law only in relation to the procedural requirements laid down in the Fundamental Law for making and promulgating it. Such an examination may be initiated by:
a) the President of the Republic in respect of the Fundamental Law or the amendment of the Fundamental Law if adopted but not yet promulgated;
b) the Government, one quarter of the Members of the National Assembly, the President of the Curia, the Prosecutor General or the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights within thirty days of promulgation.
…
(7) The Constitutional Court shall, as provided for by a cardinal Act, hear the drafter of the rule, the initiator of the law or their representative or shall obtain their opinions during its review if the matter affects a wide range of persons. This stage of the procedure shall be public.
… (The State, Art. 24) - Hungarian(1) Az Alkotmánybíróság az Alaptörvény védelmének legfőbb szerve.
(2) Az Alkotmánybíróság
a) az Alaptörvénnyel való összhang szempontjából megvizsgálja az elfogadott, de ki nem hirdetett törvényeket;
b) bírói kezdeményezésre soron kívül, de legkésőbb kilencven napon belül felülvizsgálja az egyedi ügyben alkalmazandó jogszabálynak az Alaptörvénnyel való összhangját;
c) alkotmányjogi panasz alapján felülvizsgálja az egyedi ügyben alkalmazott jogszabálynak az Alaptörvénnyel való összhangját;
d) alkotmányjogi panasz alapján felülvizsgálja a bírói döntésnek az Alaptörvénnyel való összhangját;
e) a Kormány, az országgyűlési képviselők egynegyede, a Kúria elnöke, a legfőbb ügyész vagy az alapvető jogok biztosa kezdeményezésére felülvizsgálja a jogszabályoknak az Alaptörvénnyel való összhangját;
f) vizsgálja a jogszabályok nemzetközi szerződésbe ütközését;
g) az Alaptörvényben, illetve sarkalatos törvényben meghatározott további feladat- és hatásköröket gyakorol.
(3) Az Alkotmánybíróság
a) a (2) bekezdés b), c) és e) pontjában foglalt hatáskörében megsemmisíti az Alaptörvénnyel ellentétes jogszabályt vagy jogszabályi rendelkezést;
b) a (2) bekezdés d) pontjában foglalt hatáskörében megsemmisíti az Alaptörvénnyel ellentétes bírói döntést;
c) a (2) bekezdés f) pontjában foglalt hatáskörében megsemmisítheti a nemzetközi szerződésbe ütköző jogszabályt vagy jogszabályi rendelkezést; illetve sarkalatos törvényben meghatározott jogkövetkezményt állapít meg.
(4) Az Alkotmánybíróság a jogszabály felülvizsgálni nem kért rendelkezését csak abban az esetben vizsgálhatja, illetve semmisítheti meg, ha az a felülvizsgálni kért jogszabályi rendelkezéssel szoros tartalmi összefüggésben áll.
(5) Az Alkotmánybíróság az Alaptörvényt és az Alaptörvény módosítását csak a megalkotására és kihirdetésére vonatkozó, az Alaptörvényben foglalt eljárási követelmények tekintetében vizsgálhatja felül. E vizsgálatot
a) az elfogadott, de még ki nem hirdetett Alaptörvény és Alaptörvény-módosítás tekintetében a köztársasági elnök,
b) a kihirdetéstől számított harminc napon belül a Kormány, az országgyűlési képviselők egynegyede, a Kúria elnöke, a legfőbb ügyész vagy az alapvető jogok biztosa
kezdeményezheti.
…
(7) Az Alkotmánybíróság sarkalatos törvényben meghatározottak szerint a jogszabály megalkotóját, a törvény kezdeményezőjét vagy képviselőjüket meghallgatja, illetve véleményüket eljárása során beszerzi, ha az ügy a személyek széles körét érinti. Az eljárás ezen szakasza nyilvános.
… (Az Állam, 24. cikk)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is the highest jurisdiction of the State in constitutional matters. It is given the charge:
– to judge the constitutionality of the organic and ordinary laws, already promulgated or simply voted, of the regulations as well as of the Internal Regulations of the National Assembly and of the Senate;
– to take cognizance of electoral disputes;
– to see to the regularity of the electoral consultations, [and] to examine and to proclaim the definitive results;
– to see to the regularity of the operations of [the] referendum, to examine the complaints and to proclaim the definitive results;
– to receive the oath of the President of the Republic elected;
– to determine the conflicts of competence within the executive power, between the legislative and executive powers and between the State and the territorial collectivities;
– to declare the errors [constater des défauts] of promulgation of the laws definitively voted and the lack of their promulgation in order to permit their entry into force;
– to interpret the Constitution;
– to give its opinion concerning the bills or proposals of constitutional revision and the procedure of [the] referendum;
– to receive the declarations of patrimony. (Art. 95) - FrenchLa Cour Constitutionnelle est la plus haute juridiction de l'Etat en matière constitutionnelle. Elle est chargée de:
- juger de la constitutionnalité des lois organiques et ordinaires, déjà promulguées ou simplement votées, des règlements, ainsi que des Règlements Intérieurs de l'Assemblée Nationale et du Sénat;
- connaître du contentieux électoral;
- veiller à la régularité des consultations électorales, examiner les réclamations et proclamer les résultats définitifs;
- veiller à la régularité des opérations référendaires, examiner les réclamations et proclamer les résultats définitifs;
- recevoir le serment du Président de la République élu;
- trancher les conflits de compétence au sein du pouvoir exécutif, entre les pouvoirs législatif et exécutif, et entre l'État et les collectivités territoriales;
- constater les défauts de promulgation des lois définitivement votées et la carence de leur promulgation afin de permettre leur entrée en vigueur;
- interpréter la Constitution;
- donner son avis sur les projets ou propositions de révision constitutionnelle et la procédure référendaire;
- recevoir les déclarations de patrimoine. (Art. 95)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English...
(2) The High Court shall have original jurisdiction to hear and adjudicate upon all civil disputes and criminal prosecutions, including cases which involve the interpretation, implementation and upholding of this Constitution and the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed thereunder. The High Court shall also have jurisdiction to hear and adjudicate upon appeals from Lower Courts.
(3) The jurisdiction of the High Court with regard to appeals shall be determined by Act of Parliament. (Art. 80)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. There shall be a Constitutional Court which is an independent body composed of a President, Vice-President and three members, who -as well as the three deputy members -shall be appointed for a period of five years at the recommendation of the National Assembly.
2. The tasks of the Constitutional Court shall be:
a. to verify the purport of Acts or parts thereof against the Constitution, and against applicable agreements concluded with other states and with international organization;
b. to assess the consistency of decisions of government institutions with one or more of the constitutional rights mentioned in Chapter V3.
… (Art. 144) - Dutch1. Er is een Constitutioneel Hof, zijnde een onafhankelijk orgaan, dat gevormd wordt door de voorzitter, de vice-voorzitter en drie leden, die – evenals de drie plaatsvervangende leden – voor een periode van vijf jaren op voordracht van De Nationale Assemblée door de President worden benoemd.
2. Het Constitutioneel Hof heeft tot taak:
a. het toetsen van de inhoud van wetten of gedeelten daarvan aan de Grondwet en aan van toepassing zijnde overeenkomsten met andere mogendheden en met volkenrechtelijke organisaties;
b. Het beoordelen van de verenigbaarheid van besluiten van overheidsorganen met één of meer der in Hoofdstuk V genoemde grondrechten.
... (Art. 144)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishA.- In constitutional matters, the Supreme Court rules in sovereign fashion over:
1°) compliance of the National Council’s rules of procedure with constitutional and, if need be, legislative provisions under the conditions prescribed by article 61;
2°) appeals on petitions for annulment, petitions to review validity and actions for damages arising from violations of these rights and freedoms prescribed in chapter III3 of the Constitution, and which are not referred to in subsection B of the present article.
…
C.- The Supreme Court rules over conflicts of jurisdiction. (Art. 90) - FrenchA. - En matière constitutionnelle, le Tribunal Suprême statue souverainement :
l°) sur la conformité du règlement intérieur du Conseil National aux dispositions constitutionnelles et, le cas échéant, législatives, dans les conditions prévues à l'article 61 ;
2°) sur les recours en annulation, en appréciation de validité et en indemnité ayant pour objet une atteinte aux libertés et droits consacrés par le Titre III de la Constitution, et qui ne sont pas visés au paragraphe B du présent article.
…
C.- Le Tribunal Suprême statue sur les conflits de compétence juridictionnelle. (Art. 90)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The international commitments provided for in Article 120 before their ratification, the constitutional laws adopted by parliamentary vote [voie], the organic laws before their promulgation, [and] the regulations of the parliamentary assemblies before their entry into application, must be deferred by the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly or the President of the Senate to the Constitutional Council, which pronounces on their conformity with the Constitution.
... (Art. 134) - French
Les engagements internationaux visés à l'article 120 avant leur ratification, les lois constitutionnelles adoptées par voie parlementaire, les lois organiques avant leur promulgation, les règlements des assemblées parlementaires avant leur mise en application, doivent être déférés par la Président de la République, le Président de l'Assemblée nationale ou le Président du Sénat au Conseil constitutionnel, qui se prononce sur leur conformité à la Constitution.
… (Art. 134)