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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) Subject to the provisions of section 37(7) of this Constitution, an appeal shall lie from decisions of the Court of Appeal to Her Majesty in Council as of right in the following cases-
…
(c) final decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings which involve a question as to the interpretation of this Constitution;
… (Sec. 104)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThere is for all Belgium a Constitutional Court, the composition, competences and functioning of which are established by the law.
This Court rules by means of judgments on:
1° those conflicts referred to in Article 141;
2° the violation of Articles 10, 11 and 24 by a law, a federate law or a rule as referred to in Article 134;
3° the violation of constitutional articles that the law determines by a law, a federate law or by a rule as referred to in Article 134.
A matter may be referred to the Court by any authority designated by the law, by any person that can prove an interest or, pre-judicially, by any court.
The Court pronounces by a ruling, under the conditions and according to the terms specified by the law, on every referendum described in Article 39bis before it is organised.
In the cases, under the conditions and according to the terms that it specifies, the law can give the Court competence to pronounce by a judgment on appeals lodged against decisions made by legislative assemblies or bodies thereof regarding the control of electoral expenditure incurred in the elections for the House of Representatives.
… (Art. 142) - DutchEr bestaat voor geheel België een Grondwettelijk Hof, waarvan de samenstelling, de bevoegdheid en de werking door de wet worden bepaald.
Dit Hof doet, bij wege van arrest, uitspraak over:
1° de in artikel 141 bedoelde conflicten;
2° de schending door een wet, een decreet of een in artikel 134 bedoelde regel, van de artikelen 10, 11 en 24;
3° de schending door een wet, een decreet of een in artikel 134 bedoelde regel, van de artikelen van de Grondwet die de wet bepaalt.
De zaak kan bij het Hof aanhangig worden gemaakt door iedere bij wet aangewezen overheid, door ieder die doet blijken van een belang of, prejudicieel, door ieder rechtscollege.
Het Hof doet bij wege van beslissing uitspraak over elke in artikel 39bis bedoelde volksraadpleging, voorafgaandelijk aan de organisatie ervan, onder de voorwaarden en op de wijze bepaald door de wet.
De wet kan, in de gevallen en onder de voorwaarden en op de wijze die zij bepaalt, het Hof de bevoegdheid toekennen om, bij wege van arrest, uitspraak te doen over de beroepen die worden ingesteld tegen de beslissingen van wetgevende vergaderingen of hun organen, betreffende de controle van de verkiezingsuitgaven voor de verkiezingen voor de Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers.
… (Art. 142) - FrenchIl y a, pour toute la Belgique, une Cour constitutionnelle, dont la composition, la compétence et le fonctionnement sont déterminés par la loi.
Cette Cour statue par voie d’arrêt sur:
1° les conflits visés à l’article 141;
2° la violation par une loi, un décret ou une règle visée à l’article 134, des articles 10, 11 et 24;
3° la violation par une loi, un décret ou une règle visée à l’article 134, des articles de la Constitution que la loi détermine.
La Cour peut être saisie par toute autorité que la loi désigne, par toute personne justifiant d’un intérêt ou, à titre préjudiciel, par toute juridiction.
La Cour statue par voie de décision sur chaque consultation populaire visée à l’article 39bis, préalablement à son organisation, dans les conditions et selon les modalités fixées par la loi.
La loi peut, dans les cas et selon les conditions et les modalités qu’elle détermine, attribuer à la Cour la compétence de statuer, par voie d’arrêt, sur les recours formés contre les décisions des assemblées législatives ou de leurs organes, en matière de contrôle des dépenses électorales engagées pour les élections pour la Chambre des représentants.
… (Art. 142) - GermanEs gibt für ganz Belgien einen Verfassungsgerichtshof, dessen Zusammensetzung, Zuständigkeit und Arbeitsweise durch Gesetz bestimmt werden.
Dieser Verfassungsgerichtshof befindet im Wege eines Entscheids über:
1. die in Artikel 141 erwähnten Konflikte;
2. die Verletzung der Artikel 10, 11 und 24 durch ein Gesetz, ein Dekret oder eine in Artikel 134 erwähnte Regel;
3. die Verletzung der Verfassungsartikel, die das Gesetz bestimmt, durch ein Gesetz, ein Dekret oder eine in Artikel 134 erwähnte Regel.
Der Verfassungsgerichtshof kann angerufen werden von jeder durch Gesetz bezeichneten Behörde, von jedem, der ein Interesse nachweist, oder, zwecks Vorabentscheidung, von jedem Rechtsprechungsorgan.
Der Verfassungsgerichtshof befindet unter Bedingungen und gemäß Modalitäten, die das Gesetz festlegt, im Wege einer Entscheidung über jede in Artikel 39bis erwähnte Volksbefragung vor deren Organisation.
Das Gesetz kann in Fällen, unter Bedingungen und gemäß Modalitäten, die es bestimmt, dem Verfassungsgerichtshof die Zuständigkeit übertragen, im Wege eines Entscheids über Beschwerden zu befinden, die gegen die von gesetzgebenden Versammlungen oder ihren Organen gefassten Beschlüsse über die Kontrolle der Wahlausgaben für die Wahlen der Abgeordnetenkammer eingelegt werden.
… (Art. 142)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Court, at the demand of the President of the Republic or of any member of the National Assembly, decides on the constitutionality of the laws before their promulgation.
It decides[,] of office[,] on the constitutionality of the laws and any regulatory texts which would infringe the fundamental rights of the human person and the public freedoms. It decides more generally on the violations of the rights of the human person and its decision must intervene within a time period of eight days. (Art. 121) - French
La Cour constitutionnelle, à la demande du président de la République ou de tout membre de l'Assemblée nationale, se prononce sur la constitutionnalité des lois avant leur promulgation.
Elle se prononce d'office sur la constitutionnalité des lois et de tout texte réglementaire censés porter atteinte aux droits fondamentaux de la personne humaine et aux libertés publiques. Elle statue plus généralement sur les violations des droits de la personne humaine et sa décision doit intervenir dans un délai de huit jours. (Art. 121)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English…
2. … The Supreme Court, pursuant to its power of judicial review, is empowered to declare any inconsistent laws unconstitutional. (Art. 2)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation will take cognizance of, in the terms that the regulatory law specifies, the following matters:
I. Of the constitutional disputes [controversias] that, concerning the constitutionality of the general norms, acts or omissions, with the exception of those that refer to electoral matters, arise between:
a) The Federation and a federative entity;
b) The Federation and a municipality;
c) The Executive Power and the Congress of the Union; one or either of the Chambers of it or, in such case, the Permanent Commission;
d) One federative entity and another;
...
g) Two municipalities of different States;
h) Two Powers of one same federative entity;
i) One State and one of its municipalities;
j) One Federative Entity and one Municipality of another or one territorial demarcation of the City of Mexico;
k) Two autonomous constitutional organs [órganos] of one federative entity and between one of these and the Executive Power or the Legislative Power of that federative entity, and
l) Two federal autonomous constitutional organs, and between one of these and the Executive Power of the Union or the Congress of the Union.
...
II. Of the actions of unconstitutionality that have for their object to establish [plantear] the possible contradiction between a norm of general character and this Constitution.
The actions of unconstitutionality can be exercised, during the thirty natural days following the date of publication of the norm, by:
a) The equivalent of thirty-three percent of the members of the Chamber of Deputies of the Congress of the Union, against federal laws;
b) The equivalent of thirty-three percent of the members of the Senate, against the federal laws or international treaties celebrated by the Mexican State;
c) The Federal Executive, through [por conducto] the Juridical Councilor of the Government, against the general norms of federal character and of the federal entities;
d) The equivalent of thirty-three percent of the members of any of the Legislatures of the federative entities against the laws enacted by that same organ;
...
f) The political parties with registration before the National Electoral Institute, by [por conducto] their national directorships [dirigencias], against the federal or local electoral laws; and the political parties with registration in a federative entity, by [a través] their directorships, exclusively against the electoral laws enacted by the Legislature of the federative entity that granted the registration to them;
g) The National Commission of Human Rights, against laws of federal character or of the federative entities, as well as international treaties celebrated by the Federal Executive and approved by the Senate of the Republic, that make vulnerable the human rights consecrated in this Constitution and in the international treaties to which Mexico is party. Also the equivalent organs [organismos] of protection of human rights in the federative entities, against laws enacted by the Legislatures.
h) The guarantor organ [organismo] that Article 6 of this Constitution establishes against laws of federal and local character, as well as [against] international treaties celebrated by the Federal Executive and approved by the Senate of the Republic, which infringe [vulneren] the right of the access to public information and the protection of personal data. In the same way, the equivalent guarantor organs [organismos] in the federative entities, against laws enacted [expedidas] by the local Legislatures; and
i) The Attorney General of the Republic regarding federal laws and [laws] of the federative entities, in penal matters and [matters] of penal procedure, as well as those related to the domain [ámbito] of his functions;
... (Art. 105) - Spanish
La Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación conocerá, en los términos que señale la ley reglamentaria, de los asuntos siguientes:
I. De las controversias constitucionales que, sobre la constitucionalidad de las normas generales, actos u omisiones, con excepción de las que se refieran a la materia electoral, se susciten entre:
a) La Federación y una entidad federativa;
b) La Federación y un municipio;
c) El Poder Ejecutivo y el Congreso de la Unión; aquél y cualquiera de las Cámaras de éste o, en su caso, la Comisión Permanente;
d) Una entidad federativa y otra;
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g) Dos municipios de diversos Estados;
h) Dos Poderes de una misma entidad federativa;
i) Un Estado y uno de sus Municipios;
j) Una Entidad Federativa y un Municipio de otra o una demarcación territorial de la Ciudad de México;
k) Dos órganos constitucionales autónomos de una entidad federativa, y entre uno de éstos y el Poder Ejecutivo o el Poder Legislativo de esa entidad federativa, y
l) Dos órganos constitucionales autónomos federales, y entre uno de éstos y el Poder Ejecutivo de la Unión o el Congreso de la Unión.
…
II. De las acciones de inconstitucionalidad que tengan por objeto plantear la posible contradicción entre una norma de carácter general y esta Constitución.
Las acciones de inconstitucionalidad podrán ejercitarse, dentro de los treinta días naturales siguientes a la fecha de publicación de la norma, por:
a) El equivalente al treinta y tres por ciento de los integrantes de la Cámara de Diputados del Congreso de la Unión, en contra de leyes federales;
b) El equivalente al treinta y tres por ciento de los integrantes del Senado, en contra de las leyes federales o de tratados internacionales celebrados por el Estado Mexicano;
c) El Ejecutivo Federal, por conducto del Consejero Jurídico del Gobierno, en contra de normas generales de carácter federal y de las entidades federativas;
d) El equivalente al treinta y tres por ciento de los integrantes de alguna de las Legislaturas de las entidades federativas en contra de las leyes expedidas por el propio órgano;
…
f) Los partidos políticos con registro ante el Instituto Nacional Electoral, por conducto de sus dirigencias nacionales, en contra de leyes electorales federales o locales; y los partidos políticos con registro en una entidad federativa, a través de sus dirigencias, exclusivamente en contra de leyes electorales expedidas por la Legislatura de la entidad federativa que les otorgó el registro;
g) La Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, en contra de leyes de carácter federal o de las entidades federativas, así como de tratados internacionales celebrados por el Ejecutivo Federal y aprobados por el Senado de la República, que vulneren los derechos humanos consagrados en esta Constitución y en los tratados internacionales de los que México sea parte. Asimismo, los organismos de protección de los derechos humanos equivalentes en las entidades federativas, en contra de leyes expedidas por las Legislaturas;
h) El organismo garante que establece el artículo 6° de esta Constitución en contra de leyes de carácter federal y local, así como de tratados internacionales celebrados por el Ejecutivo Federal y aprobados por el Senado de la República, que vulneren el derecho al acceso a la información pública y la protección de datos personales. Asimismo, los organismos garantes equivalentes en las entidades federativas, en contra de leyes expedidas por las Legislaturas locales; e
i) El Fiscal General de la República respect de leyes federales y de las entidades federativas, en materia penal y procesal penal, así como las relacionadas con el ámbito de sus funciones;
... (Art. 105)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Law Committee shall issue statements on the constitutionality of legislative proposals and other matters brought for its consideration, as well as on their relation to international human rights treaties. (Sec. 74)
- Finnish
Eduskunnan perustuslakivaliokunnan tehtävänä on antaa lausuntonsa sen käsittelyyn tulevien lakiehdotusten ja muiden asioiden perustuslainmukaisuudesta sekä suhteesta kansainvälisiin ihmisoikeussopimuksiin. (74 §)
- Swedish
Riksdagens grundlagsutskott skall ge utlåtanden om grundlagsenligheten i fråga om lagförslag och andra ärenden som föreläggs utskottet samt om deras förhållande till internationella fördrag om mänskliga rättigheter. (74 §)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The Constitutional Court shall be the court that has the power, specifically, to administer Justice in matters of a legal and constitutional nature, particularly with respect to:
a) Review of the constitutionality and legality, under the terms of the Constitution;
b) Verification of death and declaration of disability, of impediment or of loss of office of the President of the Republic;
c) Jurisdiction on matters of elections and political party organizations, under the terms of the law;
d) Resolution of conflicts of jurisdiction, under the terms of the law;
e) Writs of amparo.
… (Art. 215) - Portuguese1. O Tribunal Constitucional é o tribunal ao qual compete, especificamente, administrar a Justiça em matérias de natureza jurídicoconstitucional, designadamente, no que se refere a:
a) Fiscalização da constitucionalidade e legalidade, nos termos da Constituição;
b) Verificação da morte e declaração de incapacidade, de impedimento ou de perda de cargo do Presidente da República;
c) Jurisdição em matéria de eleições e de organizações político-partidárias, nos termos da lei;
d) Resolução de conflitos de jurisdição, nos termos da lei;
e) Recurso de amparo.
… (Art. 215)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishA Land law may assign the decision of constitutional disputes within a Land to the Federal Constitutional Court, and the final decision in matters involving the application of Land law to the supreme courts specified in paragraph (1) of Article 95. (Art. 99)
- GermanDem Bundesverfassungsgerichte kann durch Landesgesetz die Entscheidung von Verfassungsstreitigkeiten innerhalb eines Landes, den in Artikel 95 Abs. 1 genannten obersten Gerichtshöfen für den letzten Rechtszug die Entscheidung in solchen Sachen zugewiesen werden, bei denen es sich um die Anwendung von Landesrecht handelt. (Art. 99)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. While the Constitutional Court is not legally installed, the administration of justice in matters of a legal and constitutional nature continues to be carried out by the Supreme Court of Justice that shall have the power:
a) To review for constitutionality and legality pursuant to Articles 277 and others thereafter, except as foreseen in paragraph 1, subparagraph b) of Article 278;
b) To verify the death and declare the permanent physical or mental incapacity of the President of the Republic, as well as declare temporary impediments to the exercise of his or her duties;
c) To verify the loss of office of the President in cases of conviction of crimes committed in the exercise of functions and in other cases foreseen in the Constitution;
d) To verify the death and declare the incapacity for the exercise of the presidential function by any candidate for President of the Republic;
e) To verify preventively the constitutionality and legality of national and local referendum proposals;
f) To perform all other functions as may be assigned by the Constitution and by the law.
2. Both the Supreme Court of Justice and the Constitutional Court, specifically, in matters concerning electoral procedures, shall have the power:
a) To receive and admit nominations for President of the Republic;
b) To judge in the final instance the regularity and validity of electoral procedures, under the terms of the law;
c) To judge, at the request of their members and under the terms of the law, appeals related to the loss of office and to the elections held in the National Assembly, in the assemblies of local administrations and, in general, in any elective collegial organs foreseen in the Constitution;
d) To perform all other functions assigned by law.
3. Both the Supreme Court of Justice and the Constitutional Court, specifically in matters concerning political party organizations, shall have the power:
a) To verify the legality of the constitution of political parties and their coalitions, as well as to assess the legality of their names, abbreviations and symbols;
b) To ensure, maintain and update the registration of political parties and their coalitions, under the terms of the law;
c) To declare the illegality of political parties and their coalitions, and order their dissolution, under the terms of the Constitution and the law;
d) To judge the challenges encountered in elections and decisions of organs of political parties that, under the terms of the law, are subject to appeal;
e) To perform all other functions assigned by law. (Art. 294) - Portuguese1. Enquanto o Tribunal Constitucional não for legalmente instalado, a administração da justiça em matérias de natureza jurídico-constitucional continua a ser feita pelo Supremo Tribunal de Justiça, ao qual compete:
a) Fiscalizar a constitucionalidade e a legalidade nos termos dos artigos 277º e seguintes, excepto nos casos previstos no número 1, alínea b) do artigo 278º;
b) Verificar a morte e declarar a incapacidade física ou psíquica permanente do Presidente da República, bem como declarar os impedimentos temporários para o exercício das suas funções;
c) Verificar a perda do cargo do Presidente da República nos casos de condenação por crimes cometidos no exercício de funções e noutros previstos na Constituição;
d) Verificar a morte e declarar a incapacidade para o exercício da função presidencial de qualquer candidato a Presidente da República;
e) Verificar preventivamente a constitucionalidade e legalidade das propostas de referendo nacional e local;
f) Exercer as demais funções que lhe sejam atribuídas pela Constituição e pela lei.
2. Compete, ainda, ao Supremo Tribunal de Justiça enquanto Tribunal Constitucional, especificamente, em matéria de processo eleitoral:
a) Receber e admitir candidaturas para Presidente da República;
b) Julgar em última instância a regularidade e a validade dos actos de processo eleitoral, nos termos da lei;
c) Julgar, a requerimento dos respectivos membros e nos termos da lei, os recursos relativos a perda de mandato e às eleições realizadas na Assembleia Nacional, nas assembleias das autarquias locais e, no geral, em quaisquer órgãos colegiais electivos previstos na Constituição;
d) Exercer as demais funções atribuídas por lei.
3. Compete também ao Supremo Tribunal de Justiça, enquanto Tribunal Constitucional, especificamente, em matéria de organizações político-partidárias:
a) Verificar a legalidade da constituição de partidos politicos e suas coligações, bem como apreciar a legalidade das suas denominações, siglas e símbolos;
b) Assegurar, conservar e actualizar o registo dos partidos politicos e suas coligações, nos termos da lei;
c) Declarar a ilegalidade de partidos políticos e suas coligações, ordenando a respectiva extinção, nos termos da Constituição e da lei;
d) Julgar as acções de impugnação de eleições e deliberações de órgãos de partidos políticos que, nos termos da lei, sejam recorríveis;
e) Exercer as demais funções atribuídas por lei. (Art. 294)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Court is competent to take cognizance of a pleading [exception] of unconstitutionality raised in the course of a process, when it is maintained by one of the parties that the law on which the issue of the litigation depends, infringes the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
An organic law establishes the conditions and modalities of application of this Article. (Art. 133) - Arabic
تختص المحكمة الدستورية بالنظر في كل دفع متعلق بعدم دستورية قانون، أثير أثناء النظر في قضية، وذلك إذا دفع أحد الأطراف بأن القانون، الذي سيطبق في النزاع، يمس بالحقوق وبالحريات التي يضمنها الدستور.
يحدد قانون تنظيمي شروط وإجراءات تطبيق هذا الفصل. (الفصل 133)