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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.
Composition and Appointment
- English(1) The President may appoint a woman or man to serve as an acting Deputy Chief Justice or judge of the Constitutional Court if there is a vacancy in any of those offices, or if the person holding such an office is absent. The appointment must be made on the recommendation of the Cabinet member responsible for the administration of justice acting with the concurrence of the Chief Justice, and an appointment as acting Deputy Chief Justice must be made from the ranks of the judges who had been appointed to the Constitutional Court in terms of section 174(4).
… (Sec. 175)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Court may be referred to [a matter] of a pleading of unconstitutionality on remand of the Supreme Court or of the Council of State, when one of the parties in the process sustains before a jurisdiction that the legislative or regulatory provision on which the outcome of the litigation depends infringes the rights and the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
... (Art. 195) - Arabic
يمكن إخطار المحكمة الدستورية بالدفع بعدم الدستورية بناء على إحالة من المحكمة العليا أو مجلس الدولة، عندما يدعي أحد األطراف في المحاكمة أمام جهة قضائية أن الحكم التشريعي أو التنظيمي الذي يتوقف عليه مآل النزاع ينتهك حقوقه وحرياته التي يضمنها الدستور.
... (المــادة 195) - French
La Cour constitutionnelle peut être saisie d’une exception d’inconstitutionnalité sur renvoi de la Cour suprême ou du Conseil d’Etat, lorsque l’une des parties au procès soutient devant une juridiction que la disposition législative ou réglementaire dont dépend l’issue du litige porte atteinte à ses droits et libertés tels que garantis par la Constitution.
... (Art. 195)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) A person who alleges that –
(a) an enactment or anything contained in or done under the authority of that or any other enactment; or
(b) any act or omission of any person;
is inconsistent with, or is in contravention of a provision of this Constitution, may bring an action in the Supreme Court for a declaration to that effect.
(2) The Supreme Court shall, for the purposes of a declaration under clause (1) of this article, make such orders and give such directions as it may consider appropriate for giving effect, or enabling effect to be given, to the declaration so made.
… (Art. 2)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) The Constitutional Court shall act on an initiative from not fewer than one-fifth of all Members of the National Assembly, the President, the Council of Ministers, the Supreme Court of Cassation, the Supreme Administrative Court or the Prosecutor General. A challenge to competence pursuant to para 1 item 3 of the preceding Article may further be filed by a municipal council.
(2) Should it find a discrepancy between law and the Constitution, the Supreme Court of Cassation or the Supreme Administrative Court shall suspend the proceedings on a case and shall refer the matter to the Constitutional Court.
(3) The Ombudsman may approach the Constitutional Court with a request for declaring as unconstitutional a law which infringes human rights and freedoms.
(4) The Supreme Judicial Council may approach the Constitutional Court with a petition to establish unconstitutionality of any law whereby any rights and freedoms of citizens are violated. (Art. 150) - Bulgarian(1) Конституционният съд действува по инициатива най-малко на една пета от народните представители, президента, Министерския съвет, Върховния касационен съд, Върховния административен съд и главния прокурор. Спорове за компетентност по т. 3 на ал. 1 от предходния член могат да се повдигат и от общинските съвети.
(2) Когато установят несъответствие между закона и Конституцията, Върховният касационен съд или Върховният административен съд спират производството по делото и внасят въпроса в Конституционния съд.
(3) Омбудсманът може да сезира Конституционния съд с искане за установяване на противоконституционност на закон, с който се нарушават права и свободи на гражданите.
(4) Висшият адвокатски съвет може да сезира Конституционния съд с искане за установяване на противоконституционност на закон, с който се нарушават права и свободи на гражданите. (Чл. 150)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishAny person may seek amparo before the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice for violation of the rights granted by this Constitution.
The habeas corpus may be sought before the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice or before the Chambers of Second Instance that do not reside in the capital. The resolution of the Chamber that denies the freedom of the favored person [favorecido] may be the object of review [revisión], at the request of the interested party, by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice. (Art. 247) - SpanishToda persona puede pedir amparo ante la Sala de lo Constitucional de la Corte Suprema de Justicia por violación de los derechos que otorga la presente Constitución.
El habeas corpus puede pedirse ante la Sala de lo Constitucional de la Corte Suprema de Justicia o ante las Cámaras de Segunda Instancia que no residen en la capital. La resolución de la Cámara que denegare la libertad del favorecido podrá ser objeto de revisión, a solicitud del interesado, por la Sala de lo Constitucional de la Corte Suprema de Justicia. (Art. 247)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Council is the institution competent in constitutional and electoral matters. It is charged to decide on the constitutionality of the laws, of the ordinances as well as the conformity of the international treaties and agreements with the Constitution.
It interprets the provisions of the Constitution. It controls the regularity, the transparency and the sincerity of the referendum, of the presidential elections, legislative [elections] and is the judge of electoral disputes.
It proclaims the definitive results of the referendum, [and] of the presidential and legislative elections.
... (Art. 152) - French
Le Conseil constitutionnel est l'institution compétente en matière constitutionnelle et électorale. Il est chargé de statuer sur la constitutionnalité des lois, des ordonnances ainsi que la conformité des traités et accords internationaux avec la Constitution.
Il interprète les dispositions de la Constitution. Il contrôle la régularité, la transparence et la sincérité du référendum, des élections présidentielles, législatives et est juge du contentieux électoral.
Il proclame les résultats définitifs des élections présidentielles, législatives et locales.
... (Art. 152)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Supreme Court shall be final arbiter of constitutional issues and shall exercise final appellate jurisdiction in all cases whether emanating from courts of record, courts not of record, administrative agencies, autonomous agencies or any other authority, both as to law and fact except cases involving ambassadors, ministers, or cases in which a country is a party. In all such cases, the Supreme Court shall exercise original jurisdiction. The Legislature shall make no law nor create any exceptions as would deprive the Supreme Court of any of the powers granted herein. (Art. 66)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishIf, during proceedings in progress before a court of law, it is claimed that a legislative provision infringes the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, the matter may be referred by the Conseil d’État or by the Cour de Cassation to the Constitutional Council which shall rule within a determined period.
… (1958 Constitution, Art. 61-1) - FrenchLorsque, à l'occasion d'une instance en cours devant une juridiction, il est soutenu qu'une disposition législative porte atteinte aux droits et libertés que la Constitution garantit, le Conseil constitutionnel peut être saisi de cette question sur renvoi du Conseil d'État ou de la Cour de cassation qui se prononce dans un délai déterminé.
… (Constitution 1958, Art. 61-1)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English…
Whenever the executive returns a bill, it shall again be debated in the National Congress, and if it is ratified by a two-thirds vote, it shall again be sent to the executive branch, with this phrase: “Constitutionally ratified” and the executive branch shall publish it forthwith.
If the grounds for the veto are that the bill is unconstitutional, it may not be submitted to a new debate until the opinion of the Supreme Court of Justice has been obtained; the Court shall issue its opinion within such period as the National Congress shall specify. (Art. 216) - Spanish…
Cuando el Ejecutivo devolviere el proyecto, el Congreso Nacional lo someterá a nueva deliberación, y si fuere ratificado por (2/3) dos tercios de votos, lo pasará de nuevo al Poder Ejecutivo, con esta fórmula: "Ratificado Constitucionalmente" y, éste lo publicará sin tardanza.
Si el veto se fundare en que el proyecto de ley es inconstitucional, no podrá someterse a una nueva deliberación sin oír previamente a la Corte Suprema de Justicia; ésta emitirá su dictamen en el término que el Congreso Nacional le señale. (Art. 216)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The Public Prosecutor’s Office and persons who, in conformity with the law regulating the constitutionality review process, have legitimacy to file an appeal, shall have the right to appeal with the Constitutional Court.
2. The appeal referred to in the preceding paragraph may only be filed after resort to other appeals provided for in the law of the proceedings in which the judgment was handed down have been exhausted, and the appeal shall be limited to the question of unconstitutionality or illegality, as the case may be.
3. The appeal filed against the decisions referred to in subparagraph c) of paragraph 1 and in the first part of subparagraph a) of paragraph 2 of the preceding article shall be mandatorily filed with the Public Prosecutor’s Office. (Art. 282) - Portuguese1. Podem recorrer para o Tribunal Constitucional, o Ministério Público e as pessoas que, de acordo com a lei reguladora do processo de fiscalização da constitucionalidade, tenham legitimidade para interpor recurso.
2. O recurso referido no artigo anterior só pode ser interposto depois de esgotadas as vias de recurso estabelecidos na lei do processo em que foi proferida a decisão e é restrito à questão da inconstitucionalidade ou da ilegalidade, conforme o caso.
3. O recurso das decisões previstas na alínea c) do número 1 e da primeira parte da alínea a) do nº 2 do artigo antecedente é obrigatório para o Ministério Público. (Art. 282)