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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.
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Jurisdiction and Access
Zimbabwe
- English(1) The Constitutional Court—
(a) is the highest court in all constitutional matters, and its decisions on those matters bind all other courts;
(b) decides only constitutional matters and issues connected with decisions on constitutional matters, in particular references and applications under section 131(8)(b) and paragraph 9(2) of the Fifth Schedule3; and
(c) makes the final decision whether a matter is a constitutional matter or whether an issue is connected with a decision on a constitutional matter.
(2) Subject to this Constitution, only the Constitutional Court may—
(a) advise on the constitutionality of any proposed legislation, but may do so only where the legislation concerned has been referred to it in terms of this Constitution;
…
(d) determine whether Parliament or the President has failed to fulfil a constitutional obligation.
(3) The Constitutional Court makes the final decision whether an Act of Parliament or conduct of the President or Parliament is constitutional, and must confirm any order of constitutional invalidity made by another court before that order has any force.
(4) An Act of Parliament may provide for the exercise of jurisdiction by the Constitutional Court and for that purpose may confer the power to make rules of court.
(5) Rules of the Constitutional Court must allow a person, when it is in the interests of justice and with or without leave of the Constitutional Court—
(a) to bring a constitutional matter directly to the Constitutional Court;
(b) to appeal directly to the Constitutional Court from any other court;
(c) to appear as a friend of the court. (Sec. 167)
Jurisdiction and Access
Czech Republic
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is the judicial body responsible for the protection of constitutionality. (1993 Constitution, Art. 83)
- CzechÚstavní soud je soudním orgánem ochrany ústavnosti. (Ústava 1993, Čl. 83)
Jurisdiction and Access
Estonia
- EnglishThe Chancellor of Justice is a government official who scrutinises legislative instruments of the legislative and executive branch of government and of local authorities for conformity with the Constitution and the laws, and who is independent in discharging his or her duties.
… (Sec. 139) - EstonianÕiguskantsler on oma tegevuses sõltumatu ametiisik, kes teostab järelevalvet seadusandliku ja täidesaatva riigivõimu ning kohaliku omavalitsuse õigustloovate aktide põhiseadusele ja seadustele vastavuse üle.
… (§ 139)
Jurisdiction and Access
Cabo Verde
- English1. Everyone shall have the right to request from the Constitutional Court, by a writ of amparo, the protection of his or her constitutionally recognized fundamental rights, liberties and guarantees, under the terms of the law and in accordance with the provisions contemplated in the following subparagraphs:
a) A writ of amparo may only be filed against acts or omissions of public authorities, that are injurious to the fundamental rights, liberties and guarantees, once all other means of ordinary appeal have been exhausted;
b) A writ of amparo may be requested through a simple petition; it would be of an urgent nature, and its procedure must be based on the principle of summary treatment.
... (Art. 20) - Portuguese1. A todos os indivíduos é reconhecido o direito de requerer ao Tribunal Constitucional, através de recurso de amparo, a tutela dos seus direitos, liberdades e garantias fundamentais, constitucionalmente reconhecidos, nos termos da lei e com observância do disposto nas alíneas seguintes:
a) O recurso de amparo só pode ser interposto contra actos ou omissões dos poderes públicos lesivos dos direitos, liberdades e garantias fundamentais, depois de esgotadas todas as vias de recurso ordinário;
b) O recurso de amparo pode ser requerido em simples peti- ção, tem carácter urgente e o seu processamento deve ser baseado no princípio da sumariedade.
... (Art. 20)
Jurisdiction and Access
Brazil
- EnglishBy decision of two-thirds of its members, after reiterated decisions on constitutional matters, the Supreme Federal Tribunal may, ex officio or upon demand, approve a súmula which, upon publication in the official press, shall have binding effects on the other organs of the Judiciary and the federal, state and county public administration, both direct and indirect. The Supreme Federal Tribunal may also revise or cancel [its súmulas] in the manner established by law.
§1°. The objective of the súmula shall be the validity, interpretation and efficacy of determined rules, as to which there is presently controversy among judicial bodies or between judicial bodies and the public administration, causing serious legal insecurity and corresponding multiplication of cases about identical questions.
§2°. Without prejudice to what has been established by law, approval, revision or cancellation of a súmula may be demanded by persons with standing to bring a direct action of unconstitutionality.
§3°. A reclamation to the Supreme Federal Tribunal will lie from an administrative act or judicial decision that is contrary to the applicable súmula or that improperly applies the súmula. Upon determination that the reclamation should be granted, the Supreme Federal Tribunal shall annul the administrative act or vacate the challenged judicial decision, and shall determine that another shall be rendered, with or without application of the súmula, as may be the case. (Art. 103-A) - PortugueseO Supremo Tribunal Federal poderá, de ofício ou por provocação, mediante decisão de dois terços dos seus membros, após reiteradas decisões sobre matéria constitucional, aprovar súmula que, a partir de sua publicação na imprensa oficial, terá efeito vinculante em relação aos demais órgãos do Poder Judiciário e à administração pública direta e indireta, nas esferas federal, estadual e municipal, bem como proceder à sua revisão ou cancelamento, na forma estabelecida em lei.
§ 1º A súmula terá por objetivo a validade, a interpretação e a eficácia de normas determinadas, acerca das quais haja controvérsia atual entre órgãos judiciários ou entre esses e a administração pública que acarrete grave insegurança jurídica e relevante multiplicação de processos sobre questão idêntica.
§ 2º Sem prejuízo do que vier a ser estabelecido em lei, a aprovação, revisão ou cancelamento de súmula poderá ser provocada por aqueles que podem propor a ação direta de inconstitucionalidade.
§ 3º Do ato administrativo ou decisão judicial que contrariar a súmula aplicável ou que indevidamente a aplicar, caberá reclamação ao Supremo Tribunal Federal que, julgando-a procedente, anulará o ato administrativo ou cassará a decisão judicial reclamada, e determinará que outra seja proferida com ou sem a aplicação da súmula, conforme o caso. (Art. 103-A)
Jurisdiction and Access
Latvia
- EnglishIn Latvia, there shall be a Constitutional Court, which, within its jurisdiction as provided for by law, shall review cases concerning the conformity of laws with the Constitution, as well as other cases conferred within the jurisdiction thereof by law. The Constitutional Court is entitled to declare laws or other enactments or parts thereof invalid.
… (Art. 85) - LatvianLatvijā pastāv Satversmes tiesa, kas likumā noteiktās kompetences ietvaros izskata lietas par likumu atbilstību Satversmei, kā arī citas ar likumu tās kompetencē nodotās lietas. Satversmes tiesa ir tiesīga atzīt par spēkā neesošiem likumus un citus aktus vai to daļas.
... (Art. 85)
Jurisdiction and Access
Chad
- EnglishThe Supreme Court is the highest jurisdiction of Chad in judicial, administrative, [and] constitutional matters and [matters] of accounts.
It takes cognizance of disputes [concerning] the presidential, legislative and local elections. It sees to the regularity of the operations of referendum and proclaims the results of them.
It decides on the pleadings [exception] of unconstitutionality raised by any citizen before a jurisdiction in a matter [affaire] which concerns him.
... (Art. 157) - Arabicالمحكمة العليا هي أعلى سلطة قضائية وتنظر في مسائل التشاد القضائية، الإدارية، والدستورية ومسائل الحسابات.
تتمتع بصلاحية النظر في الخلافات المتعلقة بالانتخابات الرئاسية والتشريعية والمحلية. وتحرص على انتظام عمليات الاستفتاء وتعلن نتائجها.
تقرر في مذكرات عدم الدستورية التي يقدمها أي مواطن أمام سلطة قضائية في مسألة تخصه.
... (المادة 157) - FrenchLa Cour Suprême est la plus haute juridiction du Tchad en matière judiciaire, administrative, constitutionnelle et des comptes.
Elle connait du contentieux des élections présidentielles, législatives et locales. Elle veille à la régularité des opérations de référendum et en proclame les résultats.
Elle statue sur l'exception d'inconstitutionnalité soulevée par tout citoyen devant une juridiction dans une affaire qui le concerne.
... (Art. 157)
Jurisdiction and Access
Ethiopia
- English1. All constitutional disputes shall be decided by the House of the Federation.
2. The House of the Federation shall, within thirty days of receipt, decide a constitutional dispute submitted to it by the Council of Constitutional Inquiry. (Art. 83) - Amharic1. የሕገ መንግሥታዊ ክርክር ጉዳይ ሲነሳ በፌዴሬሽኑ ምክር ቤት ውሳኔ ያገኛል፡፡2. የፌዴሬሽን ምክር ቤት፣ የሕገ መንግሥት ጉዳዮች አጣሪ ጉባኤ በሚያቀርብለት ሕገ መንግሥታዊ ጉዳይ ላይ በሠላሣ ቀናት ውስጥ ውሳኔ ይሰጣል፡፡ (አንቀጽ 83)
Jurisdiction and Access
Ecuador
- EnglishProceedings for failure to comply shall be aimed at guaranteeing the application of rules and regulations comprising the legal system, as well as compliance with the rulings or reports of international human rights organizations, when the regulation or decision whose enforcement is being pursued contains an obligation to make it clear, express and enforceable. The petition shall be filed with the Constitutional Court. (Art. 93)
- SpanishLa acción por incumplimiento tendrá por objeto garantizar la aplicación de las normas que integran el sistema jurídico, así como el cumplimiento de sentencias o informes de organismos internacionales de derechos humanos, cuando la norma o decisión cuyo cumplimiento se persigue contenga una obligación de hacer o no hacer clara, expresa y exigible. La acción se interpondrá ante la Corte Constitucional. (Art. 93)
Jurisdiction and Access
Netherlands
- English
The constitutionality of Acts of Parliament and treaties shall not be reviewed by the courts. (Art. 120)
- Dutch
De rechter treedt niet in de beoordeling van de grondwettigheid van wetten en verdragen. (Art. 120)