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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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Composition and Appointment
Gambia
- English(1) A person shall be qualified for appointment as Chief Justice if he or she is qualified to be appointed a judge of the Supreme Court and has been a judge of a superior court in a common law country for not less than ten years.
(2) A person shall be qualified to be appointed a judge of the Supreme Court if he or she holds or has held office as a judge of the Court of Appeal, or as a judge of a court having similar jurisdiction in a common law country, in each case for not less than five years, or if he or she has practised as a legal practitioner before a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in a common law country for not less than twelve years.
… (Sec. 139)
Jurisdiction and Access
Gabon
- EnglishIn addition to the other competences provided for by the Constitution, the Constitutional Court has the power to interpret the Constitution, and the other texts of constitutional status [valeur], at the demand of the President of the Republic, of the Prime Minister, of the President of the Senate, of the President of the National Assembly, [or] of one-tenth of the Deputies or of Senators. (Art. 88)
- FrenchEn dehors des autres compétences prévues par la Constitution, la Cour Constitutionnelle dispose du pouvoir d’interpréter la Constitution, et les autres textes à valeur constitutionnelle, à la demande du Président de la République, du Premier Ministre, du Président du Sénat, du Président de l’Assemblée Nationale, du dixième des Députés ou de Sénateurs. (Art. 88)
Jurisdiction and Access
Ecuador
- EnglishConstitutional proceedings can be filed by a citizen individually or collectively. (Art. 439)
- SpanishLas acciones constitucionales podrán ser presentadas por cualquier ciudadana o ciudadano individual o colectivamente. (Art. 439)
Jurisdiction and Access
Pakistan
- English(1) Subject to this Article, the Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine appeals from judgements, decrees, final orders or sentences of a High Court.
(2) An appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court from any judgement, decree, final order or sentence of a High Court-
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(f) if the High Court certifies that the case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution.
… (Art. 185) - Urdu(ا) اس آرٹیکل کے تابع، عدالت عظمٰی کو کسی عدالت عالیہ کے صادر کردہ فیصلوں، ڈگریوں ، حتمی احکام یا سزاؤں کے خلاف اپیلوں کی سماعت کرنے اور ان پر فیصلہ صادر کرنے کا اختیار ہو گا۔
(۲) کسی عدالت عالیہ کے صادر کردہ کسی فیصلے، ڈگری، حتمی حکم یا سزا کے خلاف اپیل عدالت عظمٰی میں دائرکی جا سکے گی۔
...
(و) اگر عدالت عالیہ اس امر کی تصدیق کر دے کہ مقدمے میں دستور کی تعبیر کے بارے میں کوئی اہم قانونی مسئلہ درپیش ہے۔
…(آرٹیکل ۱۸۵)
Jurisdiction and Access
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- English(1) Subsection (2) applies in any proceedings in which a court determines whether a provision of primary legislation is compatible with a Convention right.
(2) If the court is satisfied that the provision is incompatible with a Convention right, it may make a declaration of that incompatibility.
(3) Subsection (4) applies in any proceedings in which a court determines whether a provision of subordinate legislation, made in the exercise of a power conferred by primary legislation, is compatible with a Convention right.
(4) If the court is satisfied—
(a) that the provision is incompatible with a Convention right, and
(b) that (disregarding any possibility of revocation) the primary legislation concerned prevents removal of the incompatibility,it may make a declaration of that incompatibility.
(5) In this section “court” means—
(a) the Supreme Court;
(b) the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council;
(c) the Court Martial Appeal Court;
(d) in Scotland, the High Court of Justiciary sitting otherwise than as a trial court or the Court of Session;
(e) in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, the High Court or the Court of Appeal.
(f) the Court of Protection, in any matter being dealt with by the President of the Family Division, the Chancellor of the High Court] or a puisne judge of the High Court.
... (Human Rights Act 1998, Sec. 4)6
Jurisdiction and Access
Lesotho
- English1. Where any question as to the interpretation of this Constitution arises in any proceedings in any subordinate court or tribunal and the court or tribunal is of the opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court or tribunal may, and shall, if any party to the proceedings so requests, refer the question to the High Court.
… (Sec. 128)
Jurisdiction and Access
Haiti
- EnglishThe Constitutional Council sees to and decides when it is referred to a matter:
• on the constitutionality of the laws before their promulgation;
• on the constitutionality of the internal regulations of the Senate and of the Chamber of Deputies before their implementation
• on the orders
For the same purposes, the laws in general may be referred to the Constitutional Council, before their promulgation, by the President of the Republic, the President of the Senate, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, a group of fifteen (15) Deputes or of (10) Senators.
The law determines the modalities of organization and of functioning of the Constitutional Council as well as the other entities enabled to refer a matter to it. (Art. 190ter-5) - FrenchLe Conseil Constitutionnel veille et statue lorsqu'il est saisi:
a. sur la constitutionnalité des lois organiques avant leur promulgation;
b. sur la constitutionnalité des règlements intérieurs du Sénat et de la Chambre des Députés avant leur mise en application.
c. sur les arrêtés.
Aux mêmes fins, les lois en général peuvent être déférées au Conseil constitutionnel, avant leur promulgation, par le Président de la République, le Président du Sénat, le Président de la Chambre des Députés, un groupe de quinze (15) députés ou de dix Sénateurs.
La loi détermine les autres entités habilitées à saisir le Conseil Constitutionnel. (Article 190ter.5)
Jurisdiction and Access
Thailand
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court has duties and powers as follows:
(1) to consider and adjudicate on the constitutionality of a law or bill;
(2) to consider and adjudicate on a question regarding duties and powers of the House of Representative, the Senate, the National Assembly, the Council of Ministers or Independent Organs;
(3) others duties and powers prescribed in the Constitution.
The submission of a petition and the conditions for submitting a petition, the consideration and adjudication, the rendering of a decision, and the operation of the Court, except as prescribed by the Constitution, shall be in accordance with the Organic Act on the Procedures of the Constitutional Court. ... (Sec. 210) - Thaiศาลรัฐธรรมนูญมีหน้าที่และอํานาจดังต่อไปนี้
(๑) พิจารณาวินิจฉัยความชอบด้วยรัฐธรรมนูญของกฎหมายหรือร่างกฎหมาย
(๒) พิจารณาวินิจฉัยปัญหาเกี่ยวกับหน้าที่และอํานาจของสภาผู้แทนราษฎร วุฒิสภา รัฐสภา คณะรัฐมนตรี หรือองค์กรอิสระ
(๓) หน้าที่และอํานาจอื่นตามที่บัญญัติไว้ในรัฐธรรมนูญ
การยื่นคําร้องและเงื่อนไขการยื่นคําร้อง การพิจารณาวินิจฉัย การทําคําวินิจฉัย และการดําเนินงานของศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ นอกจากที่บัญญัติไว้ในรัฐธรรมนูญแล้ว ให้เป็นไปตามพระราชบัญญัติประกอบรัฐธรรมนูญว่าด้วยวิธีพิจารณาของศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ ... (มาตรา ๒๑๐)
Jurisdiction and Access
Nauru
- EnglishThe President or a Minister may, in accordance with the approval of the Cabinet, refer to the Supreme Court for its opinion any question concerning the interpretation or effect of any provision of this Constitution which has arisen or appears to the Cabinet likely to arise, and the Supreme Court shall pronounce in open court its opinion on the question. (Art. 55)
Jurisdiction and Access
Mauritania
- EnglishThe organic laws, before their promulgation and the regulations of the National Assembly before their implementation [mise en application], must be submitted to the Constitutional Council which decides concerning their conformity with the Constitution.
To the same ends, the laws can be referred [déférées] to the Constitutional Council, before their promulgation, by the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly, or by one-third (1/3) of the Deputies composing the National Assembly.
…
The Constitutional Council is competent to take cognizance of a pleadings [exception] of unconstitutionality raised in the course of a process, when it is asserted [soulevée] by one of the parties that the law on which the issue at litigation depends, infringes the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. (Art. 86) - Arabicتقدم للمجلس الدستوري القوانين النظامية قبل إصدارها، والنظام الداخلي للجمعية الوطنية قبل تنفيذه، وذلك للبت في دستوريتهما.
وكذلك لرئيس الجمهورية ولرئيس الجمعية الوطنية ولثلث (1/3) نواب الجمعية الوطنية ، تقديم القانون قبل إصداره للمجلس الدستوري.
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يخول المجلس الدستوري اختصاص التعهد في شأن دعوى بعدم الدستورية أثيرت أثناء محاكمة وذلك متى دفع أحد الأطراف بأن القانون الذي يتوقف عليه مآل النزاع يمس بالحقوق والحريات التي يضمنها الدستور . (المادّة 86) - FrenchLes lois organiques, avant leur promulgation et les règlements de l’Assemblée Nationale avant leur mise en application, doivent être soumis au Conseil Constitutionnel qui se prononce sur leur conformité à la Constitution.
Aux mêmes fins, les lois peuvent être déférées au Conseil Constitutionnel, avant leur promulgation, par le Président de la République, le Président de l'Assemblée Nationale, ou par le tiers des députés composant l'Assemblée Nationale.
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Le Conseil Constitutionnel est compétent pour connaitre d’une exception d’inconstitutionnalité soulevée au cours d’un procès, lorsqu’il est soutenu par l’une des parties que la loi dont dépend l’issue du litige, porte atteinte aux droits et libertés garantis par la constitution. (Art. 86)