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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
South Africa
- English...
(2)(a) The Supreme Court of Appeal, the High Court of South Africa or a court of similar status may make an order concerning the constitutional validity of an Act of Parliament, a provincial Act or any conduct of the President, but an order of constitutional invalidity has no force unless it is confirmed by the Constitutional Court.
(b) A court which makes an order of constitutional invalidity may grant a temporary interdict or other temporary relief to a party, or may adjourn the proceedings, pending a decision of the Constitutional Court on the validity of that Act or conduct.
(c) National legislation must provide for the referral of an order of constitutional invalidity to the Constitutional Court.
(d) Any person or organ of state with a sufficient interest may appeal, or apply, directly to the Constitutional Court to confirm or vary an order of constitutional invalidity by a court in terms of this subsection.
… (Sec. 172)
Jurisdiction and Access
Cyprus
- EnglishThe Supreme Constitutional Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate finally on all matters as provided in the ensuing Articles. (Art. 136)3
- GreekTο Aνώτατον Συνταγματικόν Δικαστήριον κέκτηται αποκλειστικήν δικαιοδοσίαν να αποφασίζη οριστικώς και αμετακλήτως επί πάντων των αντικειμένων περί ων εν τοις επομένοις άρθροις. (Αρθρον 136)
- TurkishYüksek Anayasa Mahkemesi, müteakip Maddelerde gösterilen bütün konularda kesin olarak karar verme hususunda münhasır yargı yetkisine sahiptir. (Madde 136)
Jurisdiction and Access
Montenegro
- EnglishAny person may file an initiative to start the procedure for the assessment of constitutionality and legality.
The procedure before the Constitutional Court for the assessment of constitutionality and legality may be initiated by the court, other state authority, local self-government authority and five Members of the Parliament.
The Constitutional Court itself may also initiate the procedure for the assessment of constitutionality and legality.
During the procedure, the Constitutional Court may order to stop the enforcement of an individual act or actions that have been taken on the basis of the law, other regulation or general act, the constitutionality, i.e. legality of which is being assessed, if the enforcement thereof could cause irreparable damage. (Art. 150) - MontenegrinSvako može dati inicijativu za pokretanje postupka za ocjenu ustavnosti i zakonitosti.
Postupak pred Ustavnim sudom za ocjenu ustavnosti i zakonitosti može da pokrene sud, drugi državni organ, organ lokalne samouprave i pet poslanika.
Ustavni sud može i sâm pokrenuti postupak za ocjenu ustavnosti i zakonitosti.
U toku postupka, Ustavni sud može narediti da se obustavi izvršenje pojedinačnog akta ili radnje koji su preduzeti na osnovu zakona, drugog propisa ili opšteg akta čija se ustavnost ili zakonitost ocjenjuje, ako bi njihovim izvršenjem mogle nastupiti neotklonjive štetne posljedice. (Član 150)
Jurisdiction and Access
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- EnglishA Constitutional Court is instituted. (Art. 157)
- FrenchIl est institué une Cour constitutionnelle. (Art. 157)
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
Antigua and Barbuda
- EnglishSubject to the provisions of section 44 of this Constitution, an appeal shall lie from decisions of the High Court to the Court of Appeal as of right in the following cases-
a. final decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings on questions as to the interpretation of this Constitution;
b. final decisions given in exercise of the jurisdiction conferred on the High Court by section 18 of this Constitution (which relates to the enforcement of the fundamental rights and freedom); and
c. such other cases as may be prescribed by Parliament. (Sec. 121)
Jurisdiction and Access
Iran, Islamic Republic of
- EnglishThe authority of the interpretation of the Constitution is vested with the Guardian Council, which is to be done with the consent of three-fourths of its members. (Art. 98)
- Persianتفسیر قانون اساسی به عهده شورای نگهبان است که با تصویب سه چهارم آنان انجام میشود. (اصل 98)
Jurisdiction and Access
Romania
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court shall have the following powers:
a) to adjudicate on the constitutionality of laws, before the promulgation thereof upon notification by the President of Romania, one of the presidents of the two Chambers, the Government, the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the Advocate of the People, a number of at least 50 deputies or at least 25 senators, as well as ex officio, on initiatives to revise the Constitution;
b) to adjudicate on the constitutionality of treaties or other international agreements, upon notification by one of the presidents of the two Chambers, a number of at least 50 deputies or at least 25 senators;
c) to adjudicate on the constitutionality of the Standing Orders of Parliament, upon notification, by the president of either Chamber, by a parliamentary group or a number of at least 50 Deputies or at least 25 Senators;
d) to decide on objections as to the unconstitutionality of laws and ordinances, brought up before courts of law or commercial arbitration; the objection as to the unconstitutionality may also be brought up directly by the Advocate of the People;
e) to solve legal disputes of a constitutional nature between public authorities, at the request of the President of Romania, one of the presidents of the two Chambers, the Prime Minister, or of the president of the Superior Council of Magistracy;
f) to guard the observance of the procedure for the election of the President of Romania and to confirm the ballot returns;
g) to ascertain the circumstances which justify the interim in the exercise of the office of President of Romania, and to report its findings to Parliament and the Government; h) to give advisory opinion on the proposal to suspend from office the President of Romania;
l) to guard the observance of the procedure for the organization and holding of a referendum, and to confirm its returns;
j) to check on compliance with the conditions for the exercise of the legislative initiative by citizens;
k) to decide on the objections of unconstitutionality of a political party;
l) to carry out also other duties stipulated by the organic law of the Court. (Art. 146) - RomanianCurtea Constituţională are următoarele atribuţii:
a) se pronunţă asupra constituţionalităţii legilor, înainte de promulgarea acestora, la sesizarea Preşedintelui României, a unuia dintre preşedinţii celor două Camere, a Guvernului, a Înaltei Curţi de Casaţie şi Justiţie, a Avocatului Poporului, a unui număr de cel puţin 50 de deputaţi sau de cel puţin 25 de senatori, precum şi, din oficiu, asupra iniţiativelor de revizuire a Constituţiei;
b) se pronunţă asupra constituţionalităţii tratatelor sau altor acorduri internaţionale, la sesizarea unuia dintre preşedinţii celor două Camere, a unui număr de cel puţin 50 de deputaţi sau de cel puţin 25 de senatori;
c) se pronunţă asupra constituţionalităţii regulamentelor Parlamentului, la sesizarea unuia dintre preşedinţii celor două Camere, a unui grup parlamentar sau a unui număr de cel puţin 50 de deputaţi sau de cel puţin 25 de senatori;
d) hotărăşte asupra excepţiilor de neconstituţionalitate privind legile şi ordonanţele, ridicate în faţa instanţelor judecătoreşti sau de arbitraj comercial; excepţia de neconstituţionalitate poate fi ridicată şi direct de Avocatul Poporului;
e) soluţionează conflictele juridice de natură constituţională dintre autorităţile publice, la cererea Preşedintelui României, a unuia dintre preşedinţii celor două Camere, a primului-ministru sau a preşedintelui Consiliului Superior al Magistraturii;
f) veghează la respectarea procedurii pentru alegerea Preşedintelui României şi confirmă rezultatele sufragiului;
g) constată existenţa împrejurărilor care justifică interimatul în exercitarea funcţiei de Preşedinte al României şi comunică cele constatate Parlamentului şi Guvernului;
h) dă aviz consultativ pentru propunerea de suspendare din funcţie a Preşedintelui României;
i) veghează la respectarea procedurii pentru organizarea şi desfăşurarea referendumului şi confirmă rezultatele acestuia;
j) verifică îndeplinirea condiţiilor pentru exercitarea iniţiativei legislative de către cetăţeni;
k) hotărăşte asupra contestaţiilor care au ca obiect constituţionalitatea unui partid politic;
l) îndeplineşte şi alte atribuţii prevăzute de legea organică a Curţii. (Art. 146)
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
Malaysia
- EnglishThe Yang di-Pertuan Agong may refer to the Federal Court for its opinion any question as to the effect of any provision of this Constitution which has arisen or appears to him likely to arise, and the Federal Court shall pronounce in open court its opinion on any question so referred to it. (Art. 130)
- MalayYang di-Pertuan Agong boleh merujukkan kepada Mahkamah Persekutuan untuk pendapatnya apa-apa soal tentang kesan mana-mana peruntukan Perlembagaan ini yang telah berbangkit atau yang tampak padanya mungkin berbangkit, dan Mahkamah Persekutuan hendaklah mengumumkan pendapatnya tentang apa-apa soal yang dirujukkan sedemikian kepadanya itu di dalam mahkamah terbuka. (Perkara 130)