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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) The High Court has jurisdiction —
(a) in relation to Part II (Bill of Rights) of this Constitution - as provided by Division 5 (Enforcement of the Bill of Rights) of that Part; and
(b) in relation to questions as to membership of Parliament - as provided by section 102 (questions as to membership of Parliament); and
(c) in relation to other questions as to the interpretation or application of this Constitution - as provided by section 134 (constitutional interpretation);
(d) in relation to appeals generally - as provided by section 135 (appellate jurisdiction of the High Court); and
(e) in other matters - as provided for by sections 14(3) (which relates to the effect of Parliamentary declarations of purpose) and 136 (other jurisdiction, etc., of the High Court), and otherwise in this Constitution.
… (Sec. 133)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English...
(3) The Constitutional Court-
(a) is the highest court of the Republic; and
(b) may decide -
(i) constitutional matters; and
(ii) any other matter, if the Constitutional Court grants leave to appeal on the grounds that the matter raises an arguable point of law of general public importance which ought to be considered by that Court; and
(c) makes the final decision whether a matter is within its jurisdiction.
(4) Only the Constitutional Court may -
(a) decide disputes between organs of state in the national or provincial sphere concerning the constitutional status, powers or functions of any of those organs of state;
(b) decide on the constitutionality of any parliamentary or provincial Bill, but may do so only in the circumstances anticipated in section 79 or 121;
(c) decide applications envisaged in section 80 or 122;
(d) decide on the constitutionality of any amendment to the Constitution;
(e) decide that Parliament or the President has failed to fulfil a constitutional obligation; or
(f) certify a provincial constitution in terms of section 144.
(5) The Constitutional Court makes the final decision whether an Act of Parliament, a provincial Act or conduct of the President is constitutional, and must confirm any order of invalidity made by the Supreme Court of Appeal, the High Court of South Africa, or a court of similar status, before that order has any force.
(6) National legislation or the rules of the Constitutional Court must allow a person, when it is in the interests of justice and with leave of the Constitutional Court—
(a) to bring a matter directly to the Constitutional Court; or
(b) to appeal directly to the Constitutional Court from any other court.
(7) A constitutional matter includes any issue involving the interpretation, protection or enforcement of the Constitution. (Sec. 167)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. A party to any judicial proceedings, including proceedings on appeal, may, at any stage thereof, raise the question of the unconstitutionality of any law or decision or any provision thereof material for the determination of any matter at issue in such proceedings and thereupon the Court before which such question is raised shall reserve the question for the decision of the Supreme Constitutional Court and stay further proceedings until such question is determined by the Supreme Constitutional Court.
… (Art. 144) - Greek1. Πας διάδικος δικαιούται, καθ’ οιονδήποτε στάδιον της διαδικασίας συμπεριλαμβανομένης και της κατ’ έφεσιν, να εγείρη ζήτημα αντισυνταγματικότητος νόμου ή αποφάσεως η διατάξεώς τινος αυτών ουσιώδους δια την διάγνωσιν της εκκρεμούς ενώπιον του δικαστηρίου υποθέσεως. Tο δικαστήριο, ενώπιον του οποίου εγείρεται το ζήτημα, παραπέμπει παρευθύς τούτο ενώπιον του Aνωτάτου Συνταγματικού Δικαστηρίου και αναστέλλει την πρόοδον της διαδικασίας, μέχρις ου αποφανθή επ αυτού το Aνώτατον Συνταγματικόν Δικαστήριο.
… (Αρθρον 144) - Turkish1. Herhangi bir adli muameledeki bir taraf, temyiz muameleleri dâhil olmak üzere, bu muamelenin herhangi bir safhasında bu muameledeki uyuşmazlık konularından herhangi birinin karara bağlanmasında etkisi olan herhangi bir kanunun veya kararın ya da onun herhangi bir hükmünün Anayasaya aykırılığı meselesini ileri sürebilir ve bunun üzerine, önüne böyle bir mesele ileri sürülen mahkeme, bu meseleyi, karar vermesi için Yüksek Anayasa Mahkemesine sunar ve bu mesele hakkında Yüksek Anayasa Mahkemesince bir karar verilinceye kadar bu muameleyi durdurur.
... (Madde 144)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court tries:
a) Appeals of unconstitutionality against laws, executive regulations and the Rules of Procedure of the General Council.
b) Requests of preliminary opinion of unconstitutionality about international laws and treaties.
c) Processes of constitutional appeal.
d) Conflicts of jurisdiction between constitutional organs. To this effect the Coprinces, the General Council, the Government, the High Court of Justice and the Local Councils are considered as constitutional organs. (Art. 98) - CatalanEl Tribunal Constitucional coneix:
a) Dels processos d'inconstitucionalitat contra les lleis, els decrets legislatius i el reglament del Consell General.
b) Dels requeriments de dictamen previ d'inconstitucionalitat sobre lleis i tractats internacionals.
c) Dels processos d'empara constitucional.
d) Dels conflictes de competències entre els òrgans constitucionals. A aquests efectes, es consideren òrgans constitucionals els coprínceps, el Consell General, el Govern, el Consell Superior de la Justícia i els Comuns. (Art. 98)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The President of the Republic, one fifth of the Members in full exercise of their office and the Attorney-General may request the Constitutional Court to rule on unconstitutionality by omission.
… (Art. 232) - Portuguese1. Podem requerer ao Tribunal Constitucional a declaração de inconstitucionalidade por omissão o Presidente da República, um quinto dos Deputados em efectividade de funções e o Procurador-Geral da República.
… (Art. 232)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) The High Court—
…
(c) may decide constitutional matters except those that only the Constitutional Court may decide;
… (Sec. 171)
Jurisdiction and Access
- 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
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is the jurisdiction of the State in constitutional matters.
It is the judge of the constitutionality of the laws and interprets the Constitution. (Art. 231) - KirundiSentare yuhabiriza lbwirizwa shingiro niyo Sentare y’igihugu iraba ivyerekeye Ibwirizwa Shingiro.
Ni yo igenzura y’uko amabwirizwa ashingwa adaciye kubiri n’Ibwirizwa Shingiro ikongera igatanga insiguro yaryo iyo bikenewe. (Ingingo ya 231) - FrenchLa Cour Constitutionnelle est la juridiction de l’Etat en matière constitutionnelle.
Elle est juge de la constitutionnalité des lois et interprète la Constitution. (Art. 231)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishI. The Pluri-National Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional Plurinacional) assures the supremacy of the Constitution, exercises constitutional control, and safeguards respect for and enforcement of constitutional rights and guarantees.
II. As criteria to be applied in its interpretive role, the Pluri-National Constitutional Court shall give preference to the intent of the constituent assembly as demonstrated in its documents, acts and resolutions, as well as the literal tenor of the text. (Art. 196) - SpanishI. El Tribunal Constitucional Plurinacional vela por la supremacía de la Constitución, ejerce el control de constitucionalidad, y precautela el respeto y la vigencia de los derechos y las garantías constitucionales.
II. En su función interpretativa, el Tribunal Constitucional Plurinacional aplicará como criterio de interpretación, con preferencia, la voluntad del constituyente, de acuerdo con sus documentos, actas y resoluciones, así como el tenor literal del texto. (Art. 196)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. A Special Highest Court shall be established, the jurisdiction of which shall comprise:
a) The trial of objections in accordance with article 58.
b) Verification of the validity and returns of a referendum held in accordance with article 44 paragraph 2.
c) Judgment in cases involving the incompatibility or the forfeiture of office by a Member of Parliament, in accordance with article 55 paragraph 2 and article 57.
d) Settlement of any conflict between the courts and the administrative authorities, or between the Supreme Administrative Court and the ordinary administrative courts on one hand and the civil and criminal courts on the other, or between the Court of Audit and any other court.
e) Settlement of controversies on whether the content of a statute enacted by Parliament is contrary to the Constitution, or on the interpretation of provisions of such statute when conflicting judgments have been pronounced by the Supreme Administrative Court, the Supreme Civil and Criminal Court or the Court of Audit.
f) The settlement of controversies related to the designation of rules of international law as generally acknowledged in accordance with article 28 paragraph 1.
…
5. When a section of the Supreme Administrative Court or chamber of the Supreme Civil and Criminal Court or of the Court of Audit judges a provision of a statute to be contrary to the Constitution, it is bound to refer the question to the respective plenum, unless this has been judged by a previous decision of the plenum or of the Special Highest Court of this article. The plenum shall be assembled into judicial formation and shall decide definitively, as specified by law. This regulation shall also apply accordingly to the elaboration of regulatory decrees by the Supreme Administrative Court. (Art. 100) - Greek1. Συνιστάται Aνώτατο Eιδικό Δικαστήριο στο οποίο υπάγονται:
α) H εκδίκαση ενστάσεων κατά το άρθρο 58.
β) O έλεγχος του κύρους και των αποτελεσμάτων δημοψηφίσματος που ενεργείται κατά το άρθρο 44 παράγραφος 2.
γ) H κρίση για τα ασυμβίβαστα ή την έκπτωση βουλευτή, κατά τα άρθρα 55 παράγραφος 2 και 57.
δ) H άρση των συγκρούσεων μεταξύ των δικαστηρίων και των διοικητικών αρχών ή μεταξύ του Συμβουλίου της Eπικρατείας και των τακτικών διοικητικών δικαστηρίων αφενός και των αστικών και ποινικών δικαστηρίων αφετέρου ή, τέλος, μεταξύ του Eλεγκτικού Συνεδρίου και των λοιπών δικαστηρίων.
ε) H άρση της αμφισβήτησης για την ουσιαστική αντισυνταγματικότητα ή την έννοια διατάξεων τυπικού νόμου, αν εκδόθηκαν γι' αυτές αντίθετες αποφάσεις του Συμβουλίου της Eπικρατείας, του Aρείου Πάγου ή του Eλεγκτικού Συνεδρίου.
στ) H άρση της αμφισβήτησης για το χαρακτηρισμό κανόνων του διεθνούς δικαίου ως γενι- κά παραδεγμένων κατά την παράγραφο 1 του άρθρου 28.
…
5. Όταν τμήμα του Συμβουλίου της Επικρατείας ή του Αρείου Πάγου ή του Ελεγκτικού Συνεδρίου κρίνει διάταξη τυπικού νόμου αντισυνταγματική παραπέμπει υποχρεωτικά το ζήτημα στην οικεία ολομέλεια, εκτός αν αυτό έχει κριθεί με προηγούμενη απόφαση της ολομέλειας ή του Ανώτατου Ειδικού Δικαστηρίου του άρθρου αυτού. Η ολομέλεια συγκροτείται σε δικαστικό σχηματισμό και αποφαίνεται οριστικά, όπως νόμος ορίζει. Η ρύθμιση αυτή εφαρμόζεται αναλόγως και κατά την επεξεργασία των κανονιστικών διαταγμάτων από το Συμβούλιο της Επικρατείας. ('Αρθρο 100)