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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) Except for Part IX Land and Titles Court and the laws administered thereunder, the Supreme Court shall:
(a) have such original, appellate and, revisional jurisdiction; and
(b) possess and exercise all the jurisdiction, power, and authority, which may be necessary to administer the laws of Samoa.
(2) Except for Part IX Land and Titles Court and without prejudice to any appellate or revisional jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, where in any proceedings before another Court (except the Court of Appeal) a question arises as to the interpretation or effect of any provision of this Constitution, the Supreme Court may, on the application of any party to the proceedings, determine that question and either dispose of the case or remit it to that other Court to be disposed of in accordance with the determination.
(3) Except for Part IX Land and Titles Court, the Head of State, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, may refer to the Supreme Court for its opinion any question as to the interpretation or effect of any provision of this Constitution which has arisen or appears likely to arise, and the Court shall pronounce its opinion on any question so referred to it. (Art. 70) - Samoan
(1) Ae vagana ai mo le Vaega IX Faamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa ma Tulafono o Jo o faafoeina ai i lalo, o le a i ai i le Faamasinoga Sili:
(a) o puleaga faavae, tau talosaga ma le toe iloiloga; ma
(b) i ai ma faatino o puleaga uma, pule ma pule faataga, ia e ono mafai ona talafeagai i le faafoeina o Tulafono a Samoa.
(2) Ae vagana ai mo le Vaega IX Faamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa, ma e aunoa ma le faitioina o so o se itu e uiga i le toe iloiloga a le Faamasinoga Sili, i ni taualumaga i luma o se tasi faamasinoga (vagana ai a le Faamasinoga o Talosaga) e lagaina ai se faamatalaga po o se itu e uiga i le aoga o so o se aiaiga o lenei Faavae, e mafai e le Faamasinoga Sili, i le talosaga a so o se Vaega o tagata o Jo o auai i taualumaga ona faatatauina lena fesili ma faamaapeina le mataupu po o le tuu atu i luma o se tasi Faamasinoga e faamaapeina ai, ina ia talafeagai ma le fuafuaga ua faatatauina.
(3) Ae vagana ai mo le Vaega IX Faamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa, e mafai e le O Le Ao o le Malo, i luga o le fautuaga a le Palemia, ona siligia le Faamasinoga Sili mo sona finagalo i so o se mataupu e faaletonu ai e uiga i le faamatalaga po o se aoga o so o se aiaiga o lenei Faavae ua manu mai po o le faamata o le a manu mai, ma o le a faaalia e le Faamasinoga Sili i le faamasinoga e avanoa mo so o se tasi i sona finagalo e uiga i so o se mataupu na faapea ona tuuina atu ia te ia. (Mataupu 70)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
1. Subject to sections 41(5), 64(5) and 101(1)4, where any person alleges that any provision of this Constitution (other than Chapter II) has been contravened and that his interests are being or are likely to be affected by such contravention, then, without prejudice to any other action with respect to the same matter which is lawfully available, that person may apply to the Supreme Court for a declaration and for relief under this section.
2. The Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction, in any application made by any person in pursuance of subsection (1) or in any other proceedings lawfully brought before the court, to determine whether any provision of this Constitution (other than Chapter II) has been contravened and to make a declaration accordingly:
Provided that the Supreme Court shall, not make a declaration in pursuance of the jurisdiction conferred by this subsection unless it is satisfied that the interests of the person by whom the application under subsection (1) is made or, in the case of other proceedings before the court, a party to these proceedings, are being or are likely to be affected.
3. Where the Supreme Court makes a declaration in pursuance of subsection (2) that any provision of the Constitution has been contravened and the person by whom the application under subsection (1) was made or, in the case of other proceedings before the court, the party in those proceedings in respect of whom declaration is made, seeks relief, the Supreme Court may grant to that person such remedy, being a remedy available against any person in any proceedings in the Supreme Court under any law for the time being in force in Mauritius, as the court considers appropriate.
4. The Chief Justice may make rules with respect to the practice and procedure of the Supreme Court in relation to the jurisdiction and powers conferred on it by this section (including rules with respect to the time within which applications shall be made under subsection (1)).
5. Nothing in this section shall confer jurisdiction on the Supreme Court to hear or determine any such question as is referred to in section 375 or paragraph 2(5), 3(2) or 4(4) of the First Schedule otherwise than upon an application made in accordance with that section or that paragraph, as the case may be. (Sec. 83)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
1. Recourse to the Constitutional Court is sought upon the request of the:
a) President of the Republic;
b) Prime Minister;
c) Not less than one-fifth of the members of Assembly;
ç) Peoples Advocate;
d) Head of High State Audit;
dh) Any court, as per the provisions of Article 145, paragraph 2, of this Constitution;
e) Any commissioner established by law for the protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution;
ë) High Judicial Council and High Prosecutorial Council;
f) Local governance units;
g) Organs of religious communities;
gj) Political parties;
h) Organizations;
i) Individuals.
2. The entities provided for in subparagraphs “d”, “dh”, “e”, “ë”, “f”, “g”, “gj”, “h”, and “i” of paragraph 1 of this Article may file a request only regarding the issues connected to their interests. (Art. 134) - Albanian
1. Gjykata Kushtetuese vihet në lëvizje me kërkesë të: a) Presidentit të Republikës;
b) Kryeministrit;
c) jo më pak se një të pestës së deputetëve;
ç) Avokatit të Popullit;
d) Kryetarit të Kontrollit të Lartë të Shtetit;
dh) çdo gjykate, sipas nenit 145, pika 2, të kësaj Kushtetute;
e) çdo komisioneri të krijuar me ligj për mbrojtjen e të drejtave dhe lirive themelore të garantuara nga Kushtetuta;
ë) Këshillit të Lartë Gjyqësor dhe Këshillit të Lartë të Prokurorisë; f) organeve të qeverisjes vendore;
g) organeve të bashkësive fetare;
gj) partive politike;
h) organizatave;
i) individëve.
2. Subjektet e parashikuara nga nënparagrafët “d”, “dh”, “e”, “ë”, “f”, “g”, “gj”, “h” dhe “i”, të paragrafit 1, të këtij neni, mund të bëjnë kërkesë vetëm për çështje që lidhen me interesat e tyre. (Neni 134)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Where any question as to the interpretation of this Constitution arises in any court of law established for Saint Christopher and Nevis (other than the Court of Appeal, the High Court or a court-martial) and the court is of the opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court may, and shall if any party to the proceedings so requests, refer the question to the High Court.
… (Sec. 97)
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
- EnglishThe organic laws, before their promulgation, and the Internal Regulations of the National Assembly, before their application as well as their modifications, must be submitted to the Constitutional Court which decides on their conformity with the Constitution.
To the same end, before their promulgation, the laws may be referred [déférées] to the Constitutional Court by the President of the Republic, by the Prime Minister, by the president of the National Assembly or by one-tenth (1/10) of the Deputies.
… (Art. 131) - FrenchLes lois organiques, avant leur promulgation, et le Règlement intérieur de l'Assemblée nationale, avant sa mise en application ainsi que leurs modifications, doivent être soumis à la Cour constitutionnelle qui se prononce sur leur conformité à la Constitution.
Aux mêmes fins, avant leur promulgation, les lois peuvent être déférées à la Cour constitutionnelle par le Président de la République, le Premier ministre, le président de l'Assemblée nationale ou un dixième (1/10) des députés.
... (Art. 131)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) The Constitutional Court shall:
1. provide binding interpretations of the Constitution;
2. rule on constitutionality of the laws and other acts passed by the National Assembly and the acts of the President;
3. rule on competence disputes between the National Assembly, the President and the Council of Ministers, and between the bodies of local self-government and the central executive branch of government;
4. rule on the compatibility between the Constitution and the international treaties concluded by the Republic of Bulgaria prior to their ratification, and on the compatibility of domestic laws with the universally recognized norms of international law and the international treaties to which Bulgaria is a party;
5. rule on challenges to the constitutionality of political parties and associations;
6. rule on challenges to the legality of the election of the President and Vice President;
7. rule on challenges to the legality of an election of a Member of the National Assembly;
8. rule on impeachments by the National Assembly against the President or the Vice President.
(2) No authority of the Constitutional Court shall be vested or suspended by law. (Art. 149) - Bulgarian(1) Конституционният съд:
1. дава задължителни тълкувания на Конституцията;
2. произнася се по искане за установяване на противоконституционност на законите и нɚ другите актове на Народното събрание, както и на актовете на президента;
3. решава спорове за компетентност между Народното събрание, президента ɢ Министерския съвет, както и между органите на местно самоуправление и централнитɟ изпълнителни органи;
4. произнася се за съответствието на сключените от Република България международнɢ договори с Конституцията преди ратификацията им, както и за съответствие на законите ɫ общопризнатите норми на международното право и с международните договори, по които Българиɹ е страна;
5. произнася се по спорове за конституционността на политическите партии и сдружения;
6. произнася се по спорове за законността на избора за президент и вицепрезидент;
7. произнася се по спорове за законността на избора на народен представител;
8. произнася се по обвинения, повдигнати от Народното събрание срещу президента ɢ вицепрезидента.
(2) Със закон не могат да се дават или отнемат правомощия на Конституционния съд. (Чл. 149)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Supreme Court of Justice has original and exclusive jurisdiction in the hearing and decision of such matters; and must render its decision in accordance with the requirement for final decisions. (Art. 257)
- SpanishA la Suprema Corte de Justicia le compete el conocimiento y la resolución originaria y exclusiva en la materia; y deberá pronunciarse con los requisitos de las sentencias definitivas. (Art. 257)
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)