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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) Subject to subsection (2), the High Court has original jurisdiction to determine any question as to the interpretation or application of this Constitution.
(2) Where —
(a) any question as to the interpretation or application of this Constitution arises in any proceedings in a subordinate court; and
(b) that court is of the opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law,
the court may, and shall if a party to the proceedings so requests, refer the question to the High Court for determination. (Sec. 134)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. Appropriate principles of interpretation of this Constitution shall be developed and employed by the courts to reflect the unique character and supreme status of this Constitution.
2. In interpreting the provisions of this Constitution a court of law shall—
a. promote the values which underlie an open and democratic society;
b. take full account of the provisions of Chapter III and Chapter IV2; and
c. where applicable, have regard to current norms of public international law and comparable foreign case law.
3. Where a court of law declares an act of executive or a law to be invalid, that court may apply such interpretation of that act or law as is consistent with this Constitution.
4. Any law that ousts or purports to oust the jurisdiction of the courts to entertain matters pertaining to this Constitution shall be invalid. (Sec. 11)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation will take cognizance of, in the terms that the regulatory law specifies, the following matters:
I. Of the constitutional disputes [controversias] that, concerning the constitutionality of the general norms, acts or omissions, with the exception of those that refer to electoral matters, arise between:
a) The Federation and a federative entity;
b) The Federation and a municipality;
c) The Executive Power and the Congress of the Union; one or either of the Chambers of it or, in such case, the Permanent Commission;
d) One federative entity and another;
...
g) Two municipalities of different States;
h) Two Powers of one same federative entity;
i) One State and one of its municipalities;
j) One Federative Entity and one Municipality of another or one territorial demarcation of the City of Mexico;
k) Two autonomous constitutional organs [órganos] of one federative entity and between one of these and the Executive Power or the Legislative Power of that federative entity, and
l) Two federal autonomous constitutional organs, and between one of these and the Executive Power of the Union or the Congress of the Union.
...
II. Of the actions of unconstitutionality that have for their object to establish [plantear] the possible contradiction between a norm of general character and this Constitution.
The actions of unconstitutionality can be exercised, during the thirty natural days following the date of publication of the norm, by:
a) The equivalent of thirty-three percent of the members of the Chamber of Deputies of the Congress of the Union, against federal laws;
b) The equivalent of thirty-three percent of the members of the Senate, against the federal laws or international treaties celebrated by the Mexican State;
c) The Federal Executive, through [por conducto] the Juridical Councilor of the Government, against the general norms of federal character and of the federal entities;
d) The equivalent of thirty-three percent of the members of any of the Legislatures of the federative entities against the laws enacted by that same organ;
...
f) The political parties with registration before the National Electoral Institute, by [por conducto] their national directorships [dirigencias], against the federal or local electoral laws; and the political parties with registration in a federative entity, by [a través] their directorships, exclusively against the electoral laws enacted by the Legislature of the federative entity that granted the registration to them;
g) The National Commission of Human Rights, against laws of federal character or of the federative entities, as well as international treaties celebrated by the Federal Executive and approved by the Senate of the Republic, that make vulnerable the human rights consecrated in this Constitution and in the international treaties to which Mexico is party. Also the equivalent organs [organismos] of protection of human rights in the federative entities, against laws enacted by the Legislatures.
h) The guarantor organ [organismo] that Article 6 of this Constitution establishes against laws of federal and local character, as well as [against] international treaties celebrated by the Federal Executive and approved by the Senate of the Republic, which infringe [vulneren] the right of the access to public information and the protection of personal data. In the same way, the equivalent guarantor organs [organismos] in the federative entities, against laws enacted [expedidas] by the local Legislatures; and
i) The Attorney General of the Republic regarding federal laws and [laws] of the federative entities, in penal matters and [matters] of penal procedure, as well as those related to the domain [ámbito] of his functions;
... (Art. 105) - Spanish
La Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación conocerá, en los términos que señale la ley reglamentaria, de los asuntos siguientes:
I. De las controversias constitucionales que, sobre la constitucionalidad de las normas generales, actos u omisiones, con excepción de las que se refieran a la materia electoral, se susciten entre:
a) La Federación y una entidad federativa;
b) La Federación y un municipio;
c) El Poder Ejecutivo y el Congreso de la Unión; aquél y cualquiera de las Cámaras de éste o, en su caso, la Comisión Permanente;
d) Una entidad federativa y otra;
…
g) Dos municipios de diversos Estados;
h) Dos Poderes de una misma entidad federativa;
i) Un Estado y uno de sus Municipios;
j) Una Entidad Federativa y un Municipio de otra o una demarcación territorial de la Ciudad de México;
k) Dos órganos constitucionales autónomos de una entidad federativa, y entre uno de éstos y el Poder Ejecutivo o el Poder Legislativo de esa entidad federativa, y
l) Dos órganos constitucionales autónomos federales, y entre uno de éstos y el Poder Ejecutivo de la Unión o el Congreso de la Unión.
…
II. De las acciones de inconstitucionalidad que tengan por objeto plantear la posible contradicción entre una norma de carácter general y esta Constitución.
Las acciones de inconstitucionalidad podrán ejercitarse, dentro de los treinta días naturales siguientes a la fecha de publicación de la norma, por:
a) El equivalente al treinta y tres por ciento de los integrantes de la Cámara de Diputados del Congreso de la Unión, en contra de leyes federales;
b) El equivalente al treinta y tres por ciento de los integrantes del Senado, en contra de las leyes federales o de tratados internacionales celebrados por el Estado Mexicano;
c) El Ejecutivo Federal, por conducto del Consejero Jurídico del Gobierno, en contra de normas generales de carácter federal y de las entidades federativas;
d) El equivalente al treinta y tres por ciento de los integrantes de alguna de las Legislaturas de las entidades federativas en contra de las leyes expedidas por el propio órgano;
…
f) Los partidos políticos con registro ante el Instituto Nacional Electoral, por conducto de sus dirigencias nacionales, en contra de leyes electorales federales o locales; y los partidos políticos con registro en una entidad federativa, a través de sus dirigencias, exclusivamente en contra de leyes electorales expedidas por la Legislatura de la entidad federativa que les otorgó el registro;
g) La Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, en contra de leyes de carácter federal o de las entidades federativas, así como de tratados internacionales celebrados por el Ejecutivo Federal y aprobados por el Senado de la República, que vulneren los derechos humanos consagrados en esta Constitución y en los tratados internacionales de los que México sea parte. Asimismo, los organismos de protección de los derechos humanos equivalentes en las entidades federativas, en contra de leyes expedidas por las Legislaturas;
h) El organismo garante que establece el artículo 6° de esta Constitución en contra de leyes de carácter federal y local, así como de tratados internacionales celebrados por el Ejecutivo Federal y aprobados por el Senado de la República, que vulneren el derecho al acceso a la información pública y la protección de datos personales. Asimismo, los organismos garantes equivalentes en las entidades federativas, en contra de leyes expedidas por las Legislaturas locales; e
i) El Fiscal General de la República respect de leyes federales y de las entidades federativas, en materia penal y procesal penal, así como las relacionadas con el ámbito de sus funciones;
... (Art. 105)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. Appeals of unconstitutionality against laws or statutory rules may be lodged by one fifth of the General Council, the Head of Government and three Local Councils. One fifth of the General Council may lodge an appeal of unconstitutionality against the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber. The appeal shall be lodged within the thirty days following the publication of the rule.
… (Art. 99) - Catalan1. Poden interposar recurs d'inconstitucionalitat contra les lleis i els decrets legislatius una cinquena part dels membres del Consell General, el cap de Govern i tres Comuns. Una cinquena part dels membres del Consell General pot interposar recurs d'inconstitucionalitat contra el reglament de la cambra. El termini d'interposició de la demanda és de trenta dies des de la data de publicació de la norma.
… (Art. 99)
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
- English1. The Constitutional Council is competent:
a. to evaluate [apreciar] and to declare the unconstitutionality of the laws and the illegality of the normative acts of the organs of the State;
b. to settle conflicts of competence between the organs of sovereignty;
c. to previously verify the constitutionality of the referenda;
d. to evaluate and to deliberate concerning the dismissal of the Governor of [a] Province and of the Administrator of [a] District, by the President of the Republic;
e. to evaluate and to deliberate concerning the dissolution of the provincial, district and autarchic assemblies, by the Council of Ministers.
2. It belongs also to the Constitutional Council:
a. to verify the legal requisites required for the candidatures to President of the Republic;
b. to declare the permanent incapacity of the President of the Republic;
c. to verify the death and the loss of the mandate of the President of the Republic;
d. to evaluate in last instance, the electoral recourses and complaints, to validate
and to proclaim electoral results in the terms of the law;
e. to decide, in last instance, the legality of the constitution of the political parties and their coalitions, as well as to evaluate the legality of their denominations, acronyms, symbols, and to order the respective extinction in the terms of the Constitution and of the law;
f. to judge the actions of impugning of the elections and of deliberation of the organs of the political parties;
g. to judge the actions that have for [their] object disputes relative to the mandate of the Deputies;
h. to judge the actions that have for [their] object the incompatibilities provided for in the Constitution and in the law.
3. The Constitutional Council exercises the other competences that are attributed to it by law. (Art. 243) - Portuguese1. Compete ao Conselho Constitucional:
a) apreciar e declarar a inconstitucionalidade das leis e a ilegalidade dos actos normativos dos órgãos do Estado;
b) dirimir conflitos de competências entre os órgãos de soberania;
c) verificar previamente a constitucionalidade dos referendos;
d) apreciar e deliberar sobre a demissão do Governador de Província e do Administrador de Distrito, pelo Presidente da República;
e) apreciar e deliberar sobre a dissolução das assembleias provinciais, distritais e autárquicas, pelo Conselho de Ministros.
2. Cabe ainda ao Conselho Constitucional:
a) verificar os requisitos legais exigidos para as candidaturas a Presidente da República;
b) declarar a incapacidade permanente do Presidente da República;
c) verificar a morte e a perda de mandato do Presidente da República;
d) apreciar em última instância, os recursos e as reclamações eleitorais, validar e proclamar os resultados eleitorais nos termos da lei;
e) decidir, em última instância, a legalidade da constituição dos partidos políticos e suas coligações, bem como apreciar a legalidade das suas denominações, siglas, símbolos e ordenar a respectiva extinção nos termos da Constituição e da lei;
f) julgar as acções de impugnação de eleições e de deliberação dos órgãos dos partidos políticos;
g) julgar as acções que tenham por objecto o contencioso relativo ao mandato dos deputados;
h) julgar as acções que tenham por objecto as incompatibilidades previstas na Constituição e na lei.
3. O Conselho Constitucional exerce as demais competências que lhe sejam atribuídas por lei. (Art. 243)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Subject to sections 23(3), 37(10)(b), 50(7) and 116(2), any person who alleges that any provision of this Constitution (other than a provision of Chapter II2) has been or is being contravened may, if he or she has a relevant interest, apply to the High Court for a declaration and for relief under this section.
(2) The High Court shall have jurisdiction on an application made under this section to determine whether any provision of this Constitution (other than a provision of Chapter II) has been or is being contravened and to make a declaration accordingly.
(3) Where the High Court makes a declaration under this section that a provision of this Constitution has been or is being contravened and the person on whose application the declaration is made has also applied for relief, the High Court may grant to that person such remedy as it considers appropriate, being a remedy available generally under any law in proceedings in the High Court.
(4) The Chief Justice may make rules with respect to the practice and procedure of the High Court in relation to the jurisdiction and powers conferred on the court by or under this section, including provision with respect to the time within which any application under this section may be made.
(5) A person shall be regarded as having a relevant interest for the purpose of an application under this section only if the contravention of this Constitution alleged by him or her is such as to affect his or her interests.
(6) The rights conferred on a person by this section to apply for a declaration and relief in respect of an alleged contravention of this Constitution shall be in addition to any other action in respect of the same matter that may be available to that person under any law.
(7) Nothing in this section shall confer jurisdiction on the High Court to hear or determine any such question as is referred to in section 36. (Sec. 96)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) The Constitutional Court has jurisdiction:
a) to annul statutes or individual provisions thereof if they are in conflicts with the constitutional order;
b) to annul other legal enactments or individual provisions thereof if they are in conflict with the constitutional order or a statute;
c) over constitutional complaints by the representative body of a self-governing region against an unlawful encroachment by the state;
d) over constitutional complaints against final decisions or other encroachments by public authorities infringing constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights and basic freedoms;
e) over remedial actions from decisions concerning the certification of the election of a deputy or senator;
f) to resolve doubts concerning a deputy or senator’s loss of eligibility to hold office or the incompatibility under Article 25 of some other position or activity with holding the office of deputy or senator;
g) over a constitutional charge brought by the Senate against the president of the republic pursuant to Article 65, paragraph 2;
h) to decide on a petition by the president of the republic seeking the revocation of a joint resolution of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate pursuant to Article 66;
i) to decide on the measures necessary to implement a decision of an international tribunal which is binding on the Czech Republic, in the event that it cannot be otherwise implemented;
j) to determine whether a decision to dissolve a political party or other decision relating to the activities of a political party is in conformity with constitutional acts or other laws;
k) to decide jurisdictional disputes between state bodies and bodies of self-governing regions, unless that power is given by statute to another body.
(2) Prior to the ratification of a treaty under Article 10a or Article 49, the Constitutional Court shall further have jurisdiction to decide concerning the treaty’s conformity with the constitutional order. A treaty may not be ratified prior to the Constitutional Court giving judgment.
(3) A statute may provide that, in place of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Administrative Court shall have jurisdiction:
a) to annul legal enactments other than statutes or individual provisions thereof if they are inconsistent with a statute;
b) to decide jurisdictional disputes between state bodies and bodies of self-governing regions, unless that power is given by statute to another body. (1993 Constitution, Art. 87) - Czech(1) Ústavní soud rozhoduje
a) o zrušení zákonů nebo jejich jednotlivých ustanovení, jsou-li v rozporu s ústavním pořádkem,
b) o zrušení jiných právních předpisů nebo jejich jednotlivých ustanovení, jsou-li v rozporu s ústavním pořádkem nebo zákonem,
c) o ústavní stížnosti orgánů územní samosprávy proti nezákonnému zásahu státu,
d) o ústavní stížnosti proti pravomocnému rozhodnutí a jinému zásahu orgánů veřejné moci do ústavně zaručených základních práv a svobod,
e) o opravném prostředku proti rozhodnutí ve věci ověření volby poslance nebo senátora,
f) v pochybnostech o ztrátě volitelnosti a o neslučitelnosti výkonu funkcí poslance nebo senátora podle čl. 25,
g) o ústavní žalobě Senátu proti prezidentu republiky podle čl. 65 odst. 2,
h) o návrhu prezidenta republiky na zrušení usnesení Poslanecké sněmovny a Senátu podle čl. 66,
i) o opatřeních nezbytných k provedení rozhodnutí mezinárodního soudu, které je pro Českou republiku závazné, pokud je nelze provést jinak,
j) o tom, zda rozhodnutí o rozpuštění politické strany nebo jiné rozhodnutí týkající se činnosti politické strany je ve shodě s ústavními nebo jinými zákony,
k) spory o rozsah kompetencí státních orgánů a orgánů územní samosprávy, nepřísluší-li podle zákona jinému orgánu.
(2) Ústavní soud dále rozhoduje o souladu mezinárodní smlouvy podle čl. 10a a čl. 49 s ústavním pořádkem, a to před její ratifikací. Do rozhodnutí Ústavního soudu nemůže být smlouva ratifikována.
(3) Zákon může stanovit, že namísto Ústavního soudu rozhoduje Nejvyšší správní soud
a) o zrušení právních předpisů nebo jejich jednotlivých ustanovení, jsou-li v rozporu se zákonem,
b) spory o rozsah kompetencí státních orgánů a orgánů územní samosprávy, nepřísluší-li podle zákona jinému orgánu. (Ústava 1993, Čl. 87)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe President of the Republic promulgates the laws adopted by the Parliament within a time period of thirty days counting from the day of their transmission, if he does not formulate any demand of a second reading or [if he] has not referred [the matter] to the Constitutional Court for unconstitutionality.
…
Before promulgating the organic laws, the President of the Republic must have their conformity to the Constitution verified by the Constitutional Court.
… (Art. 202) - KirundiUmukuru w’igihugu ashira umukono akongera agatangaza ku mabwirizwa yashinzwe n’Inama nshingamateka n’Inama nkenguzamateka mu minsi mirongo itatu ikurikira umunsi yayarungikiweko kiretse asavye ko asubira kwihwezwa canke ngo asabe Sentare yubahiriza Ibwirizwa shingiro gusuzuma ko adaciye kubiri n’Ibwirizwa shingiro.
…
Imbere yo gutangaza amabwirizwa aringaniza, Umukuru w’igihugu ategerezwa gusaba Sentare yubahiriza Ibwirizwa shingiro gusuzuma ko ayo mabwirizwa adaciye kubiri n’Ibwirizwa shingiro.
… (Ingingo ya 202) - FrenchLe Président de la République promulgue les lois adoptées par le Parlement dans un délai de trente jours à compter du jour de leur transmission, s’il ne formule aucune demande de seconde lecture ou ne saisit la Cour Constitutionnelle en inconstitutionnalité.
…
Avant de promulguer les lois organiques, le Président de la République doit faire vérifier leur conformité à la Constitution par la Cour Constitutionnelle.
… (Art. 202)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Constitution and in addition to such other jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by an Act of the National Assembly, the Federal High Court shall have and exercise jurisdiction to the exclusion of any other court in civil causes and matters –
…
(q) subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the operation and interpretation of this Constitution in so far as it affects the Federal Government or any of its agencies;
… (Sec. 251)