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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.
Composition and Appointment
- English(1) The President may appoint a woman or man to serve as an acting Deputy Chief Justice or judge of the Constitutional Court if there is a vacancy in any of those offices, or if the person holding such an office is absent. The appointment must be made on the recommendation of the Cabinet member responsible for the administration of justice acting with the concurrence of the Chief Justice, and an appointment as acting Deputy Chief Justice must be made from the ranks of the judges who had been appointed to the Constitutional Court in terms of section 174(4).
… (Sec. 175)
Jurisdiction and Access
- 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
- EnglishA constitutional appeal against the acts of public authorities impairing fundamental rights may be lodged by:
a) Those having been party or accessory to the previous legal proceedings referred to in article 41.2 of this Constitution.
b) Those having a legal interest relating to non-enforceable provisions or acts of the General Council.
c) The Office of the Attorney General in case of violation of the fundamental right of jurisdiction. (Art. 102) - CatalanContra els actes dels poders públics que lesionin drets fonamentals, estan legitimats per demanar empara davant el Tribunal Constitucional:
a) Els qui hagin estat part o siguin coadjuvants en el procés judicial previ al que es refereix l'article 41.2 d'aquesta Constitució.
b) Els qui tinguin un interès legítim en relació a disposicions o actes sense força de llei del Consell General.
c) El Ministeri Fiscal en cas de violació del dret fonamental a la jurisdicció. (Art. 102)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Court is the highest jurisdiction of the State in constitutional matters. It is the judge of the constitutionality of the law and it guarantees the fundamental rights of the human person and the public freedoms. It is the regulatory organ of the functioning of the institutions and of the activity of the public powers. (Art. 114)
- French
La Cour constitutionnelle est la plus haute juridiction de l'Etat en matière constitutionnelle. Elle est juge de la constitutionnalité de la loi et elle garantit les droits fondamentaux de la personne humaine et les libertés publiques. Elle est l'organe régulateur du fonctionnement des institutions et de l'activité des pouvoirs publics. (Art. 114)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English…
III. Constitutional justice is imparted by the Pluri-National Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional Plurinacional).
… (Art. 179) - Spanish…
III. La justicia constitucional se ejerce por el Tribunal Constitucional Plurinacional.
… (Art. 179)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English…
If the Riigikogu, for the second time and without amending it, passes a law which has been returned to it by the President, the President either promulgates the law or applies to the Supreme Court for a declaration of unconstitutionality in respect of that law.
… (Sec. 107) - Estonian…
Kui Riigikogu võtab Vabariigi Presidendi poolt tagasi saadetud seaduse muutmata kujul uuesti vastu, kuulutab Vabariigi President seaduse välja või pöördub Riigikohtu poole ettepanekuga tunnistada seadus põhiseadusega vastuolus olevaks.
… (§ 107)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court is referred to [a matter] by the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate, by one-quarter of the members of the National Assembly or one-quarter of the members of the Senate, or by the Ombudsman.
Every natural or juridical person [personne physique ou morale] interested as well as the Public Ministry may refer the Constitutional Court [to a matter] concerning the constitutionality of the laws, either directly by way of [an] action or indirectly by the procedure of pleadings [exception] of unconstitutionality invoked in a matter submitted to another jurisdiction.
… (Art. 236) - KirundiUmukuru w’Igihugu, Umukuru w’Inama Nshingamateka, Umukuru w’Inama Nkenguzamateka, ica kane c’abashingamateka, ica kane c’abakenguzamateka canke Umuhuza w’abanyagihugu na Reta bafise ububasha bwo kwitura Sentare yubahiriza Ibwirizwa Shingiro.
Umuntu uwo ari we wese abifisemwo inyungu, ishirahamwe iryo ari ryo ryose ribifisemwo inyungu canke abashikirizamanza barashobora kwitura Sentare yubahiriza Ibwirizwa Shingiro bakadoma urutoke ku mabwirizwa n’amategeko yoba yashinzwe biciye kubiri n’Ibwirizwa Shingiro. Bashobora kubigira mu kwishikirira bo nyene Sentare yubahiriza Ibwirizwa Shingiro canke mu kubimenyesha abandi bacamanza mu gihe babonye ko urubanza bariko barabacira rushingiye ku ngingo y’Ibwirizwa canke y’Itegeko iciye kubiri n’Ibwirizwa Shingiro.
… (Ingingo ya 236) - FrenchLa Cour Constitutionnelle est saisie par le Président de la République, le Président de l’Assemblée Nationale, le Président du Sénat, par un quart des membres de l’Assemblée Nationale ou un quart des membres du Sénat, ou par l’ombudsman.
Toute personne physique ou morale intéressée ainsi que le Ministère Public peuvent saisir la Cour Constitutionnelle sur la constitutionnalité des lois, soit directement par voie d’action soit indirectement par la procédure d’exception d’inconstitutionnalité invoquée dans une affaire soumise à une autre juridiction.
… (Art. 236)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English...
2. The Constitutional Tribunal is competent:
a) To take cognizance of the recourses of unconstitutionality of the laws.
b) To take cognizance of the recourses of constitutional amparo against the provisions and acts which violate the rights and freedoms recognized in the Fundamental Law.
c) To proclaim the definitive results of the Presidential, Legislative, [and] Municipal Elections and the Operations of Referendum.
d) To declare the permanent physical or mental incapacity that constitute legal impediment to the fulfillment of the functions of the President of the Republic, of the Vice President of the Republic, of the President of the Chamber of the Deputies and of the President of the Senate.
e) To decide with binding character, concerning the constitutional leglity of the regulatory development of the institutional laws.
f) To take cognizance of the conflicts between the constitutional organs.
g) To take cognizance concerning the declaration of unconstitutionality of the international treaties.
h) [Of] the other matters that the laws attribute to it. (Art. 101) - Spanish...
2. Compete al Tribunal Constitucional:
a) Conocer de los recursos de inconstitucionalidad de las leyes.
b) Conocer de los recursos de amparo constitucional contra las disposiciones y actos que violen los derechos y libertades reconocidos en la Ley Fundamental.
c) Proclamar los resultados definitivos de las Elecciones Presidenciales, Legislativas, Municipales y las Operaciones de Referéndum.
d) Declarar la incapacidad física o mental permanente que constituye impedimento legal para el desempeño de las funciones del Presidente de la República, del Vice-Presidente de la República, del Presidente de la Cámara de los Diputados y del Presidente del Senado.
e) Dictaminar con carácter vinculante, sobre la legalidad constitucional del desarrollo reglamentario de las leyes institucionales.
f) Conocer de los conflictos entre los órganos constitucionales.
g) Conocer sobre la declaración de inconstitucionalidad de los tratados internacionales.
h) Las demás materias que le atribuyen las leyes. (Art. 101) - French...
2. Il appartient au Tribunal constitutionnel:
a) De connaître des demandes d'inconstitutionnalité des lois.
b) De connaître des pourvois fondés sur les droits constitutionnels formés contre les actes et dispositions portant atteinte aux droits et libertés reconnus par la Loi fondamentale.
c) De proclamer les résultats définitifs des élections présidentielles, législatives, municipales et des procédures de référendum.
d) De déclarer l'incapacité physique ou mentale permanente du Président de la République, du Vice-président de la République, du président de la Chambre des députés et du président du Sénat, les rendant juridiquement inaptes à l'exercice de leurs fonctions.
e) De rendre des avis obligatoires sur la constitutionnalité des règlements pris en application des lois organisant les institutions.
f) De connaître des conflits entre les organes constitués.
g) De connaître des déclarations d'inconstitutionnalité des traités internationaux.
h) De connaître des autres matières relevant de sa compétence en vertu des lois. (Art. 101)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThere shall be a Constitutional Court to guarantee the supremacy of the Constitution, the defense of the constitutional order and the protection of fundamental rights. Its decisions are definitive and irrevocable and constitute binding precedents for the public powers and all the organs of the State. It shall enjoy administrative and budgetary autonomy. (Art. 184)
- SpanishHabrá un Tribunal Constitucional para garantizar la supremacía de la Constitución, la defensa del orden constitucional y la protección de los derechos fundamentales. Sus decisiones son definitivas e irrevocables y constituyen precedentes vinculantes para los poderes públicos y todos los órganos del Estado. Gozará de autonomía administrativa y presupuestaria. (Art. 184)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Court shall rule on:
controversies on the constitutional legitimacy of laws and measures having force of law issued by the State and Regions;
conflicts of authority between central institutions, between State and Regions, and between Regions;
charges brought against the President of the Republic, according to the provisions of the Constitution. (Art. 134) - Italian
La Corte costituzionale giudica:
sulle controversie relative alla legittimità costituzionale delle leggi e degli atti, aventi forza di legge, dello Stato e delle Regioni;
sui conflitti di attribuzione tra i poteri dello Stato e su quelli tra lo Stato e le Regioni, e tra le Regioni;
sulle accuse promosse contro il Presidente della Repubblica, a norma della Costituzione. (Art. 134)