Institutions
Every court, and exactly where an appeal travels next
Court structures are the part of a legal system people most often get wrong. Each entry names the tier, what the court may hear, how its judges are appointed, and the route out of it.
constitutional courts
78- Albania
Constitutional Court
National โ constitutional review and fair-trial complaints
Constitutional courtTiranaReviewed - Algeria
Constitutional Court
National
Constitutional courtAlgiersest. 2020Reviewed - Andorra
Constitutional Court
National โ constitutional review and empara appeals
Constitutional courtAndorra la Vellaest. 1993Reviewed - Argentina
Superior Court of Justice of the City of Buenos Aires
City of Buenos Aires
Local supreme and constitutional courtBuenos Airesest. 1998Reviewed - Armenia
Constitutional Court of Armenia
Review of the constitutionality of statutes, treaties before ratification and normative acts, on application by individuals who have exhausted judicial remedies, by courts, the President, the government or a fifth of deputies.
Constitutional courtYerevanest. 1996Reviewed - Azerbaijan
Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan
Review of the constitutionality of statutes and acts, interpretation of the Constitution, and individual complaints alleging violation of constitutional rights by a court decision.
Constitutional courtBakuest. 1998Reviewed - Bahrain
Constitutional Court of Bahrain
Review of the constitutionality of laws and regulations on referral by the King, the Council of Representatives, the Shura Council, or a court hearing a case in which the question arises.
Constitutional courtManamaest. 2002Reviewed - Belarus
Constitutional Court of Belarus
Belarus โ conformity of normative acts with the Constitution
Constitutional courtMinskReviewed - Belgium
Constitutional Court
National โ federal statutes, regional and community decrees, and Brussels ordinances
Constitutional review and competence disputesBrusselsest. 1980Reviewed - Benin
Constitutional Court
National
Constitutional courtCotonouest. 1993Reviewed - Bolivia
Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal
National
Constitutional courtSucreest. 1999Reviewed - Bosnia and Herzegovina
Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina
State-level โ constitutional disputes and appeals from entity courts
Constitutional courtSarajevoest. 1997Reviewed - Brazil
Federal Supreme Court
National
Constitutional and apex courtBrasรญliaest. 1891Reviewed - Bulgaria
Constitutional Court of Bulgaria
Bulgaria โ constitutional review on institutional referral
Constitutional courtSofiaReviewed - Cambodia
Constitutional Council of Cambodia
Review of the constitutionality of laws and treaties on referral by the King, the Prime Minister, the President of either chamber, or a tenth of the members of either chamber; and resolution of electoral disputes.
Constitutional review bodyPhnom Penhest. 1998Reviewed - Cameroon
Constitutional Council
National
Constitutional councilYaoundรฉest. 2018Reviewed - Chile
Constitutional Tribunal of Chile
National
Constitutional courtSantiagoest. 1970Reviewed - Colombia
Constitutional Court of Colombia
National
Constitutional courtBogotรกest. 1991Reviewed - Costa Rica
Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court
National
Constitutional chamberSan Josรฉest. 1989Reviewed - Ivory Coast
Constitutional Council
National
Constitutional councilAbidjanest. 2000Reviewed - Croatia
Constitutional Court
National โ constitutional review and individual complaints
Constitutional courtZagrebReviewed - Cyprus
Supreme Constitutional Court of Cyprus
Constitutional review, appeals from the Administrative Court, electoral petitions, and conflicts of competence between organs of the Republic.
Constitutional and administrative apex courtNicosiaest. 2023Reviewed - Czechia
Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic
Czechia โ constitutional review and individual complaints
Constitutional courtBrnoReviewed - Dominican Republic
Tribunal Constitucional
Direct actions of unconstitutionality with general effect, review of amparo judgments, preventive review of treaties, and conflicts of competence between public powers.
Constitutional courtSanto Domingoest. 2011Reviewed - DR Congo
Constitutional Court
National
Constitutional courtKinshasaest. 2015Reviewed - Ecuador
Constitutional Court of Ecuador
National
Constitutional courtQuitoest. 2008Reviewed - Egypt
Supreme Constitutional Court
National
Apex constitutional courtCairoest. 1979Reviewed - El Salvador
Constitutional Chamber of El Salvador
National
Constitutional chamberSan Salvadorest. 1983Reviewed - Ethiopia
House of the Federation
Federal
Non-judicial constitutional interpreterAddis Ababaest. 1995Reviewed - France
Constitutional Council
National constitutional review and election supervision
Constitutional councilParisest. 1958Reviewed - Georgia
Constitutional Court of Georgia
Review of the constitutionality of statutes and normative acts on constitutional claim by any person whose rights are affected, disputes over competence between state bodies, and constitutionality of referendums and elections.
Constitutional courtBatumiest. 1996Reviewed - Germany
Federal Constitutional Court
National constitutional review
Constitutional courtKarlsruheest. 1951Reviewed - Guatemala
Constitutional Court of Guatemala
National
Constitutional courtGuatemala Cityest. 1986Reviewed - Honduras
Constitutional Chamber of Honduras
National
Constitutional chamberTegucigalpaest. 2002Reviewed - Hungary
Constitutional Court of Hungary
Hungary โ constitutional review and constitutional complaints
Constitutional courtBudapestReviewed - Indonesia
Constitutional Court of Indonesia
Review of statutes against the 1945 Constitution, resolution of disputes over the competence of state institutions, dissolution of political parties, electoral disputes, and impeachment opinions.
Constitutional courtJakartaest. 2003Reviewed - Iran
Guardian Council
Review of all legislation passed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly for compatibility with Islam and the Constitution, interpretation of the Constitution, and vetting of candidates for elected office.
Constitutional and religious review bodyTehranest. 1980Reviewed - Iraq
Federal Supreme Court of Iraq
Constitutional review of statutes and regulations, resolution of disputes between the federal government and the regions and governorates, ratification of national election results, and interpretation of the Constitution.
Constitutional and federal courtBaghdadest. 2005Reviewed - Italy
Constitutional Court
National โ constitutional review and conflicts of attribution
Constitutional courtRomeest. 1956Reviewed - Jordan
Constitutional Court of Jordan
Review of the constitutionality of laws and regulations in force, on challenge by the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Council of Ministers, or by referral from a court hearing a case in which a party has raised the question.
Constitutional courtAmmanest. 2012Reviewed - Kazakhstan
Constitutional Court of Kazakhstan
Review of the constitutionality of statutes and other legal acts, including on direct application by individuals, and interpretation of the Constitution.
Constitutional courtAstanaest. 2023Reviewed - Kuwait
Constitutional Court of Kuwait
Exclusive jurisdiction over the constitutionality of laws and decrees, disputes over the competence of state bodies, and challenges to the validity of National Assembly elections.
Constitutional courtKuwait Cityest. 1973Reviewed - Kyrgyzstan
Constitutional Court of the Kyrgyz Republic
Review of the constitutionality of statutes and other normative acts on application by any person, and interpretation of the Constitution.
Constitutional courtBishkekest. 2021Reviewed - Latvia
Constitutional Court
National โ constitutional review
Constitutional courtRigaReviewed - Lebanon
Constitutional Council of Lebanon
Review of the constitutionality of statutes on referral by the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker or ten members of parliament, and adjudication of parliamentary election disputes.
Constitutional review bodyBeirutest. 1993Reviewed - Lithuania
Constitutional Court
National โ constitutional review
Constitutional courtVilniusReviewed - Malta
Constitutional Court
National โ constitutional and human-rights review
Constitutional courtVallettaReviewed - Mexico
Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation
National
Supreme and constitutional courtMexico Cityest. 1825Reviewed - Moldova
Constitutional Court of Moldova
Moldova โ constitutional review and interpretation of the Constitution
Constitutional courtChiศinฤuReviewed - Mongolia
Constitutional Court of Mongolia
Review of the constitutionality of statutes, presidential and government decrees, and international treaties, on petition by citizens, the State Great Khural, the President or the Prosecutor General.
Constitutional review bodyUlaanbaatarest. 1992Reviewed - Montenegro
Constitutional Court
National โ constitutional review and constitutional complaints
Constitutional courtPodgoricaReviewed - Morocco
Constitutional Court
National
Constitutional courtRabatest. 2011Reviewed - Mozambique
Constitutional Council
National
Constitutional councilMaputoest. 2003Reviewed - Myanmar
Constitutional Tribunal of the Union
Provided by the 2008 constitution with power to interpret the constitution and review the constitutionality of laws on referral by listed officials.
Constitutional review bodyNaypyidawest. 2011Indexed - Nicaragua
Constitutional Chamber of Nicaragua
National
Constitutional chamberManaguaReviewed - North Macedonia
Constitutional Court
National โ constitutional review and protection of specified freedoms
Constitutional courtSkopjeReviewed - Peru
Constitutional Tribunal of Peru
National
Constitutional courtLimaest. 1996Reviewed - Poland
Constitutional Tribunal of Poland
Poland โ constitutionality of statutes and constitutional complaints
Constitutional tribunalWarsawReviewed - Portugal
Constitutional Court
National โ abstract and concrete constitutional review
Constitutional courtLisbonest. 1983Reviewed - Romania
Constitutional Court of Romania
Romania โ a priori and a posteriori constitutional review
Constitutional courtBucharestReviewed - Russia
Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation โ constitutional review, federal competence disputes
Constitutional courtSaint PetersburgReviewed - San Marino
Guarantors' Panel on the Constitutionality of Norms
National โ constitutional review and conflicts between organs
Constitutional review bodySan Marinoest. 2002Reviewed - Senegal
Constitutional Council
National
Constitutional councilDakarest. 1992Reviewed - Serbia
Constitutional Court
National โ constitutional review and constitutional appeals
Constitutional courtBelgradeReviewed - Slovakia
Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic
Slovakia โ constitutional review and individual complaints
Constitutional courtKoลกiceReviewed - Slovenia
Constitutional Court
National โ constitutional review and constitutional complaints
Constitutional courtLjubljanaReviewed - South Africa
Constitutional Court of South Africa
National
Apex constitutional courtJohannesburgest. 1994Reviewed - South Korea
Constitutional Court of Korea
Constitutional review of statutes on referral from the courts, adjudication of impeachment, dissolution of political parties, competence disputes between state organs, and individual constitutional complaints.
Constitutional courtSeoulest. 1988Reviewed - Spain
Constitutional Court
National โ constitutional review and amparo
Constitutional courtMadridest. 1980Reviewed - Suriname
Constitutional Court of Suriname
National
Constitutional courtParamariboest. 2020Reviewed - Tajikistan
Constitutional Court of Tajikistan
Review of the constitutionality of statutes and other legal acts, and resolution of disputes between state bodies.
Constitutional courtDushanbeest. 1995Reviewed - Thailand
Constitutional Court of Thailand
Review of the constitutionality of bills and statutes, dissolution of political parties, determination of the qualifications of ministers and members of parliament, and resolution of disputes over the powers of constitutional organs.
Constitutional courtBangkokest. 1998Reviewed - Turkey
Constitutional Court of Turkey
Abstract and concrete review of the constitutionality of statutes and presidential decrees, individual application alleging violation of rights protected by the Constitution and the European Convention, dissolution of political parties, and trial of senior officials.
Constitutional courtAnkaraest. 1962Reviewed - Ukraine
Constitutional Court of Ukraine
Ukraine โ constitutionality of laws and individual constitutional complaints
Constitutional courtKyivReviewed - Uzbekistan
Constitutional Court of Uzbekistan
Review of the constitutionality of statutes, presidential decrees and government acts, and interpretation of the Constitution.
Constitutional courtTashkentest. 1995Reviewed - Venezuela
Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice
National
Constitutional chamber of the supreme tribunalCaracasest. 2000Reviewed - Zambia
Constitutional Court of Zambia
National
Apex constitutional courtLusakaest. 2016Reviewed - Zimbabwe
Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe
National
Apex constitutional courtHarareest. 2013Reviewed