Diagram: Judicial Review of Constitutional Amendments

 

Can constitutional amendments be reviewed by constitutional courts?

 

 

 

Do constitutional courts have
competence to rule on
constitutional amendments?

Can constitutional courts review the formal and procedural regularity of constitutional amendments?

Can constitutional courts review the substance of constitutional amendments?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If there is a constitutional
provision on this question

If there is no constitutional
provision on this question

YES

Examples:

- The US SC
 - Austrian CC

- Turkish CC

YES

If there is substantive limits
on constitutional amendments

Examples:

- German CC

- Turkish CC

NO

If there no substantive limits
on constitutional amendments

Examples

- The US SC

- Irish SC

BUT,

there are constitutional courts accepting the existence of implicit substantive limits. 

Examples:

- German CC (1951-53)

- Indian SC

- Turkish CC

 

 

 

 

The answer is

The answer is

 

 

YES

According to the 1961 and 1982 Turkish, 

1980 Chilean,

and 1991 Romanian Constitutions

NO

According

to the

1950 Indian Constitution
(as amended 1976)

YES

Under the American model
of judicial review.

Examples:

- The US SC

- Indian SC

NO

Under the European model of judicial review.

Examples:

- French C. Council

- Hungarian CC

- Slovenian CC

- Irish SC

BUT,

there are CCs declaring themselves competent to review of constitutional amendments:

- German CC

- Austrian CC

- Turkish CC

 

                               

      Abbreviations: CC Constitutional Court.     SC Supreme Court

Kemal Gözler, Judicial Review of Constitutional Amendments:A Comparative Study, Bursa, Ekin Press, 2008, p. 103.[http://www.anayasa.gen.tr/jrca-text.htm] (Dec. 20, 2008)

http://www.anayasa.gen.tr/jrca-diagram.htm (Dec. 20, 2008)

Main Page: http://www.anayasa.gen.tr/jrca-text.htm