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Check for constitutionality or legality of initiatives

Portugal

Portugal

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An automatic check is part of the initiative process
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Theinitiative must first be submitted to the President of the National Assembly.The president must reject the initiative if it does not respect the limitsstipulated in Article 4 of the Law on Legislative Initiative of Citizens. Oneof the limits stated in Article 4 is that the initiative must not violate theConstitution or the principles enshrined therein. By Article 8(2), if thepresident rejects the initiative, he or she must notify the representativecommittee of electors that submitted the initiative.

 

ByArticle 281(2) of the Constitution, the President of the National Assembly canask the Constitutional Court to review any rule or law for unconstitutionalityor illegality.

 

If the initiative is accepted by the Presidentof the National Assembly, it is then forwarded to the relevant parliamentarycommittee. By Article 9(2), the committee must promote the initiative?scompliance with existing legal, statutory and regulatory requirements.

LAW ON LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE OF CITIZENS

(Adopted 2003; lastamended 2012)

http://www.parlamento.pt/Legislacao/Documents/Legislacao_Anotada/IniciativaLegislativaCidadaos_Simples.pdf

 

Article 4(Limitations on Initiatives)

Os grupos de cidad?os eleitores n?o podem apresentariniciativas legislativas que:

a)      Violem a Constituição ou os princ?piosnela consignados;

 

Article 8(Admission)

1- A iniciativa ? admitida pelo Presidente da Assembleia da República, salvo se:

a)      Tratarmat?rias n?o inclu?das no seu objecto legal;

b)      N?o respeitar os limites consignados noartigo 4.?;

c)       N?ocumprir os requisitos previstos nos n.?s 1 e 2 do artigo 6.?

 

2- Nos casos previstos na al?nea c) do n?mero anterior, a decis?o ? precedida denotifica??o ? comiss?orepresentativa dos cidad?os subscritores, no sentido de, no prazo m?ximo de 30dias ?teis,serem supridas as defici?ncias encontradas.

 

Article 9 (Reviewby Parliamentary Committee)

1- Admitida a iniciativa, o Presidente da Assembleia da República ordena a suapublica??o no Di?rioda Assembleia da República e remete-a? comiss?o especializada competente para, no prazode 30 dias, elaborar o respectivo relat?rio e parecer.

 

2- Tratando-se de mat?ria constitucional ou legalmente sujeita a participa??o ouconsulta obrigat?rias,a comiss?o promove ocumprimento das disposi??es legais, estatut?rias e regimentais aplic?veis.

 

 

CONSTITUTION OF THEPORTUGUESE REPUBLIC

(Adopted1976; last amended 2005)

http://www.cne.pt/sites/default/files/dl/crp_uk_2005_integral.pdf

 

Article 281(Abstract review of constitutionality and legality)

2. The following may ask theConstitutional Court for a declaration of unconstitutionality or illegalitywith generally binding force:

b)     The President of the Assemblyof the Republic;

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