Presentation
An "application for a priority preliminary ruling on the issue of constitutionality" is the right for any person who is involved in legal proceedings before a court to argue that a
statutory provision infringes rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
Once conditions of admissibility have been complied with, the Constitutional Council, to whom the application will have been referred by the Conseil d'Etat or the Cour de cassation,
will give its ruling and, if need be, repeal the challenged statutory provision.
The application for a priority preliminary ruling on the issue of constitutionality was introduced under the constitutional reform of July 23rd 2008.
Prior to this reform, it was impossible to challenge the constitutionality of a statute which had come into force. From now on, persons involved in legal proceedings will be vested
with this new right under Article 61-1 of the Constitution.
Decisions of the Constitutional Council QPC
The texts
- Article 61-1, Article 62 of the Constitution
- Texts relating to priority preliminary rulings on the issue of constitutionality - Organic provisions
- Texts relating to priority preliminary rulings on the issue of constitutionality - Reglementary provisions
- Rules of procedure as to proceedings before the Constitutional Council on applications for a priority preliminary ruling on the issue of constitutionality
Other texts :
- Organic Law n°2009-1523 of 10December 2009 onthe application ofArticle 61-1 of theConstitution (in French)
- Circulaire n° CIV/04/10 du Ministre de la justice et des libertés du 24 février 2010 relative à la présentation de la question prioritaire de constitutionnalité
-
Circulaire SG/SADJPV du 1er mars 2010 relative à la présentation du
principe de continuité de l'aide juridictionnelle en cas d'examen de la question prioritaire de constitutionnalité par le Conseil d'Etat, la Cour de cassation et le Conseil
constitutionnel
- Mains texts related to the Constitutional council of the French Republic
- Mains texts (in french)
12 questions to begin for
- 1- What is an "application for a priority preliminary ruling on the issue of constitutionality" ?
- 2- What is meant by "statutory provision" ?
- 3- What is meant by "rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution" ?
- 4- Why is this ruling said to be " priority preliminary" ?
- 5- Does one need to have recourse to a lawyer to make an application for a priority preliminary ruling on the issue of constitutionality ?
- 6- When can an application for a priority preliminary ruling on the issue of constitutionality be made ?
- 7- What are the conditions governing the making of such an application ?
- 8- Can a person involved in legal proceedings make such an application directly to the Constitutional Council ?
- 9- What conditions must be met for an application to be referred to the Constitutional Council ?
- 10- Can one challenge a refusal by a court to refer an application to the Constitutional Council ?
- 11- What are the consequences of a decision of the Constitutional Council ?
- 12- When will this reform come into force ?
To have a closer look
- La question prioritaire de constitutionnalité, par Marc Guillaume, secrétaire général (in french)
- A french legal success story : the “Question prioritaire de constitutionnalité”, by Olivier Dutheillet de Lamothe - Président de section au Conseil d'Etat - Membre honoraire du Conseil constitutionnel
- Le règlement intérieur de procédure suivie devant le Conseil constitutionnel pour les questions prioritaires de constitutionnalité, par Marc Guillaume, secrétaire général (in french)
- Comment on the Decision n° 2009-595 DC - December 3rd 2009 - Institutional Act pertaining to the Application of Article 61-1 of the Constitution
- Decision n° 2009-595 DC - December 3rd 2009 - Institutional Act pertaining to the Application of Article 61-1 of the Constitution
Doctrinal references (in french)
Provisions held to be constitutional (in french)
Tableaux des dispositions déclarées conformes à la Constitution dans les motifs et le dispositif d'une décision du Conseil constitutionnel
- Avertissement
- Tableau trié par code ou loi autonome
- Tableau trié par décision du Conseil constitutionnel
- Exemple : code de l'entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile au 1er
mars 2010
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