Constitutional Court of Slovenia

The Constitutional Court of Slovenia (in Slovene: Ustavno sodišče Republike Slovenije, US RS) is a special court established by the Slovenian Constitution. Since its inception, the Court has been located in the city of Ljubljana. It is the highest court in the country for reviewing the constitutionality and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, otherwise the highest court in the country is the Supreme Court of the Republic of Slovenia. The constitutional court is not part of any branch of government (not even the judiciary) and is an independent state body.

The main responsibilities of the Constitutional Court include:

reviewing the constitutionality and legality of laws and other regulations,

deciding on constitutional complaints (violations of human rights) against the decisions of other state bodies,

and certain other responsibilities related to elections and jurisdiction.

The seat of the Court is in Ljubljana in a Plečnik's Palace, designed by a famous Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik.

Jurisdiction

Most powers of the Constitutional Court are explicitly determined by the Constitution. In accordance with the Constitution (§160), the Constitutional Court decides on:

the conformity of laws with the Constitution and of laws and other regulations with ratified treaties and with the general principles of international law;

the conformity of regulations with the Constitution and with laws;

the conformity of local community regulations with the Constitution and with laws;

the conformity of general acts issued for the exercise of public authority with the Constitution, laws, and regulations;

constitutional complaints stemming from the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms by individual acts;

on jurisdictional disputes between the state and local communities and among local communities themselves; between courts and other state authorities; and between the National Assembly, the President of the Republic, and the Government;

the unconstitutionality of the acts and activities of political parties;

other matters vested by the Constitution (e.g. deciding on an impeachment charges against the prime minister or president; conformity of international treaties with the Constitution before its ratification; appeals against a National Assembly decision on the election of Slovenian members to the European Parliament; admissibility of a National Assembly decision not to call a referendum on the confirmation of constitutional amendments; ).

Procedures

The Constitutional Court has several strictly defined procedures in which cases may be brought before it.