Supreme court
[1][additional citation(s) needed] Civil law states tend not to have a single highest court.
Some countries have multiple "supreme courts" whose respective jurisdictions have different geographical extents, or which are restricted to particular areas of law.
It was while debating the division of powers between the legislative and executive departments that delegates to the 1787 Constitutional Convention established the parameters for the national judiciary.
Creating a separate "third branch" of government was a novel idea; in the English tradition, judicial power is just one aspect of the sovereign authority of the Crown.
It was also proposed in the Constitutional Convention that the judiciary should have a role in checking the executive power to exercise a veto or to revise laws.
The High Court is mandated by section 71 of the Constitution, which vests in it the judicial power of the Commonwealth of Australia.
The final adjudication power, as in any other British Colonies, rested with the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) in London, United Kingdom.
This arrangement became controversial in light of the right of abode issue in 1999, raising concerns for judicial independence.
It is the highest court in India and has ultimate judicial authority to interpret the Constitution and decide questions of national law (including local bylaws).
[8][9] In New Zealand, the right of appeal to the Privy Council was abolished following the passing of the Supreme Court Act (2003).
Another power of the Supreme court rests in its authority to oversee any decisions over presidential elections and term lengths.
The Supreme Court was established by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 with effect from 1 October 2009, replacing and assuming the judicial functions of the House of Lords.
The Supreme Court shares its members and accommodation at the Middlesex Guildhall in London with the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council which hears final appeals from certain smaller Commonwealth realm countries, admiralty cases, and certain appeals from the ecclesiastical courts and statutory private jurisdictions, such as professional and academic bodies.
[11] The official names of state supreme courts vary, as do the titles of its members, which can cause confusion between jurisdictions.
It also decides on cases dealing with the interpretation of the constitution (for example, it can overturn a law passed by Congress if it deems it unconstitutional).
The High Court (Haute Cour) exists only to impeach the President of the French Republic in case of "breach of his duties patently incompatible with his continuing in office".
It is also the only court possessing the power and authority to outlaw political parties, should their manifests or activism prove unconstitutional.
It also considers appeals on judicial and quasi-judicial decisions of various kinds, such as matters relating to the legality of Knesset elections and disciplinary rulings of the Bar Association.
As the High Court of Justice (Hebrew: Beit Mishpat Gavoha Le'Zedek בית משפט גבוה לצדק; also known by its initials as Bagatz בג"ץ), the Supreme Court rules as a court of first instance, primarily in matters regarding the legality of decisions of State authorities: Government decisions, those of local authorities and other bodies and persons performing public functions under the law, and direct challenges to the constitutionality of laws enacted by the Knesset.
The High Court of Justice grants relief through orders such as injunction, mandamus and Habeas Corpus, as well as through declaratory judgments.
The Supreme Court also holds the unique power of being able to order "trial de novo" (a retrial).
It has ultimate judicial authority within Japan to interpret the Constitution and decide questions of national law (including local bylaws).
It has the power of judicial review (i.e., it can declare Acts of Diet and Local Assembly, and administrative actions, unconstitutional).
The supreme court of Macau is the Court of Final Appeal (Portuguese: Tribunal de Última Instância; Chinese: 澳門終審法院), though like Hong Kong, the power to interpret the Basic Law is vested in the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) in Beijing, without retroactive effect.
Due to Switzerland's system of direct democracy, it has no authority to review the constitutionality of federal statutes, but the people can strike down a proposed law by referendum.
During the reign of King Chulalongkorn, an official department for appeals was set up, and, after Thailand adopted a western-styled government, Thai Supreme Court was established in 1891.
This is not a separate appellate body but an assembly of the Court of Appeal which renders decisions regarding points of laws on which its different chambers disagree.
In some cases such as capital punishment, the decision may be passed on to the President of the country (currently Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan).
The 1987 Philippine Constitution also explicitly grants to the Supreme Court the power of judicial review over laws and executive actions.
The final power to interpret the law is vested in the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC).
