C2 · 50 words
Constitutional law in Spanish
Constitution, fundamental right, separation of powers, review — the language of the highest order.
Our « sentence » and Spanish la sentencia agree on nothing at all. In Spanish it is the court's decision, the whole judgment: la sentencia del Tribunal Constitucional. What English calls a sentence — the punishment handed down — is la condena or la pena, and the words in a grammar book are la frase or la oración. In the other direction, una sentencia can also be a saying, short and final: lo dijo con una sentencia lapidaria. So the judge writes a sentencia, imposes a condena, and neither of them is a sentence.
The words
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Phrase (49)
el derecho constitucionalthe law that orders every other branch of lawPhraseC2
El derecho constitucional ordena a los demás derechos.Constitutional law orders the other branches of law.
el poder constituyentethe power that makes a constitution and is spent in doing soPhraseC2
El poder constituyente se agota al dictar la constitución.The constituent power is spent once the constitution is made.
la reforma constitucionalthe changing of the constitution, which needs more than a majorityPhraseC2
La reforma constitucional exige mayorías reforzadas.Constitutional reform requires reinforced majorities.
la cláusula de intangibilidadthe clause that puts certain principles beyond changePhraseC2
La cláusula de intangibilidad sustrae ciertos principios a la reforma.The eternity clause withdraws certain principles from amendment.
la supremacía constitucionalthe rule that a law conflicting with the constitution is voidPhraseC2
La supremacía constitucional invalida la ley contraria.Constitutional supremacy invalidates the law that conflicts with it.
el bloque de constitucionalidadthe whole body of norms a law is measured againstPhraseC2
El bloque de constitucionalidad va más allá del texto.The block of constitutionality goes beyond the text.
el Estado de derechothe state that binds power itself to the lawPhraseC2
El Estado de derecho somete también al poder a la ley.The rule of law subjects power itself to the law.
la separación de poderesthe dividing of power, judged by the checks that really workPhraseC2
La separación de poderes se juzga por los controles reales.The separation of powers is judged by the checks that really work.
el sistema de contrapesosthe arrangement in which somebody is able to say noPhraseC2
El sistema de contrapesos funciona cuando alguien puede decir que no.Checks and balances work when somebody is able to say no.
la reserva de leythe rule that certain matters may be settled only by statutePhraseC2
La reserva de ley impide regular ciertas materias por reglamento.The statutory reservation stops certain matters being settled by regulation.
el principio de legalidadthe principle that binds the whole administration to the lawPhraseC2
El principio de legalidad vincula a toda la administración.The principle of legality binds the whole administration.
la jerarquía normativathe ranking that settles which norm gives wayPhraseC2
La jerarquía normativa resuelve el conflicto entre normas.The hierarchy of norms settles the conflict between rules.
la derogación tácitathe repeal that follows from a later law being incompatiblePhraseC2
La derogación tácita se deduce de la incompatibilidad.Tacit repeal follows from incompatibility.
la garantía institucionalthe protection of an institution rather than of a rightPhraseC2
La garantía institucional protege una figura, no un derecho.The institutional guarantee protects an institution, not a right.
el contenido esencial del derechothe core of a right, which may not be hollowed outPhraseC2
El contenido esencial del derecho no puede ser vaciado.The essential content of a right may not be hollowed out.
la limitación de un derechothe restricting of a right, which needs a statute and a reasonPhraseC2
La limitación de un derecho necesita ley y justificación.Limiting a right requires a statute and a justification.
el juicio de proporcionalidadthe three-step test a restriction has to passPhraseC2
El juicio de proporcionalidad recorre tres escalones.The proportionality test runs through three steps.
la idoneidad de la medidathe first step: whether the measure serves the end at allPhraseC2
La idoneidad de la medida pregunta si sirve para el fin.Suitability asks whether the measure serves the end.
la necesidad de la medidathe second step: whether no gentler means would doPhraseC2
La necesidad de la medida exige que no haya alternativa más suave.Necessity requires that no gentler alternative exists.
la ponderación de bienesthe third step: weighing the goods, for which there is no formulaPhraseC2
La ponderación de bienes no tiene fórmula.The balancing of goods has no formula.
la igualdad ante la leythe equality that still allows different treatment for good reasonPhraseC2
La igualdad ante la ley admite trato distinto con razón suficiente.Equality before the law allows different treatment for sufficient reason.
la discriminación indirectathe disadvantage that follows from a rule that looks neutralPhraseC2
La discriminación indirecta parte de una norma neutral.Indirect discrimination starts from a neutral rule.
la acción positivathe measure that favours a group and is justified by its aimPhraseC2
La acción positiva se justifica por su finalidad.Positive action is justified by its purpose.
la tutela judicial efectivathe right to a court that actually decides, with reasonsPhraseC2
La tutela judicial efectiva incluye una resolución motivada.Effective judicial protection includes a reasoned decision.
la vulneración de un derecho fundamentalthe breach of a fundamental right, which opens the last instancePhraseC2
La vulneración de un derecho fundamental abre la última instancia.The breach of a fundamental right opens the last instance.
la cuestión de inconstitucionalidadthe referral a judge makes from a case in handPhraseC2
La cuestión de inconstitucionalidad la plantea el propio juez.The concrete review is referred by the judge personally.
el recurso de inconstitucionalidadthe challenge brought with no case behind itPhraseC2
El recurso de inconstitucionalidad no necesita un caso.Abstract review does not need a case.
la sentencia interpretativathe ruling that saves a rule by settling how it is to be readPhraseC2
La sentencia interpretativa salva la norma dándole un sentido.The interpretive judgment saves the rule by giving it a meaning.
la nulidad de pleno derechothe invalidity that exists whether or not anybody declares itPhraseC2
La nulidad de pleno derecho no necesita ser declarada para existir.Nullity from the outset exists without being declared.
el efecto vinculante de la sentenciathe force a judgment has for every other courtPhraseC2
El efecto vinculante de la sentencia alcanza a los demás tribunales.The binding force of a judgment reaches the other courts.
la deliberación del plenothe discussion of the full bench, which is held in secretPhraseC2
La deliberación del pleno es secreta.The deliberation of the full bench is secret.
el tribunal constitucionalthe court that stands outside the ordinary judiciaryPhraseC2
El tribunal constitucional no forma parte del poder judicial ordinario.The constitutional court is not part of the ordinary judiciary.
la legitimación activathe standing that decides who may bring the matter at allPhraseC2
La legitimación activa decide quién puede acudir.Standing decides who may come before the court.
el interés legítimo procesalthe interest that lets one be heard, which is less than a rightPhraseC2
El interés legítimo procesal no es lo mismo que un derecho.A legitimate procedural interest is not the same as a right.
el Estado autonómicothe state that hands powers to its regions without being federalPhraseC2
El Estado autonómico reparte competencias sin ser federal.The autonomic state shares out powers without being federal.
el estatuto de autonomíathe founding text of one of those regionsPhraseC2
El estatuto de autonomía es norma institucional básica.The statute of autonomy is a basic institutional norm.
el reparto competencialthe sharing out of powers, which causes most of the disputesPhraseC2
El reparto competencial genera la mayoría de los conflictos.The sharing out of powers generates most of the conflicts.
la competencia exclusivathe powers that belong to one level alonePhraseC2
La competencia exclusiva no admite intervención ajena.Exclusive competence admits no outside intervention.
la legislación básica del Estadothe framework the centre lays down, leaving room to build onPhraseC2
La legislación básica del Estado deja margen de desarrollo.The basic legislation of the state leaves room for development.
el conflicto de competenciasthe dispute about who holds which powerPhraseC2
El conflicto de competencias lo resuelve el tribunal constitucional.The conflict of competences is settled by the constitutional court.
el estado de excepciónthe state of emergency, in which rights may be suspendedPhraseC2
El estado de excepción sí permite suspender derechos.The state of emergency does allow rights to be suspended.
la suspensión de derechosthe suspending of rights, which needs a heavier procedurePhraseC2
La suspensión de derechos exige un procedimiento reforzado.Suspending rights requires a reinforced procedure.
el decreto leythe government decree with the force of law, to be confirmed afterPhraseC2
El decreto ley necesita convalidación parlamentaria.A decree-law needs parliamentary confirmation.
la extraordinaria y urgente necesidadthe extraordinary and urgent need, which a court may checkPhraseC2
La extraordinaria y urgente necesidad es controlable por el tribunal.Extraordinary and urgent necessity can be reviewed by the court.
la delegación legislativathe mandate to legislate, given for one subject and one deadlinePhraseC2
La delegación legislativa fija un plazo y un objeto.Legislative delegation fixes a deadline and a subject.
la iniciativa legislativa popularthe bill brought by citizens, which takes a great many signaturesPhraseC2
La iniciativa legislativa popular exige muchas firmas.A popular legislative initiative requires many signatures.
el referéndum consultivothe vote that asks the people and does not bindPhraseC2
El referéndum consultivo no vincula jurídicamente.A consultative referendum does not bind in law.
la costumbre constitucionalthe practice that is not written down and still weighsPhraseC2
La costumbre constitucional pesa aunque no esté escrita.Constitutional convention weighs even though it is unwritten.
la interpretación conformethe reading that avoids striking a rule downPhraseC2
La interpretación conforme evita anular la norma.Conforming interpretation avoids annulling the rule.
Noun (f) (1)
la irretroactividadthe ban on reaching backwards into what is settledNoun (f)C2
La irretroactividad protege lo ya consolidado.Non-retroactivity protects what is already settled.
This list belongs to Law and contracts — 16 lists and 800 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
From these 50 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.