A legal remedy by which a person can complain before the Federal Constitutional Court that public authority has violated one of their basic rights. As a rule, it is admissible only after the normal legal process has been exhausted.
example
Nachdem alle anderen Instanzen seine Klage abgewiesen hatten, legte er Verfassungsbeschwerde in Karlsruhe ein.
After all other courts had dismissed his lawsuit, he filed a constitutional complaint in Karlsruhe.
Usage tips
Word composition
The word is made up of three parts: 'Verfassung' (constitution), the linking 's', and 'Beschwerde' (complaint). So it literally means a 'complaint concerning the constitution'.
EXAMPLE
Eine Verfassungsbeschwerde ist ein wichtiges Instrument des Rechtsstaats.
A constitutional complaint is an important instrument of the rule of law.
Typical verbs
In a legal context, a constitutional complaint is typically used with the verb 'einlegen' (to lodge/file) or 'einreichen' (to submit/file). The court can then 'zurückweisen' (reject) it or 'ihr stattgeben' (uphold it).
EXAMPLE
Die Bürgerinitiative hat angekündigt, Verfassungsbeschwerde einzulegen.
The citizens' initiative has announced that it will file a constitutional complaint.
Context: law and politics
This word belongs to the specialized fields of law and politics. It refers specifically to the Federal Constitutional Court in Germany, which is based in Karlsruhe.
EXAMPLE
Die Erfolgsaussichten einer Verfassungsbeschwerde sind statistisch gesehen gering.
Statistically speaking, the chances of success of a constitutional complaint are low.
Compare with
confusable
Verfassungsbeschwerde vs Klage
complaint / lawsuit
'Klage' and 'Verfassungsbeschwerde' can both be legal steps, but they are not the same thing. 'Klage' is a more general term for court proceedings with which someone wants to enforce a claim. 'Verfassungsbeschwerde' is a very specific legal remedy before the Federal Constitutional Court. It is about someone complaining that their basic rights have been violated by state action. The words can be confused because both sound like courts and law. For normal disputes, you usually say 'Klage'; 'Verfassungsbeschwerde' only fits special cases involving basic rights.
Verfassungsbeschwerde
Nach dem letzten Urteil legt sie Verfassungsbeschwerde ein.
After the final ruling, she files a constitutional complaint.
Klage
Selma prüft mit ihrem Anwalt, ob eine Klage gegen den Veranstalter möglich ist.
Selma is checking with her lawyer whether a lawsuit against the organizer is possible.
