2. The Office of the Attorney-General shall be headed by the Attorney-General of the Republic. In case of absence or
disability, the Deputy Attorney-General of the Republic shall substitute.
3. The Attorney-General shall be accountable to the President of the Republic, and shall provide annual reports to
the Assembly of the Republic.
4. Assistant Attorney-Generals shall be appointed, exonerated and dismissed by the President of the Republic, after
consultation with the Supreme Council of the Public Prosecutor.
Article 177
The law shall determine the structure, composition and operation of the Office of the Attorney-General and the
Supreme Council of the Public Prosecutor.
Article 178
1. The Public Prosecutor's Office shall constitute a hierarchically organized magistracy which is subordinate to the
Attorney-General of the Republic.
2. In exercising their functions, the officers and agents of the Public Prosecutor's Office shall be subject to the
principles of legality, objectivity, impartiality, and those directives and orders which are within the terms of the law.
Article 179
The Public Prosecutor's Office shall represent the State before the courts, shall control the legality and the duration
of detentions, shall initiate criminal prosecution, shall enforce criminal sentences, and shall ensure the legal defense
of minors and of absent or incapacitated persons.
CHAPTER 8CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL
Article 180
The Constitutional Council is an organ with special jurisdiction on legal questions arising from or related to the
Constitution.
Article 181
1. The Constitutional Council shall have power to:
a) adjudicate the constitutionality and legality of legislative and regulatory acts of State organs;
b) settle conflicts of jurisdiction between organs of sovereign authority;
c) pronounce upon the legality of referenda.
2. In the specific area of elections, the Constitutional Council shall also have power to:
a) supervise the electoral process;
b) verify the legal prerequisites required of candidates for the post of President of the Republic;
c) rule, as an appellate body, on electoral complaints;
d) validate and declare the final results of the electoral process.
Article 182
1. There shall be no appeal against decisions of the Constitutional Council.
2. The decisions of the Constitutional Council shall be published in the Boletim da Republica.
Article 183
The following may request a declaration of unconstitutionality or illegality from the Constitutional Council:
a) the President of the Republic;
b) the President of the Assembly of the Republic;
c) the Prime Minister;
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