Judicial Yuan

The Judicial Yuan (Chinese: 司法院; pinyin: Sīfǎ Yuàn; Wade–Giles: Szu1-fa3 Yüan4; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Su-hoat Īⁿ) is one of five branches of the government of the Republic of China on Taiwan and serves as the highest judicial organ in the Republic of China. Its Justices of the Constitutional Court (大法官會議, literally ‘Council of Grand Justices’), with 15 members, is charged with interpreting the Constitution. The President and Vice President of the Judicial Yuan are chosen from among the Honorable Justices by the President. Eight of the grand justices, including the president and vice president of the Judicial Yuan, serve four-year terms, and the remaining Honorable Justices serve eight-year terms.

The Judicial Yuan also supervises the lower courts, which consist of the Supreme Court, the high courts, district courts, the Administrative Court, and the Commission on the Disciplinary Sanctions of Public Functionaries.

According to Articles 77 and 78 of the Constitution of the Republic of China, Article 5 of the Additional Articles of the Constitution, Articles 30, 43, and 75 of the Local Government Systems Act, the major functions of the Judicial Yuan are as follows:

• To interpret the Constitution and to unify the interpretation of laws and orders;
• To impeach the President and the Vice President of the Republic and to adjudicate cases concerning the dissolution of political parties that violate the Constitution;
• To adjudicate civil and criminal cases;
• To adjudicate administrative cases;
• To adjudicate cases concerning disciplinary measures with respect to public functionaries; and
• To interpret whether local self-government ordinances and matters conflict with national laws or the Constitution.
• Judicial Administrative Power of the Constitutional Court.