ITALIAN REPUBLIC

WHAT KIND OF GOVERNMENT DOES ITALY HAVE?

 Italy has a parliamentary democratic

republic form of government with a multiparty
system. There are three branches of power: the
executive, the legislative and the judiciary
branch. The Council of Ministers, led by the
prime minister, exercises executive power.
Legislative power is vested in the two houses of
parliament, the Chamber of Deputies and the
Senate of the Republic. The judiciary is headed
by the High Council of the Judiciary. The
president, elected by the parliament, is the head
of state and commander-in-chief.
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
The President of the Republic
 The President of the Republic is elected by parliament in
joint session of its members and elected for seven years.
 The President of the Republic is the head of the State
and represents national unity.
 He promulgates laws and issues decrees having the
force of law and regulations.
 He appoints the Prime minister and the Five judges of
the constitutional court.
 He can Veto bills and send them to parliament for
new inspection.
 He must be native –born Italian citizen at least 50
years old And has great deal of political experience
and pull in their political parties.
 The executive power is exercise by the government
under the direction of the prime minister also called
the president of the council of the Ministers.
 All ministers are jointly responsible for the
implementations of the countries laws and can
propose new bills to Parliament.
PRIME MINISTER AND THE COUNCIL OF
MINISTERS, OR CABINET
Prime minister nominate the Council of
Ministers and leading and coordinating its
activities.
 Directing the government's policy decisions and
taking responsibility for them
 Maintaining unity and consistency in the
government
 Serving as a mediator between political parties,
especially those attempting to work as a coalition
 Suggesting reforms for the political system
HOW TO REMOVED?
 In Italy, according to Article 90 of the
Constitution, the President of the Republic
can be impeached through a majority vote of the
Parliament in joint session .
 The Prime Minister does not have a fixed term
in office and can be voted out by the members of
Parliament at any time if they lose confidence in
his abilities or his policies.
GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE
Form of Government
-Republic with two Legislative houses
(Senate 322, chamber of deputies 630)

Head of state
-president

Head of government
-prime minister

Capital
-Rome
The constitution is preceded by the
statement of certain basic principles. Italy
as a democratic republic, in which
sovereignty belongs to the people (article 1)

 Other principles
1. The inviolable rights of man
2. The equality of all citizens before the law
3. The right to travel at home and abroad
4. Etc.
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT WHICH IS
COMPOSED OF 15 JUDGES, OF WHOM

5 are nominated by the president of

the republic
 5 are elected by the judges frm
other courts
 members must have certain legal
qualification and experience
 term of office is 9 years
 they are not eligible for
reappointment
THE LEGISLATURE
 Parliamentis bicameral and comprise:
1. Chamber of Deputies
2. Senate

1. Chamber of Deputies (the lower

house)
- they are popularly elected via a system
of proportional representation which
serves to benefit minor parties
-minimum age for the electorate and the
candidate: 18 and 25 years
2.) SENATE (HIGHER CHAMBER)
 Most members of the senate are elected
in the same manner. But the senate also
includes several members appointed by
the president and former president.
 minimum age for the electorate and the
candidate: 25and 40 years
 Both are elected for a term of 5 years
which can be extended only in case of
war.
 The two houses meet jointly to elect
and swear in the president of the
republic and to elect one third of the
members of the superior council and
one third of the judges of
constitutional court.
 They may also convene to impeach
the president of the republic
PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE

 President
-head of the state and serves a term of
seven years.
-can be impeached for high treason or
offenses against the constitution.
-is elected by a college comprising both
chambers of parliament together with
three representatives from every region.
- two-thirds majority required guarantees
that the president is acceptable to a
sufficient of the populace and the political
partner.
-minimum age for presidential candidates
is 50 years.
-president may dissolve parliament either
on their own initiative , having consulted
of the pres. Of both chambers and the
request of the government.
-they may appoint 5 lifetime members of
the senate, 5 of the constitutional court
judges and also the president of the
council (prime minister)
THE GOVERNMENT

 the government comprises the

president of the council of minister
and the various other minster.
 ministerial appointments are
negotiated by the parties
constituting the government
majority
 must receive a vote of confidence in
both houses of parliament within 10
days of its appointment.
PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF
MINISTER

 Solelyresponsible for directing

government policies and coordinating
administrative policy and activity.
 Issue administrative regulations and
provisions which are then promulgated
by presidential decree.
 REGIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

 The republic of Italy is divided in regions,

provinces, and communes.
 There are 15 ordinary regions and an
additional 5 to which a special autonomy
has been granted.
 Italy can thus considered a regional state
A.) REGIONS
 The organs of regional government
1.) Regional council
A popularly elected deliberative body
with power to pass laws and issue
administrative regulations.
2.) Regional committee
An executive body elected by the
council from among its own members.
3.) President of the regional committee
Are required to resign if they fail to
retain the confidence of the council.
 Voting in the regional councils is rarely by
secret ballot
 Regional council initiate parliamentary
legislation, propose referenda, and appoint three
delegates to assist in presidential elections.
 The regions have the right to acquire property
and the right to collect certain revenues and
taxes.
 The state has the power to control the regions

 The government has power to dissolve regional

councils that have acted contrary to the
constitution or have violated the law.
 B.) COMMUNE

 the smallest local government unit

 They have the power to levy and collect
limited local taxes, and they have their own
police .
 issue ordinances and run certain public
health services and they are responsible for
such services as public transportation,
garbage collection.
 The communal council may be dissolve for
reason of public order or for continued neglect
of their duties.
 C.) PROVINCES
 -units midway in size between regions and communes

 Central government officials

1. Government commissioner
-each region supervises the administrative functions
performed by the state.
2. Prefect
-resident in each province, responsible for enforcing
the orders of the central government and has the
power of control over the organs of th province and
communes
3. Questore
-who is the provincial chief of the state-run police.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

 President of the regional committee

-Who in directing the administrative
functions that the state delegates to the
region, perform a specific state duty.
 Mayor of a commune

-who in his a capacity as an agent of the

central government, registers births,
deaths, marriages and migrations.
ELECTORAL SYSTEM

 Italy’s
electoral system was based on
proportional representation

 Proportional representation
- a system in which seats in an elected
body are awarded to political parties
according to the proportion of the total
vote that they receive
NATIONAL LEVEL

 Chamber of deputies and the Senate

were elected by combination of
proportionality and plurality.
-75% of the seats in these two chambers
were filled from single-member district by
individual candidates who won the largest
number of votes in each district.
-25% of the seats were awarded to
candidates from party lists on a
proportional basis.
REGIONAL ELECTIONS

 voters cast two ballots

-the first is cast in a contest for 80% of
the seats in the regional council, which
awarded on a proportional basis.

- The second ballot is employed in a

plurality vote; the regional plurality
coalition that wins a plurality is awarded
all the remaining seats as well as the
presidency of the regional government