Italy

• Constitution (2014)


• Parliament
• Government
• Constitutional Court

Editor's Note

Constitutional Background

History and News

• 22 February 2013: after being elected leader of the Democratic party, Mr Matteo Renzi, former mayor of Florence, not an MP, forms a new Cabinet supported by the Democratic party and its center and center-right allies; in few weeks a new electoral law is passed by the Chamber and in April a proposal to amend the Italian bicameral system is promptly submitted by the Government to the Senate, bound to change radically;
• 27 November 2013: after having been convicted with a final sentence for tax fraud, Mr Silvio Berlusconi is ousted from the Senate and is not an MP anymore; his passport is revoked;
• 29 April 2013: a new Cabinet led by Mr Enrico Letta is formed; its majority includes both the left and the right; constitutional and electoral reforms announced; only M5S does not support it along with the extreme left; in October the Cabinet will loose the support of the PdL party led by Mr Berlusconi.
• 20 April 2013: Mr Giorgio Napolitano is unexpectedly elected President for a second term, the first time that this happens since 1948; this event signals the deep crisis of the political system incapable to select a new president; 
• 24-25 February 2013: the XVII Parliament is elected; surprising success of a new antiparty movement (Movimento Cinque stelle, M5S) led by a comedian (Mr Giuseppe Grillo) which obtains as much votes as the two main parties (Pd and Pdl); the previously bipolar system becomes tripolar and makes the making of a Cabinet a nightmare;
• 12 November 2011: Mr Berlusconi resigns; unable to cope with the financial crisis his Cabinet looses its majority in Parliament; within four days a new Cabinet is formed led by Mr Mario Monti, an academic with no party affiliation as all the members of the new Government.
• 7 May 2008: Mr Berlusconi forms his Fourth Cabinet in a record time of only 23 days after the vote and only 8 days after the first gathering of the two Chambers; in application of a new law, the Cabinet is formed by a record low number of only 22 Ministers and 37 Undersecretaries for a total of 60 (including the President of the Council) compared to 104 who were the members of the previous Prodi Cabinet.
• 13-14 April 2008: the XVI Parliament is elected; Mr Berlusconi wins a clear majority in both Houses, defeating the new Democratic Part led by Mr Veltroni. Most relevantly only seven parties  gain access to Parliament; only five Parliamentary groups are formed and the majority is based upon only two relevant parties (the new Freedom People party and the Northern League).
• 6 February 2008: President Napolitano dissolves the XV Parliament and call new elections
• 10 October 2007: Art. 27 of the Constitution is amended by Const. Law 2 October 2007, n. 1 which rules out the death penalty even in case of war.
• 26 June 2006: with 61.3% nays and 38.7 yes a referendum rejects the constitutional law passed by Parliament in November 2005; 53% of the electors take part. However two of the most advanced Regions have voted in favour (Lombardia, Veneto).
• 14 June 2006: the late President of the Chamber of Deputies and Senator for life Mr Giorgio Napolitano is elected eleventh President of the Italian Republic. He is voted by the center-left coalition only with 543 votes (54%) at the fourth attempt.
• 6 May 2006: by a thin majority of merely 25,224 votes in the entire nation (0,066%), the center-left coalition led by Mr Romano Prodi wins a solid majority in the Chamber of Deputies (348 vs. 281, due to the new electoral law) and a  very slim one in the Senate (158 vs. 156), defeating the center-right coalition led by former premier Silvio Berlusconi. Mr Prodi forms his second Cabinet in June;
• 21 December 2005: Parliament passes a new electoral law featuring proportional representation based upon closed lists combined with a bonus in terms of seats granted to the winning coalition of lists.
• 16 November 2005: Parliament passes a major reform of part II of the Constitution.
• 20 February 2003: Article 51 of the Constitution has been amended in order to promote women participation in politics (only 9.2% of the total parliamentary membership were women at that time).
• 23 October 2002: a constitutional law repealing transitory provision XIII concerning the limitation of the civil rights of the male members of the House of Savoy is published.
• 7 October 2001: for the first time an extensive constitutional amendment concerning the entire Part V of the Constitution (Regions, Provinces and Municipalities) is approved through popular referendum. 64.2% vote in favour but only 34% of those entitled to, do vote.
• {§\tab}13 May 2001: The center-right coalition called the House of Freedoms' wins a solid majority in both Houses (365 out of 630 in the Chamber, 177 out of 315 in the Senate) and on June 11, Mr Silvio Berlusconi, media tycoon and founder of Italy's largest party (Forza Italia), forms his second Cabinet;
• 13 May 1999: Mr Carlo Azeglio Ciampi (independent) is elected tenth President of the Republic by a large majority of representatives belonging to both majority and opposition. He obtains 707 votes out of 1111.
• 18 April 1999: 91% of voters vote in favor of the suppression of the proportional part of the electoral law for the Chamber, but only 49.6% of those entitled to vote do (instead of 50% + 1 as required by the Constitution in order to render a law-repealing referendum valid) and the referendum is void.
• 21 April 1996: Second elections with the new electoral laws: victory of the Olive Tree coalition led by Mr Romano Prodi who becomes premier.
• 27 March 1994: First elections with the new electoral laws (the center-right coalition prevails but it won't be able to govern for more than 7 months due to internal quarrels); first cabinet led by Mr Silvio Berlusconi;
• 18 April 1993: Referendum followed by majoritarian reform of Italian electoral laws.
• 28 May 1992: Christian Democrat Mr Oscar Luigi Scalfaro is elected ninth President of the Republic.
• 17 February 1992: "Clean Hands" gets going (large judicial investigation on illegal financing of politics and corruption).
• 9 June 1991: A massive "yes" changes the electoral law for the Chamber of deputies.
• 2 May 1974: The first referendum in Italian constitutional history is held (the law which allows divorce is confirmed by a majority of 59.3%).
• 7 June 1970: Regional decentralization becomes effective with the first regional elections.
• 14 June 1956: First decision by the newly summoned Constitutional Court.
• 1 January 1948: The new Constitution enters into force.
• 11 December 1947: With 453 votes in favour and 62 against, the new Constitution is passed.
• 2 June 1946: Victory of the republican option in the referendum on the form of State (12.717.923 votes for the Republic; 10.719.284 for the Monarchy); women vote for the first time; the same day the Constituent Assembly is elected.
• 17 march 1861: proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy.