STRUCTURE OF GOVERnment
Italy is a unitary parliamentary republic, which was existed since June 2, 1946, when the monarchy was abolished by popular referendum. The constitution came into force on January 1, 1948.
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
The highest court in Italy is the Supreme Court of Cassation, which is organized into penal, civil, administration and military divisions. Each division has a president and several judges. The judges are appointed by the Superior Court of the Judiciary, headed by the president, for life terms. There is a Constitutional Court with fifteen judges; five appointed by the president, five elected by parliament, and five elected by select higher courts. Each judge serves for nine years. The Constitutional Court, which reviews the constitutionality of laws, has less power and makes fewer decisions than the U.S. Supreme Court. The subordinate courts have various lower civil and criminal courts which are primary and secondary tribunals, courts, and courts of appeal.
The highest court in Italy is the Supreme Court of Cassation, which is organized into penal, civil, administration and military divisions. Each division has a president and several judges. The judges are appointed by the Superior Court of the Judiciary, headed by the president, for life terms. There is a Constitutional Court with fifteen judges; five appointed by the president, five elected by parliament, and five elected by select higher courts. Each judge serves for nine years. The Constitutional Court, which reviews the constitutionality of laws, has less power and makes fewer decisions than the U.S. Supreme Court. The subordinate courts have various lower civil and criminal courts which are primary and secondary tribunals, courts, and courts of appeal.
THE LEGISLATIVE:
The 1948 constitution established a bicameral parliament with a Chamber of Deputies and a Senate. The houses are popularity and directly elected by a proportional representation system. The Chamber of Deputies has 630 members with the winning national coalition receiving 54% of chamber seats. The Senate has 315 seats with the winning coalition in each region receiving 55% of seats from that region. The Senate includes former president and the president may appoint 5 life members. In both houses members are elected for a maximum of 5 years, but either may be dissolved before the expiration of its normal term. Legislative bills may start in either house but have to be passed by a majority in both. The current largest coalition in the Senate is the Pier Luigi Bersani coalition with 123 seats.
The 1948 constitution established a bicameral parliament with a Chamber of Deputies and a Senate. The houses are popularity and directly elected by a proportional representation system. The Chamber of Deputies has 630 members with the winning national coalition receiving 54% of chamber seats. The Senate has 315 seats with the winning coalition in each region receiving 55% of seats from that region. The Senate includes former president and the president may appoint 5 life members. In both houses members are elected for a maximum of 5 years, but either may be dissolved before the expiration of its normal term. Legislative bills may start in either house but have to be passed by a majority in both. The current largest coalition in the Senate is the Pier Luigi Bersani coalition with 123 seats.
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH:
The Head of State in Italy is the President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano. The President of the Republic is elected every seven years by the parliament sitting jointly with a small number of regional delegates. The Chief of State is the Prime Minister, who is called the President of the Council and is currently a man named Enrico Letta. The President of the Council is appointed by the President and confirmed by Parliament. The President of the Council then proposes members of the Council of Ministers (which is the cabinet) and the President of the Republic nominates them. The Council of Ministers and the President of the Council have most of the day to day power. However, the President of the Republic heads the armed forces and has powers to veto legislation, disband parliament and call elections. The Italian state is very centralized with most power residing in the executive branch
The Head of State in Italy is the President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano. The President of the Republic is elected every seven years by the parliament sitting jointly with a small number of regional delegates. The Chief of State is the Prime Minister, who is called the President of the Council and is currently a man named Enrico Letta. The President of the Council is appointed by the President and confirmed by Parliament. The President of the Council then proposes members of the Council of Ministers (which is the cabinet) and the President of the Republic nominates them. The Council of Ministers and the President of the Council have most of the day to day power. However, the President of the Republic heads the armed forces and has powers to veto legislation, disband parliament and call elections. The Italian state is very centralized with most power residing in the executive branch
SOME MAJOR PARTES IN THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT
1.) The People of Freedom, led by the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, is more on the liberal side of conservative people and is a center-right party
2.) The Democratic Party encourages social democracy and is a center-left party
3.) The North League is pushing for a certain region in Italy to become independent and it is a federalist party
4.) The Italy of Values Party (centrist party) supports populism and is fighting against corruption.
5.) Union of Christian and Center Democrats – Also a centrist party, it is working towards social conservatism and a Christian democracy.
In the most recent election the People of Liberty won the largest share of the vote (37.4%) and took power in the coalition and the Democratic Party won the second largest share (33.2%).
1.) The People of Freedom, led by the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, is more on the liberal side of conservative people and is a center-right party
2.) The Democratic Party encourages social democracy and is a center-left party
3.) The North League is pushing for a certain region in Italy to become independent and it is a federalist party
4.) The Italy of Values Party (centrist party) supports populism and is fighting against corruption.
5.) Union of Christian and Center Democrats – Also a centrist party, it is working towards social conservatism and a Christian democracy.
In the most recent election the People of Liberty won the largest share of the vote (37.4%) and took power in the coalition and the Democratic Party won the second largest share (33.2%).