By. Ellen Chittester ITALY VS. UNITED STATES TYPE OF GOVERNMENT Giorgio Napolitano is the current president of the Italian Republic The president of the Italy: -Is elected by both parts of house -Has a term of seven years -Unlimited number of terms -Has to be a citizen -Has to be at least 50 on election day -Cannot be barred from holding political or civil rights *Formally called the Italian Republic, Italy is a parliamentary, democratic republic with a multi-party system. Chief of state: President Giorgio Napolitano (since 15 May 2006) The head of the government is Prime Minister Mario Monti (in Italy the prime minister is referred to as the President of the Council of Ministers) Monti resigned on December 21, 2012 and a new government is still undermined. TYPE OF GOVERNMENT CONTINUED Prime Minister Monti Legislative Branch Article 48 of the Italian Constitution, guarantees its people the right to vote. This right is exercised through elected representatives in the Parliament. The Parliament is a bicameral system, and consists of the Chamber of deputies and the Senate, who are elected every five years. There are 630 Deputies in the Chamber of deputies, 618 are Italian constituents and 12 are people living abroad. These deputies are elected by citizens who are eighteen or older. All voters who are twenty-five on election day are eligible to run for house in Parliament. The Senate is elected by voters who are twenty-five. There are 315 senators, six of whom are elected in the overseas. There are also a number of senators for life, such as former Presidents or citizens appointed by the President during his term in office for having brought honor to the nation with their achievements. All voters who are forty on election day are eligible to be senators. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Italian citizens have mainly the same rights as us in the United States, although they had some freedoms that caught my eye that we didnt have here in the States. Nobody may be deprived of legal capacity, citizenship, or name for political reasons. Every citizen has the right to reside and travel freely in any part of the national territory except for limitations provided by general laws protecting health or security. No restriction may be imposed for political reasons. Also Every citizen is free to leave the territory of the republic and return to it except for obligations defined by law. The press may not be controlled by authorization or submitted to censorship. Death penalty is prohibited except by military law in time of war. The republic protects individual health as a basic right and in the public interest; it provides free medical care to the poor. Primary education, given for at least eight years, is compulsory and free of tuition. RIGHTS OF ITALIAN CITIZENS Workers are entitled to a weekly day of rest and to annual paid holidays; they cannot relinquish this right. RIGHTS CONTINUED. Italy operates on a multiparty system the largest five all recieveing at least 4% of the votes in the last election are Five Star Movement (Movimento Cinque Stelle): Democratic Party (Partito Democratico) The People of Freedom (Il Popolo della Libert) Civic Choice (Scelta Civica) Northern League (Lega Nord) POLITICAL PARTIES The Five star Movements five key issues are public water, sustainable transport, development, connectivity, and environmentalism. Democratic party believes in the same things as ours here in America. The people of freedom is a liberal-conservative, Christian democratic political party in Italy POLITICAL PARTIES CONT. Civic choice is a centralist party that is headed by Monti. The Northern League is a federalist and regionalist party. POLITICAL PARTIES CONT. The President is elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of parliament and 58 regional representatives for a seven-year term and there are no term limits; the election was last held on February The prime minister is appointed by the president and confirmed by parliament. * note - the elections were held in February, but resulted in a political stalemate to be determined by formal talks beginning in March; by mid-April 2013 no governing coalition has been formed ELECTIONS AND VOTING The income tax in Italy is known as IRPEF (Imposta sui redetti delle persone fisiche). This is a progressive tax and has a low starting rate. Up to 15,000 its charged at 23%; 15,001 to 29,000 at 29%; 29,001 to 32,600 at 31%; 32,601 to 70,000 at 39%; and 70,001 and above the rate is 45%. The rate varies depending on the region and city, and there are deductibles for dependent spouses, children, medical bills, mortgage interest, university fees and life assurance. Tax is charged per year and is adjusted the following year. If you are a self-employed worker in Italy, youll be partly taxed at source and partly on what you declare. Citizens also pay social security which is around 10% of their income. TAXES AND GOVERNMENT FINANCE Individuals also pay small regional and municipal income taxes. Government spending equals about 50 percent of the gross domestic product(GDP). The deficit remains high but has been reduced by recent spending cuts. Public debt is about 120%of the GDP There is no tax on inheritance and gifting of property that is under 80,760. Inheritance to close family members is also shielded from tax. TAXES CONT. Militay38,198,000,000 GOVERNMENT SPENDING On:USItaly Military687,105,000,00038,198,000,000 Education3,500,000,000,00066,000,000,000 Healthcare14.3%8.3% Italy has the 47th highest murder rate in the world at per 1,000 people. The murder rate in Italy less than 1/3 of the murder rate in the United States. Italy is also safer than Finland, France, Australia, Canada and the U.K. There are 61,721 people in Italian prisons. Thats 104 people out of every 1,000. Capital punishment in Italy has been banned since 1889, with the exception of the years during WWII and Fascism in Italy. LAW The structure of the Italian court is divided into three tiers: Inferior courts of general jurisdiction Appellate courts, which hear cases on appeal from lower courts Courts of last resort which hear appeals from lower appellate court. The United States established diplomatic relationship with Italy in 1861 following the unification of most of the state. In 1941, Italy - with the other World War II Axis powers Germany and Japan - declared war on the United States. U.S. relations with Italy were reestablished in Today, the United States and Italy have friendly relations. Italy is also a strong and active partner in our war efforts. The two countries have sought to foster democratic ideals in areas of civil conflict. ITALY AND THE UNITED STATES