OUR DEMOCRACY

OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM

NATIONAL ANTHEM OF ITALYThe words of our national anthem

werewritten in 1847 by a young patriot

andpoet whose name was Goffredo Mameli, the music was composed byMichele Novaro.Since 1946, after the Second WorldWar and the Fascist dictatorship, ithas been our national anthem.

Italy is a parliamentary, democratic and representative republic.

Democracy in our country is indirect and it represented by Parliament, which is divided in:

CAMERA DEI DEPUTATI

Now our Presidente della Camera dei Deputati is Fausto Bertinotti.

People can vote for the Camera dei Deputati from the age of 18.

SENATO DELLA REPUBBLICA

Now our Presidente del Senato della Repubblica is Franco Marini.

People can vote for the Senate from the age of 25.

CAMERA DEI DEPUTATI andSENATO DELLA REPUBBLICA

have the same power and tasks, the elections are every five years.

SENATORI A VITAThey are not elected by the Italian people but they are chosen by the President of the Republic for artistic or scientific reasons, or because they are important and representative personalities for Italy. The ex-presidents of the Republic are all “senatori a vita”(life peers)

THE CONSTITUTIONWe have a written Constitution, the first was the Statuto Albertino in 1848, but after the Second World War, with the institution of the Republic there is a new constitution.We have had it since 1948.

The Constitution is the fundamental law of the state, it describes the most important principles, the organization of the state and all the rights and duties of all citizens.

THE PARLIAMENTIt has the legislative power (it makes the laws) and it chooses through a secret election the Presidente della Repubblica (the President of the Republic)

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLICHe remains in office for 7 years. He represents the state, controls the activities and promulgates the laws.Now our Presidente della Repubblica is Giorgio Napolitano.

THE GOVERNMENTIt has an executive power (for the implementation of the law) and administers the country. The Government is composed of Presidente del Consiglio (Prime Minister chosen by the Presidente della Repubblica) and ministers. Now our Presidente del Consiglio is Romano Prodi

CORTE COSTITUZIONALE It controls if the laws made by Parliament are consistent with our Constitution.

CORTE DEI CONTI It controls the financial resources of the State.It controls that the bills made by Paliament have the necessary financial backing to become laws of the State.

Italy is divided in:

20 REGIONI (regions)

103 PROVINCE (provinces)

8000 COMUNI (councils)

TO SUMMARISE

COSTITUZIONE

FUNDAMENTAL ORGANS OF THE STATE

PARLIAMENTLegislative power

Presidente della RepubblicaHead of State

COURT OF MAGISTRATES (MAGISTRATURA)Judicial power

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT (CORTE COSTITUZIONALE)Organ of control

GOVERNMENTExecutive power

Camera dei deputatiSenato della RepubblicaPrime MinisterMinisters

Parliament

ITALIAN PEOPLE

Senato della Repubblica

President of the Republic

Government

Camera dei Deputati

elects elects

elects controls

appoints

Government

CITIZENS OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC

PREFECT

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

PROVINCIALCOUNCIL

PRESIDENT OF THE

PROVINCE

MAYOR

BOARD OF COUNCILLORS

LOCALCOUNCIL

MAYOR

GovernmentOfficial

REGIONAL COUNCIL

REGIONAL COUNCIL

PRESIDENT OF THE REGION

InspectionCommittee

IN EVERY PROVINCE

IN EVERY COUNCIL

IN EVERY REGION

Emanation of directivesDirect election

Statuto Albertino (1848)Statuto Albertino (1848)characteristicscharacteristics

Costituzione Italiana (1948)Costituzione Italiana (1948) characteristicscharacteristics

writtenwritten

given by the kinggiven by the king

liberalliberal

conciseconcise

flexibleflexible

writtenwritten

votedvoted

longlong

rigidrigid

socialsocial

Structure of the Constitution Structure of the Constitution

Part II (Articles 55-139).Rules of the Republic

Part II (Articles 55-139).Rules of the Republic

Part I (Articles 13-54).Rights and Duties of the Citizens

Part I (Articles 13-54).Rights and Duties of the Citizens

Fundamental Principles (Articles 1-12) Fundamental Principles (Articles 1-12)

Final and Temporary ProvisionsFinal and Temporary Provisions

Comenius Project YEFECMade by

Alice, Maykol

and Mattia

October 2006