 |
|
Chamber of Deputies
as on 14 April 2008 |
 |
|
PDL |
276 |
|
Christian Democratic Unit and Christian Democratic Centre (UDC) |
36 |
|
Mpa |
8 |
|
South Tyrol People's Party (SVP) |
3 |
|
|
|
Total |
630 |
| Senate |
 |
|
PDL |
147 |
|
Christian Democratic Unit and Christian Democratic Centre (UDC) |
3 |
|
Mpa |
2 |
|
South Tyrol People's Party (SVP) |
3 |
|
Total (315 + 7 life senators) |
322 |
|
Political System
Italy is a parliamentary democratic republic.
Head of State
The Head of State is the President of the Republic, elected by Parliament every seven years. The President represents the unity of his nation and guarantees constitutional powers. The current President, Giorgio Napolitano, was sworn in 2006.
Government
The 1948 Constitution established a bicameral parliament, with a ower and an upper chamber (Chamber of Deputies and Senate respectively), a separate judiciary branch, and an executive branch composed of a Council of Ministers (cabinet), headed by the President of the Council (Prime Minister). The government depends on confidence from both branches of the Parliament, and has in turn the power to make decrees. Decrees have to be confirmed in the Parliament.
Silvio Berlusconi is the current Prime Minister of Italy. Prodi served as Prime Minister in 2006.
The Government is appointed by the President of the Republic and is led by the President of the Council of Ministers. Although the Government carries out the executive functions of the State, it also has powers to approve laws under decree in cases of urgency.
Legislature
The Parlamento (Parliament) has two chambers with equal powers. The Camera dei Deputati (Chamber of Deputies) has 630 members, elected for a five-year term by proportional system. The Senato della Repubblica (Senate of the Republic) has 315 members elected for a five-year term and 7 life senators.
The administrative machinery of the state is partly in the hands of central departments and partly devolved to decentralised bodies such as the regions and the provinces. There are 20 regions in Italy, each divided into several provinces, whilst further down at the local city, town or village level is the 'Comune'. Five of these regions (Sicily, Sardinia, Valle d'Aosta, Trentino Alto Adige and Friuli-Venezia-Giulia), as a result of particular ethnic or geographical considerations, have a special degree of autonomy.
An important feature of the Italian constitution is the right to hold referenda in order to abrogate laws (except with regard to anything concerning the state budget or the ratification of international treaties) at the request of 500,000 signatories or 5 regional councils. Important referenda held in the past include those on abortion, divorce, nuclear power and electoral reform.
|
|
Political System
