The specifics of the form of government in Italy and its history

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:54

On the territory of the Apennine Peninsula, statehood arose quite early. Long before the advent of our era, these lands were the ancient kingdoms of the Etruscans and Latins. The forms of government in Italy have changed from century to century. There was both a republic and a monarchy. Before 476 AD Italy became the center of the mighty Roman Empire, whose territories stretched from North Africa to the British Isles, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea coast. It was at the time of this state formation that the so-called Roman law was formed. It still serves as the foundation of modern jurisprudence.

Historical continuity

With the fall of the Roman Empire, the inhabitants of the peninsula still felt like the successors of a great power. Not only the law of the ancient state becomes the basis of the written Kutyums (codes), but also the form of government. Italy as a statedoes not yet exist, but the thirst for unification in the Second Rome is great. However, Aachen became the capital of the Western Empire, and Constantinople became the capital of the Eastern. Italy itself was fragmented into many states. And the forms of social and political government are very different from each other - from urban communes and republics to feudal duchies and principalities. The Papal States stand out in particular, on the territory of which the Roman pontiff was not only a religious ruler, but also a secular lord.

Italy and the Spring of Nations

The political fragmentation of the country has caused numerous encroachments on its territory by militant neighbors - Austria, France and Spain. She also became a target for attacks by Ottoman Turkey. By the middle of the 19th century, many territories of modern Italy were captured by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The "Spring of the Nations" (1840s) gave birth to the Statute of Piedmont, adopted under the auspices of King Charles Albert of Turin. This code, later named after the creator of the Albertine Constitution, became the basis of the modern form of government in Italy.

1946 referendum

Because the Albertine constitution could be changed by members of parliament, legislative reforms were made in 1922, and Italy turned into a fascist dictatorship. After the Second World War, in a referendum held on June 2, 1946, the inhabitants of the country abandoned the monarchical form of government in Italy. From the beginning of 1948, a newThe Constitution of the Republic, which is still in force today.

Modern Italy

The form of government of this country is a parliamentary republic. The head of state - the President - plays a purely nominal role. All legislative power in the Republic is exercised by the Parliament. This body consists of two levels: the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The Government of Italy - the Council of Ministers - exercises executive power. The Prime Minister has the greatest powers. The President is elected by Parliament. Its acts are also limited to countersignatures from the Prime Minister or the relevant ministry. Another branch of government in Italy is the Constitutional Court, whose 15 members are appointed by the President, Parliament and the highest bodies of general and administrative jurisdiction. The form of state government in Italy has the specifics that the deputies of the chamber are elected by the entire population, divided into districts according to the census and dividing this amount by 630 (the number of seats in this level of Parliament). Senators represent 20 regions of Italy.