Rights
The 1948 Constitution, a bicameral Parliament and referral-based review
Italy is a parliamentary republic under the rigid 1948 Constitution. Both chambers of Parliament have equal powers, and the Constitutional Court decides constitutional questions referred to it by ordinary judges as well as direct state-region disputes.
Key rules
- Ordinary judges must refer a serious constitutional doubt to the Constitutional Court rather than decide it themselves.
- Constitutional amendment requires two votes in each chamber and may be put to referendum.
- Abrogative referendums can repeal existing statutes on a citizens' initiative.
Governing law
- Constitution of the Italian Republic (1948)
In practice
There is no individual constitutional complaint: a rights argument must be raised in ordinary litigation so the judge can refer the question upward.