Approved on December 22, 1947, the Constitution of the Italian Republic is the fundamental law of the State because it is at the top of the hierarchy of sources in the legal system.
The Italian Constitution has certain characteristics:
- written;
- rigid;
- long;
- voted;
- democratic;
- secular;
- programmatic.
It entered into force on 1 January 1948, and consists of 139 articles and 18 transitional and final provisions. The Italian Constitution is structured as follows:
- Fundamental principles: (Articles 1-12);
- Part One: "Rights and duties of citizens" (articles 13-54);
- Second part: "Ordinamento della Repubblica" (articles 55-139);
- Transitional and final provisions (provisions I-XVIII).
In turn, the second part is divided into 6 Titles:
- TITLE I: Parliament;
- TITLE II: President of the Republic;
- TITLE III: Government;
- TITLE IV: Judiciary;
- TITLE V: Regions, Provinces and Municipalities;
- TITLE VI: Constitutional guarantees.
The original text of the Constitution has been revised on more than one occasion; the most important change took place in 2001 with the revision of Title V with which the division of responsibilities between the State and the Regions was redefined.
On the other hand, the constitutional reform of 2016, wanted by the then Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, which would have changed the bicameral structure of Parliament, was rejected in the referendum.
