Constitutional Law
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
L'insegnamento si propone di fornire agli studenti e alle studentesse le conoscenze fondamentali dell'ordinamento costituzionale italiano, con particolare riferimento sia ai rapporti tra lo Stato e i soggetti privati, sia ai rapporti tra gli organi costituzionali che caratterizzano la struttura e il funzionamento della forma di governo.
In particolare, il corso è finalizzato a sviluppare la conoscenza e la comprensione dei seguenti temi:
- le fonti del diritto;
- la forma di Stato e la forma di governo italiana;
- i sistemi elettorali;
- la struttura e le funzioni del Parlamento e del Governo;
- il ruolo e le funzioni degli organi di garanzia (Presidente della Repubblica e Corte costituzionale);
- i principi fondamentali in materia di organizzazione della magistratura;
- l'organizzazione regionale.
In particolare, il corso è finalizzato a sviluppare la conoscenza e la comprensione dei seguenti temi:
- le fonti del diritto;
- la forma di Stato e la forma di governo italiana;
- i sistemi elettorali;
- la struttura e le funzioni del Parlamento e del Governo;
- il ruolo e le funzioni degli organi di garanzia (Presidente della Repubblica e Corte costituzionale);
- i principi fondamentali in materia di organizzazione della magistratura;
- l'organizzazione regionale.
Expected learning outcomes
L'insegnamento è inoltre volto a sviluppare:
- la capacità di applicare le conoscenze acquisite all'analisi di fattispecie e contesti concreti, anche con riferimento all'attualità, attraverso l'individuazione, l'interpretazione e l'applicazione delle disposizioni normative rilevanti e della relativa giurisprudenza;
- l'autonomia di giudizio, mediante la capacità di elaborare posizioni argomentate e giuridicamente fondate con riferimento agli istituti e alle problematiche affrontati nel corso;
- le abilità comunicative, attraverso l'acquisizione di un linguaggio giuridico appropriato e la capacità di esporre le nozioni apprese con rigore sistematico, coerenza argomentativa e proprietà terminologica;
- la capacità di ricostruire i profili storici ed evolutivi del diritto costituzionale, nonché di sviluppare un metodo di apprendimento autonomo idoneo a consentire la prosecuzione degli studi con un elevato grado di autonomia.
- la capacità di applicare le conoscenze acquisite all'analisi di fattispecie e contesti concreti, anche con riferimento all'attualità, attraverso l'individuazione, l'interpretazione e l'applicazione delle disposizioni normative rilevanti e della relativa giurisprudenza;
- l'autonomia di giudizio, mediante la capacità di elaborare posizioni argomentate e giuridicamente fondate con riferimento agli istituti e alle problematiche affrontati nel corso;
- le abilità comunicative, attraverso l'acquisizione di un linguaggio giuridico appropriato e la capacità di esporre le nozioni apprese con rigore sistematico, coerenza argomentativa e proprietà terminologica;
- la capacità di ricostruire i profili storici ed evolutivi del diritto costituzionale, nonché di sviluppare un metodo di apprendimento autonomo idoneo a consentire la prosecuzione degli studi con un elevato grado di autonomia.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Surname A-L
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Program of the course: The course (63 hours) focuses on the fundamental institutions of the Italian constitutional legal order, paying attention to the relations between public authority and private individuals, and to the form of government.
The following macro-area of constitutional legal studies will be dealt with: introductory notions on the concepts of State and legal order, sources of law, issues related to the form of state and government, electoral systems, structure and functions of the Parliament and the Government, role and functions of the Guardians of the Constitution (President of the Republic and Constitutional Court), fundamental principles regarding the organization of the judiciary power.
Analytical Program:
Lesson n. 1- Presentation of the course. Forms of State and forms of government
Lesson n. 2 - Constitutional state
Lesson n. 3 - General principles on the sources of law
Lesson n. 4 - Interpretation of legal rules
Lesson n. 5 - Criteria of resolution of clashes between sources of law (hierarchy, chronology and competence)
Lesson n. 6 - Constitutional sources of law: Constitution and art. 138 (constitutional review procedure and its limits)
Lesson n. 7 - Law
Lesson n. 8 - Decree law
Lesson n. 9 - Legislative decree
Lesson n. 10 - Referendum
Lesson n. 11 - Regional laws and parliamentary regulations
Lesson n. 12 - Secondary sources and other sources
Lesson n. 13 - Supranational law
Lesson n. 14 - Electoral systems - part I
Lesson n. 15 - Electoral systems - part II
Lesson n. 16 - Parliament: the organization
Lesson n. 17 - Parliament: the functions
Lesson n. 18 - Status of the parliamentarian
Lesson n. 19 - Government: the formation
Lesson n. 20 - Government: the composition, the competences and the relationships between internal organs
Lesson n. 21 - Relations between Government and Parliament: trust and government crises
Lesson n. 22 - President of the Republic: election, impairment and destitution
Lesson n. 23 - President of the Republic: role and functions
Lesson n. 24 - President of the Republic: role and functions (part II)
Lesson n. 25 - Irresponsibility of the President of the Republic and the ministerial counter-signature
Lesson n. 26 - Judiciary power: fundamental principles
Lesson n. 27 - Independence and impartiality of the judiciary power
Lesson n. 28 - Autonomy of the Judiciary and role of the CSM. The responsibility of judges and prosecutors
Lesson n. 29 - Constitutional Court: composition
Lesson n. 30 - Constitutional Court: functions
Lesson n. 31 - Regions
Lesson n. 32 - Final revision lesson (student questions)
Erasmus students: No specific programmes for Erasmus students.
The following macro-area of constitutional legal studies will be dealt with: introductory notions on the concepts of State and legal order, sources of law, issues related to the form of state and government, electoral systems, structure and functions of the Parliament and the Government, role and functions of the Guardians of the Constitution (President of the Republic and Constitutional Court), fundamental principles regarding the organization of the judiciary power.
Analytical Program:
Lesson n. 1- Presentation of the course. Forms of State and forms of government
Lesson n. 2 - Constitutional state
Lesson n. 3 - General principles on the sources of law
Lesson n. 4 - Interpretation of legal rules
Lesson n. 5 - Criteria of resolution of clashes between sources of law (hierarchy, chronology and competence)
Lesson n. 6 - Constitutional sources of law: Constitution and art. 138 (constitutional review procedure and its limits)
Lesson n. 7 - Law
Lesson n. 8 - Decree law
Lesson n. 9 - Legislative decree
Lesson n. 10 - Referendum
Lesson n. 11 - Regional laws and parliamentary regulations
Lesson n. 12 - Secondary sources and other sources
Lesson n. 13 - Supranational law
Lesson n. 14 - Electoral systems - part I
Lesson n. 15 - Electoral systems - part II
Lesson n. 16 - Parliament: the organization
Lesson n. 17 - Parliament: the functions
Lesson n. 18 - Status of the parliamentarian
Lesson n. 19 - Government: the formation
Lesson n. 20 - Government: the composition, the competences and the relationships between internal organs
Lesson n. 21 - Relations between Government and Parliament: trust and government crises
Lesson n. 22 - President of the Republic: election, impairment and destitution
Lesson n. 23 - President of the Republic: role and functions
Lesson n. 24 - President of the Republic: role and functions (part II)
Lesson n. 25 - Irresponsibility of the President of the Republic and the ministerial counter-signature
Lesson n. 26 - Judiciary power: fundamental principles
Lesson n. 27 - Independence and impartiality of the judiciary power
Lesson n. 28 - Autonomy of the Judiciary and role of the CSM. The responsibility of judges and prosecutors
Lesson n. 29 - Constitutional Court: composition
Lesson n. 30 - Constitutional Court: functions
Lesson n. 31 - Regions
Lesson n. 32 - Final revision lesson (student questions)
Erasmus students: No specific programmes for Erasmus students.
Teaching methods
- Lectures
- Chance to ask questions to the teacher and to address questions from the teacher during the classes
- During the course, one or two self-assessment tests will be performed
- Chance to ask questions to the teacher and to address questions from the teacher during the classes
- During the course, one or two self-assessment tests will be performed
Teaching Resources
M. D'AMICO, G. ARCONZO, S. LEONE, Lezioni di diritto costituzionale, Milano, Franco Angeli, 2022, chapters I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII. As for chapter IX, only from § 1 to § 4.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Students (attending as well as not-attending students, although the attendance is recommended), can take the oral exam in any of the scheduled dates starting from December 2022. The maximum grade will be 30/30; the minimum grade will be 18/30
GIUR-05/A - Constitutional and Public Law - University credits: 9
Lessons: 63 hours
Professor:
Pellizzone Irene
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Pellizzone IreneSurname M-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
This 63-hour course provides an in-depth overview of the key institutions of the Italian constitutional system.
Delivered entirely during the first semester of the academic year, the course begins with an introduction to the basic concepts of the State and the legal order. It then focuses on the constitutional framework governing sources of law, the Italian forms of state and government, electoral systems, and the structure and functions of both Parliament and the Government.
Further topics include the role and responsibilities of constitutional guarantor bodies—namely the President of the Republic and the Constitutional Court—as well as the fundamental principles underpinning the organization of the judiciary and the regional organization principles.
Delivered entirely during the first semester of the academic year, the course begins with an introduction to the basic concepts of the State and the legal order. It then focuses on the constitutional framework governing sources of law, the Italian forms of state and government, electoral systems, and the structure and functions of both Parliament and the Government.
Further topics include the role and responsibilities of constitutional guarantor bodies—namely the President of the Republic and the Constitutional Court—as well as the fundamental principles underpinning the organization of the judiciary and the regional organization principles.
Prerequisites for admission
Not required
Teaching methods
The course will be delivered through face-to-face lectures.
Slides to support the lessons will be published in advance on the course's My Ariel page, so that students can familiarize themselves with the content even before the lecture.
Two classes, approximately midway through and at the end of the course, will be devoted to self-assessment tests.
Slides to support the lessons will be published in advance on the course's My Ariel page, so that students can familiarize themselves with the content even before the lecture.
Two classes, approximately midway through and at the end of the course, will be devoted to self-assessment tests.
Teaching Resources
The exam must be prepared using the following text:
M. D'AMICO, G. ARCONZO, S. LEONE, Lezioni di diritto costituzionale, Milan, Franco Angeli, latest available edition, Chapters I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII.
From Chapter IX, only paragraphs 1 to 4 must be studied.
M. D'AMICO, G. ARCONZO, S. LEONE, Lezioni di diritto costituzionale, Milan, Franco Angeli, latest available edition, Chapters I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII.
From Chapter IX, only paragraphs 1 to 4 must be studied.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Assessment Methods:
All students—regardless of attendance, although attendance is strongly recommended—will take an oral exam during any of the scheduled exam sessions starting from December 2026.
Final grades will be expressed on a scale of thirty (out of 30).
Assessment Criteria
Students are expected to:
Demonstrate a clear understanding of the topics covered
Accurately use legal and constitutional terminology
Exhibit reasoning and analytical skills in discussing course content
All students—regardless of attendance, although attendance is strongly recommended—will take an oral exam during any of the scheduled exam sessions starting from December 2026.
Final grades will be expressed on a scale of thirty (out of 30).
Assessment Criteria
Students are expected to:
Demonstrate a clear understanding of the topics covered
Accurately use legal and constitutional terminology
Exhibit reasoning and analytical skills in discussing course content
GIUR-05/A - Constitutional and Public Law - University credits: 9
Lessons: 63 hours
Professors:
Arconzo Giuseppe, Siccardi Cecilia
Shifts:
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday at 17.00
Room at ground floor, Department of Public Law