OVERVIEW

The course aims to provide a basic knowledge of constitutional law and the fundamental aspects of administrative law in the Italian legal system, by focusing in particular on: the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms; the sources of Italian law; the horizontal (between constitutional bodies) and vertical distribution of powers (between territorial authorities); administrative principles and acts; judicial review.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the Italian constitutional system, the system of sources of law, the organization of the State and public administrations, the protection of fundamental rights, and constitutional justice. The course also seeks to develop students' ability to interpret legal provisions and judicial decisions, critically analyse constitutional and institutional issues, and use legal terminology accurately and appropriately.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Regular attendance, active participation in the proposed learning activities (lectures, seminars and conferences, meetings with institutional guests), and thorough individual study will enable students to achieve the following learning outcomes (Dublin Descriptors):

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge of the fundamental principles of the Italian constitutional system, the system of legal sources, the constitutional and territorial organization of the State, the principles governing administrative activity, and the role of constitutional justice.

Applying knowledge and understanding

By the end of the course, students will be able to interpret constitutional and legislative provisions, identify the relevant sources of law, analyse the organization and functioning of public institutions, and understand the main decisions of the Italian Constitutional Court.

Making judgements

By the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyse constitutional and institutional issues, assessing the functioning of public institutions and the mechanisms for the protection of fundamental rights.

Communication skills

By the end of the course, students will be able to use legal terminology appropriately and to present the main concepts and institutions of public law clearly and accurately.

Learning skills

By the end of the course, students will be able to independently identify and use legislative and case-law sources and to critically explore issues and developments in the field of public law.

PREREQUISITES

The teaching aims to propose the study of constitutional law starting from the very legal basics for gradually arriving to understand the complexity of the Italian legal system. It may be useful to acquire a preliminary knowledge of the main institutional websites (Parliament, President of the Republic, Government, Constitutional Court) and to follow the main news of constitutional relevance on a daily basis. 

TEACHING METHODS

The course is made of 54 class hours and lectures are "in presence".

However, students enrolled in the PA 110 e lode Program or under motivated request, can follow classes through the software TEAMS. 

All the materials needed for the lessons and for individual study (summaries, legislative acts, judgments) will be uploaded on the teaching's webpage called Aulaweb.

In order to deepen the study of specific topics, experts (judges, professors of other universities, members of institutions and public administration, etc.) in the field of constitutional law may will be invited and/or seminars and conferences will be indicated. 

At the end of the lessons, a tutor will be available to students for extra-lessons, insights, group and individual preparation for the exam.

The attendance of the course is not mandatory BUT strongly recommended. 

Students are recommended to enroll in Aulaweb to be constantly informed about the course.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The teaching programme includes the study of the following topics:

• The concepts of law and State; 
• the Constitution and the system of sources of law; 
• forms of State and forms of government; 
• relations between the State, the European Union and the international legal order; 
• the rights and duties of citizens and persons; 
• the constitutional bodies and their functions; 
• ordinary and special judges; 
• constitutional guarantees: the Constitutional Court and the constitutional revision procedure; 
• Regions and local authorities; 
• principles and structure of the public administration;
• administrative acts and procedures.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Preparing for the exam necessarily requires studying the textbook:
Renato Balduzzi (ed.), Diritto costituzionale, Vita e Pensiero, 2025.

Certain sections of the textbook will not be included in the exam and will be specified at the beginning of the course on Aulaweb.

Foreign students (non-native Italian speakers who have not carried out previous education cycles in Italy) and Erasmus students will have the possibility to prepare the exam on other books. 

The study of all the programs must be accompanied by a careful reading of the Constitution (it can be downloaded from the website www.quirinale.it in Italian and translated into the main international languages).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ARIANNA PITINO (President)

PATRIZIA VIPIANA

ARISTIDE CANEPA (Substitute)

LORENZO CUOCOLO (Substitute)

SIMONE FREGA (Substitute)

FRANCESCO GALLARATI (Substitute)

ANDREA MOLFETTA (Substitute)

MARIA ANGELA ORLANDI (Substitute)

BUKURIE OZUNI (Substitute)

MASSIMO RUARO (Substitute)

DANIELA TARANTINO (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The lessons will be held in the second semester. 

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Students must enroll before taking the exam following the online procedure. 

The exam is in Italian.

Under request, the exam can be held in English. 

For those who have attended at least 80% of the lessons: written test (three open-ended questions on the topics covered during the course, which must be answered starting from the general concepts and progressively entering into detail); for each question there is a maximum score of 10/30 for a maximum total of 30/30; possible oral exam on the same day of the written exam, at the request of the students, with which it will be possible to improve / worsen the grade of the written test by +/- 3 points. For those who do not request an oral exam, the exam is concluded with the written test. Attendance at lessons gives anyone 1 point. At the request of students attending the course, mid-term examinations may be scheduled (more information will be provided during the course and on Aulaweb).

For those who, despite having attended, have not reached 80% attendance and for those who have not attended the lessons: written test (three open-ended questions on the topics covered during the course, which will have to be answered starting from the general concepts and progressively entering into detail); For each question there is a maximum score of 10/30 for a maximum total of 30/30.

The results of the written examination, in anonymised form, will be published on the AulaWeb page of the latest academic year in which the course was taught, usually on the Friday following the examination. No individual notifications will be sent by the professor.

Students may review their written exam up until the date of the next examination session following the one in which they took the exam, by arranging an appointment with the professor.

The Examination Committee is appointed by the Department's Board and, unless prevented, is chaired by the professor responsible for the course.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The examination is designed to assess the achievement of the intended learning outcomes with reference to the Dublin Descriptors.

In particular, students will be expected to demonstrate:

• knowledge of the fundamental principles of the Italian constitutional system, the system of sources of law, the organization of the State, the principles governing administrative activity, the protection of fundamental rights, and constitutional justice (knowledge and understanding);
• the ability to interpret constitutional and legislative provisions, identify the relevant sources of law, and analyse the functioning of public institutions and the main decisions of the Constitutional Court (applying knowledge and understanding);
• the ability to critically analyse constitutional and institutional issues and to evaluate the mechanisms for the protection of fundamental rights (making judgements);
• adequate presentation skills, the appropriate use of legal terminology, and the ability to present arguments in a clear, coherent, and well-structured manner (communication skills).

Particular consideration will be given to:

• the coherence, completeness, and accuracy of the answers;
• direct knowledge of the text of the Constitution, including familiarity with the numbering and content of its most significant provisions;
• references to particularly relevant legislation and judicial decisions;
• the ability to relate the knowledge acquired during the course to practical cases and current issues;
• for students who choose to take the optional oral component, the ability to develop personal reflections supported by appropriate reasoning and argumentation.

For the overall assessment, attendance and active participation in lectures, seminars, conferences, and meetings with institutional guests organized as part of the course may also be taken into account.

FURTHER INFORMATION

All students must register on AulaWeb. The instructor cannot be held responsible for any information not received by students who have not registered or who fail to read the announcements and communications published on AulaWeb.

Students with disabilities or other special educational needs are advised to contact the lecturer at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching methods and examinations that, in line with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory tools.

To request compensatory tools or dispensatory measures, students with disabilities or SLD must fill in the dedicated Webform available at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa, at least 7 working days before the exam.
Students with SEN may instead send their request by e-mail to the lecturer, copying the Department Representative, Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it) and the Inclusion Office (inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it).
Requests from students will be assessed by the lecturer and may be approved or rejected.