OVERVIEW

The course will engage students in a critical dialogue and a shared reflection on the fundamental dynamics of contemporary constitutionalism, with particular attention to mechanisms for guaranteeing and protecting rights and to the relationships among powers. In this perspective, the course will focus on the study of domestic constitutional justice and European Union constitutional law, as well as on the examination of the reciprocal interactions among different legal orders, with particular regard to judicial dialogue among courts and the multilevel protection of fundamental rights.

Main thematic areas:

I. Constitutional Justice
The first part of the course will be devoted to the study of constitutional justice in its various dimensions: historical, theoretical, dogmatic, and jurisprudential.

II. Constitutional Law of the European Union
Considerable attention will be devoted to the multilevel protection of fundamental rights, as well as to the most significant jurisprudential developments concerning sovereignty, rights, and supranational constitutional integration.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning outcomes are the following: (a) allowing the student to study in more detail, the fundamental concepts, which they have already studied at the beginning of their University career; (b) learning how to study Constitutional Law not only via a theoretical approach but also through a practical analysis of the Italian Constitutional Court’s relevant case law.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide students with:

• a critical understanding of the historical, theoretical, and practical evolution of Constitutional Law, both at the national and European levels;
• the conceptual tools to analyze the relationship between Law, nature, and society, also in light of the most recent cultural and, more broadly, environmental challenges;
• the ability to navigate legal sources, judicial decisions, and major theoretical issues related to constitutional justice and EU constitutional law;
• the capacity to reflect independently and consciously on the role of Law in shaping social order and protecting fundamental rights;
• proficiency in using appropriate legal and constitutional terminology, enabling the understanding and communication of complex legal concepts.

PREREQUISITES

There are no specific requirements

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of 54 hours of lectures (equivalent to 9 ECTS credits), during which both theoretical foundations and practical case studies will be presented and discussed. Selected readings and relevant legal texts will be made available on the Aulaweb platform to support further analysis and collective discussion.

Students will be encouraged to present case law or topics of individual interest to the class.

Occasionally, guest speakers such as legal professionals, scholars, and experts may be invited to lecture on current issues, in order to provide students with greater insight into the real-world application of constitutional law.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), disabilities or other educational needs are invited to contact the teacher and the Department's disability liaison officer at the beginning of the course to agree on any teaching methods that, in accordance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning styles.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course explores Constitutional Law in light of contemporary environmental and social transformations, with a particular focus on the relationship between law, nature, and human coexistence. The approach is interdisciplinary, combining theoretical and practical perspectives, and aims at fostering a critical reading of constitutional phenomena.

Key topics:

• Form of the State and environmental constitutionalism
  Evolution of the forms of the State and of fundamental rights, with specific reference to Article 9 of the Italian Constitution.
• Constitutional justice
  In-depth study of constitutional justice and the role of constitutional courts.
• EU Constitutional Law
  Fundamental principles of the EU legal order and the multi-level protection of rights.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Materials for attending and non-attending students:

- P. Costanzo, Codice di Giustizia costituzionale, Giappichelli, Torino, 2022, XIII ed.

- P. Costanzo, L. Mezzetti, A. Ruggeri, L. Trucco, Lineamenti di diritto costituzionale dell'Unione europea, Giappichelli, Torino 2026 (VIII ed.)

Specific indications on reference bibliography will be provided by the professor at the beginning of the lectures.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://giurisprudenza.unige.it/didattica_lezioni

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is oral and typically consists of three to four open-ended questions.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral examination is designed to assess the student’s actual knowledge and understanding of the core theoretical concepts, as well as their ability to critically connect the various topics covered during the course and to identify relevant legal norms in relation to specific practical cases.

Students having a valid certification of disability or Specific Learning Disorders (DSA)  may request the use of compensatory measures during the exams (e.g. additional time and/or concept maps), following the guidelines (p. 5) published here. In any case, for further information, please contact the Department’s disability liaison: Isa.Fanlo@unige.it .

FURTHER INFORMATION

Ask the professor for other information not included in the teaching schedule.