OVERVIEW

The “Constitutional Law” course focuses on the fundamental institutions of Italian constitutional law.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning outcomes are the following: (a) allowing first-year student to understand how the fundamental tools of Constitutional Law work; (b) applying theoretical concepts to practical cases; (c) learning legal Italian and legal methodologies.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attending and actively participating in classes, and individual study will allow students to:

Understand the functioning of the fundamental institutions of Italian constitutional law, with particular attention to the form of government, the system of sources of law, the Constitutional Court, the system of regions and local authorities, as well as constitutional rights;

Identify the mutual interconnections between the different concepts;

Use this knowledge with reference to practical legal consequences, specifically connected to those areas of constitutional law concerning legal services for businesses and public administration;

Acquire the indispensable legal language and mindset of public law;

Critically evaluate historical-legal and political-social current affairs;

Develop the ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form, to adapt one's communication to the context, to use sources and aids of various kinds.

PREREQUISITES

Basic knowledge of Italian history and current political debate.

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of 54 hours (9 CFU). During the course, after having illustrated some fundamental notions (law, Constitution, State, sovereignty, democracy, forms of State and government), through the reference to the main theories of Kelsen and Santi Romano, the fundamental concepts concerning Italian constitutional law, with particular attention to the form of government, the system of sources, the Constitutional Court, the system of regions and local authorities, as well as constitutional rights, will be analysed.

During the lessons, the Professor will try to stimulate the active participation of students in debates on the most controversial legal issues, especially current political-constitutional issues.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), disabilities or other educational needs and having complied with Unige procedures (described here) who need compensatory measures to prepare the exams or during the exams are invited to contact the teacher 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. For requesting Unige services for students with disabilities and other information, please visit https://giurisprudenza.unige.it/serv_disabili. For further information, please visit https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa and contact the Department's disability liaison officer (isa.fanlo@unige.it).

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Fundamental notions (law, Constitution, State, sovereignty, democracy, forms of State and government)

Italian constitutional history

The sources of Italian law

The Italian form of government

The Constitutional Court

The regions and local authorities

Constitutional rights

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For students who attend classes

P. Caretti-U. De Siervo, Diritto costituzionale e pubblico, Torino, Giappichelli, 2023 (Capitoli I, II, III, IV, VI, VII, VIII, IX, XII, XIII, XV, XVI)

For students who do not attend classes

P. Caretti-U. De Siervo, Diritto costituzionale e pubblico, Torino, Giappichelli, 2023

For all students

The text of the Italian Constitution

The aforementioned program is for students enrolled for the first time in the first year in the academic year 2026/27 as well as, starting from May 2027, also for all other students. For the latter, up to and including February 2027, the previous program of the Constitutional Law course applies (unless the students themselves wish to bring the new program)

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam, with three/four open questions

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral exam aims to ascertain the actual achievement of the expected learning outcomes. In particular, the questions allow us to ascertain the students' ability to understand the functioning of the fundamental institutes of Constitutional Law, with particular attention to the functioning of the form of State and the form of government, the system of sources and rights in general, with a specific focus on the right to health and the right to social assistance; to use this knowledge, especially from the perspective of professions related to legal services for businesses and public administration; to acquire the indispensable legal language and mindset; to critically evaluate historical-legal and political-social current affairs.

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

FURTHER INFORMATION

For any other information, please contact the Professor  ( enrico.albanesi@unige.it ).