Italy’s Parliament operates under a unique system of perfect bicameralism where both houses are equal.
In short: Unlike most parliamentary systems, the Italian Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic hold identical legislative powers. This structure, which requires both houses to approve the exact same text for a bill to become law, creates a rigorous, often repetitive process designed to ensure absolute consensus in governance.
The Italian Parliament serves as the representative body of the Italian Republic, tracing its lineage through the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Kingdom of Italy. Today, it is a bicameral legislature consisting of 400 deputies and 200 elected senators. Following a 2020 constitutional referendum, these numbers were reduced from previous totals of 630 and 315, respectively, a reform that had been under discussion since the 1980s.
The legislative process, or iter legis, is defined by its symmetry. A bill must be passed by both houses in the same form. If one house amends a proposal, it must return to the other for further review, a cycle often described as shuttling or dribbling. This ensures that the two houses remain independent, meeting jointly only for specific constitutional functions, such as electing the President of the Republic or appointing judges to the Constitutional Court.
Beyond lawmaking, Parliament provides political direction to the executive branch. The Council of Ministers requires a vote of confidence from both houses to function, and Parliament retains the power to issue motions of no confidence. Furthermore, the Constitution is protected by a rigid amendment process. Constitutional laws require two readings in each house; if they fail to achieve a two-thirds majority in the second vote, they may be subject to a national referendum.
The Senate also includes a small number of senators for life, including former Presidents of the Republic and up to five citizens appointed for outstanding merits in social, scientific, artistic, or literary fields. While the voting age is eighteen for both houses, the age of candidacy differs: deputies must be at least twenty-five, while elected senators must be at least forty.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Italian Parliament
- Also: Art Institute of Chicago — Houses of Parliament, London · CC0 (data); description CC BY 4.0
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