03639 - Regional Law

Learning outcomes

The student will acquire a solid knowledge of the founding principles of the Italian Regional law through a deeper understanding of general theory of law, sources of law, fundamental rights, constitutional bodies and the regional form of state.  On the basis of the given criteria the student will be able to distinguish federal from regional, confederate or unitary experiences, also referring to historical and comparative data.  Secondly, the student will obtain the ability to comprehend normative texts, including the Constitution, and primary and secondary sources of law.  Along with the juridical theory and method, the student will also learn the constitutional practices, above all through the development of the capacity to interpret and utilize constitutional case law, and will develop the ability to integrate the traditional jurisprudence with the public law and economics approach.  At the end of the Course the student will be able to develop in an autonomous way research aimed at finding and application of regional law and case law.  

Course contents

The objective of the Regional law course is the study of regional and local legal systems through the knowledge of the structure and functions of Italian territorial authorities, in light of the constitutional model and its changes introduced with constitutional statutes n. 1/1999, n. 2/2001, n. 3/2001.  The dynamics of Italian regionalism will be particularly developed in the context of traceable processes in comparative law and new tendencies in the cooperation and competition among territorial authorities and the delocalization of administrative functions.

The syllabus includes:

1. General concepts: unitary State, federal State, regional State and confederations. 2. The evolution of the Italian regionalism from constitutional models to the reform of Title V, Part II of the Constitution. 3. The unity of the Republic and institutional pluralism. The regional constitutional autonomy. 4. Sources of law.  Regional statutes. Legislative power at the regional and state level.  Executive orders. Local sources of law.  5.  The form of regional government: constitutional models and regional variations. 6. Fundamental regional bodies.  The president, the councilm the executive power, the local authorities council. 7. The local form of government. 8. The public administration. 9. Institutional relationships: State, regional, EU. 10. Financial autonomy and fiscal federalism. 11. The constitutional warranties. 12. Transformation of the regional legal system: cooperation and competition among territorial authorities and the delocalization of administrative functions.

Readings/Bibliography

All exchange (Socrates/Erasmus) students will have to prepare the exam on the following text:

S. BARTOLE, R. BIN, G. FALCON, R. TOSI, Diritto regionale. Dopo le riforme, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2005 o edizione più recente. 

To better prepare for the exam it will be helpful - but not obligatory - the consultation of A. MORRONE (ed.), Il diritto regionale nella giurisprudenza e nelle fonti, Padova, Cedam, 2005. and M. ABRESCIA, G. NAPOLITANO, Analisi economica del diritto pubblico.  Teorie, applicazioni e limiti, Bologna, il Mulino, 2009 (especially chap. VII).

The exam will consist only of an oral examination with the Professor.

Normative texts - collection
To better prepare for the exam it will be helpful the consultation of the following collection of normative texts:
1) L. Califano (a cura di), La Costituzione della repubblica italiana, Rimini, Maggioli, 2006;
2) M. Bassani, V. Italia, G. Bottino, M. Della Torre, A. Zucchetti (eds.), Leggi fondamentali del diritto pubblico e costituzionale, Milano, Giuffré, 2008;
3) P. Costanzo (ed.), Testi normativi per lo studio del diritto costituzionale italiano ed europeo, Torino, Giappichelli, 2006;
4) A. Cariola (ed.), Le leggi dell'organizzazione costituzionale, Milano, Giuffrè, 2006;
5) L. Mezzetti, M. Belletti (eds.), Codice costituzionale, Torino, Giappichelli, 2008;

To read parliamentary works of the Italian Constitutional Assembly refer to:  Lavori dell'Assemblea costituente - Motore di ricerca.  For comparative constitutional law: P. Biscaretti di Ruffìa (ed.), Le costituzioni di dieci stati di democrazia stabilizzata, Milano, Giuffrè, 1994, volume I; Id., Le costituzioni di sette stati di recente ristrutturazione, Milano, Giuffrè, 1996, volume II; e di E. Palici di Suni Prat, F. Cassella, M. Comba (eds.), Le costituzioni dei paesi dell'Unione Europea, Torino, Giappichelli, 2001.  For updated constitutional texts: http://confinder.richmond.edu/

Updated Italian Constitutional case law
Please refer to:
1. www.giurcost.it
2. www.cortecostituzionale.it (official website).

Teaching methods

Lectures

Lectures will be hold during the Spring semester, beginning March 2011, according to the calendar that will soon be announced.  The classroom will be located at the Faculty of Law, via Zamboni 22, Bologna.

Attendance to lectures will be verified on a weekly basis.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of an oral interview with the teaching assistants and the Professor.

Teaching tools

Seminars – During the Course the Professor will organize a series of meetings and activities to deepen the understanding of the course materials, also through moot courts and practical applications based on actual constitutional case law.

 

Other information, documentation and study material will be made available on the Internet website of the Course.  

Links to further information

http://www.unibo.it/SitoWebDocente/default.htm?MAT=34185

Office hours

See the website of Michele Abrescia