00222 - Constitutional Law

Learning outcomes

The student will study the system of sources of law, fundamental rights, government bodies, forms of government and State forms. He will also study the territorial structure of the Italian State. Particular attention will be devoted to the study of economic freedoms, as well as provide students with the creation of a capacity for critical.

Course contents

Society, Law and the State: the characteristics of the legal phenomenon and constituent elements of the State, the fundamental principles that govern the state organization - The system of sources of law, the notion of Constitution - The rights situations and juridical situations - The form of government in Italy: Parliament, the legislative power and the activity of political - institutions of direct democracy: the referendum and the legislative initiative by the people - The executive power: government and public administration - The judiciary - The President of the Republic - The Constitutional Court - The freedoms: rights and duties of citizens, negative freedom and positive freedom - the autonomy of social formations - The system of territorial autonomy: regions, provinces and municipalities.
The special part of the course will in-depth the issues relating to the constitutional law of the European Union, constitutional justice, human rights, territorial autonomy and economic freedom.

Readings/Bibliography

The basic text for the preparation of the General Part of the examination is:

L. Mezzetti, Manuale breve di Diritto Costituzionale, Giuffré, Milano, 2015.

For the preparation of the exam is also recommended to consult a Constitutional Law Code [L. Mezzetti-M. Belletti, Codice costituzionale, IV edizione, Giappichelli Editore, Torino, 2012].

For the special part the students must see the teacher web page unibo under Alerts, which will be systematically updated.

Teaching methods

Classes are held primarily with the traditional method of lecture. The oral lesson will be accompanied by the constant use of diagrams to aid understanding, the use of slides and the comment of the judgments that will be distributed.

The course will consist of a General Part, where the issues will be dealt from the more general to the specific and on a Special Part, which changes depending on the specialization chosen by the student.

Assessment methods

The lectures will be held in the first half of the year and therefore students who are enrolled in the first year of the studies may take the exam in the month of January 2016.
The exam consists of an oral exam where the students must demonstrate that they know to master the main parts of the program, particularly with regard to the sources of law, the system of fundamental freedoms, the system of constitutional justice and constitutional bodies in their mutual relationship.

Thesis
The assignment of the thesis takes place prior motivational interview with the teacher.
Copy of the thesis must be handed to the teacher at least one month before the filing of the Student Secretariat.

Teaching tools

In addition to traditional subject of study, as manuals, books for special part of the Constitutional Code, during the lectures will be distributed judgments, mainly of the Constitutional Court, on the most significant points of the program and the most recent legislation. The judgments will be discussed in the classroom and will serve as a useful aid for students.

Office hours

See the website of Michele Belletti