31561 - Administrative Law and Public Procurement Law

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will:

• acquire knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles and main legal institutions of Administrative Law;
• be able to apply the knowledge acquired to solve legal issues and effectively communicate the proposed solutions;
• develop independent critical judgment in the interpretation and assessment of legal rules;
• acquire learning skills that will enable them to pursue further academic studies and support access to a wide range of professional careers.

Course contents

1. The Administrative Legal System: Solidarity, Substantive Equality, and the Balancing of Public and Private Interests
2. Sources of Law and the Regulatory Function.
3. Unilateral Determination of Legal Relationships and Interests.
4. Administrative Acts.
5. Administrative Procedure.
6. Public Administration and Institutional Organization.
7. Public Services.
8. Safeguards and Supervision within the Administrative Legal System.
9. Duties and Liability.
10. Public Property and Assets of Public Interest.
11. Public Procurement and Contracting Activities of Public Authorities.
12. The Public Procurement Code.

Readings/Bibliography

The textbooks will be selected and agreed upon with students during the course, taking into account their academic interests, preferred level of study, and specific learning needs.

The lecturer is available during weekly office hours (online every Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.) to provide guidance, answer questions, and discuss individualized study plans.

Students attending classes may take the examination on the basis of lecture notes. Handouts and presentation slides will also be provided.

* * *

Guidelines from the manuals for students' choices:

for Administrative Law:

• Manuale di diritto amministrativo, M. Clarich, 7. ed., Il Mulino, 2026, p. 520;
• Compendio di diritto amministrativo 2026. Con aggiornamento online, F. Caringella, 4. ed., Dike Giuridica, 2026, p. 438;
• Compendio di diritto amministrativo 2026. Nuova ediz., R. Garofoli, 16. ed., Neldiritto Editore, 2026, p. 688;
• Manuale di diritto amministrativo, G. della Cananea, M. Dugato, B. Marchetti, A. Police, M. Ramajoli, 3. ed., Giappichelli, 2025, p. 487;
• Compendio di diritto amministrativo, E. Casetta, a cura di F. Fracchia, 25. ed. riveduta e aggiornata, Lefebvre Giuffrè, 2025, p. 574;

furthermore, for Public Procurement Law:

• Le basi del diritto dei contratti pubblici, S. Fantini, H. Simonetti, 4. ed., Giuffrè Francis Lefebvre, 2024, p. 266;
• Manuale breve di diritto dei contratti pubblici, A. Meale, 2. ed., Pacini Giuridica, 2024, p. 392.

Very useful readings for students' in-depth study and reflections can be found in:

R. GAROFOLI, B.G. MATTARELLA, Governare la fragilità. Istituzioni, sicurezza nazionale, competitività, Milano, Mondadori, 2025.

Teaching methods

Teaching will be delivered through face-to-face lectures.

Particular emphasis will be placed on discussion and direct interaction with students, both during lectures and throughout the lecturer's scheduled office hours.

To further enrich the learning experience, the course will include seminars and meetings with distinguished representatives of civil society and experts from Public Institutions, aimed at exploring practical methodologies and real-world applications of administrative activity.

The course is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in Administrative Law, enabling them to understand its practical implications and to develop the skills necessary for professional practice and future employment.

Students are encouraged to regularly consult the lecturer's official website for announcements, updates, and information concerning the course.

Assessment methods

The final examination consists of an oral exam, and grades are awarded on a scale of 30 points.

The oral examination covers all topics listed in the Course Contents and is intended to assess students' understanding of the concepts and legal institutions addressed throughout the course.

Assessment criteria are as follows:

• 18–19: Very limited preparation. Basic responses to questions with little use of technical legal language.
• 20–23: Satisfactory preparation. Acceptable answers demonstrating some use of legal terminology.
• 24–27: Good preparation. Accurate and relevant answers supported by appropriate legal language.
• 28–29: Very good preparation. Comprehensive answers with precise legal terminology and well-developed reasoning.
• 30: Excellent preparation. Thorough knowledge of the subject, highly appropriate legal language, and systematic presentation.
• 30 with Honors (30 cum laude): Outstanding and exceptional preparation. Excellent answers demonstrating in-depth study, advanced legal reasoning, intellectual maturity, and an exceptionally clear and analytical presentation.

In accordance with University and Department regulations, registration for the final examination must be completed through the University's online portal within the prescribed deadlines.

Degree thesis

No waiting list is required for thesis supervision.

Thesis assignments are made following an interview with the lecturer during scheduled office hours.

The appointment of a co-supervisor, where appropriate, must be previously agreed upon with the thesis supervisor.

The following are some useful guidelines for the preparation of the undergraduate thesis.

1. Guidelines for the proper structure of the thesisThe undergraduate thesis should aim to provide an original and in-depth analysis of the subject matter. It should not be merely descriptive, nor should it consist of a historical overview of an entire field of study. Accordingly, in order to avoid digressions that might undermine the originality of the thesis and result instead in a merely compilatory treatment of the subject, it is strongly recommended that the analysis focus on a number of specific aspects pertaining to a clearly defined area of study.Useful guidance regarding the aspects to be examined in greater depth, as well as the essential sources to be consulted, may be provided to students during student office hours, as indicated in the course's academic guide.

2. Formatting guidelines and examples of proper citation of sourcesThe basic formatting requirements for the preparation of the thesis are as follows:

• Font: Times New Roman or Arial;
• Main text: 12 or 13-point font (footnotes should be in 10-point font);
• Left and right margins: 3.25 cm; top and bottom margins: 2.5 cm;
• Binding margin: 0.5 cm;
• Line spacing: 1.5.

For a sample undergraduate thesis, including the corresponding title page, please refer to the webpages of the degree programmes in Giurista per le imprese e per la pubblica amministrazione (GIPA), available at the following link: [https://corsi.unibo.it/laurea/GiuristaImpresa/redazione-tesi-voto-finale]
With regard to bibliographical, case-law, and legislative citations to be included in footnotes, the following are examples of the proper citation of sources:

- Monographs: [AUTHOR’S FIRST NAME INITIAL]. [AUTHOR’S SURNAME], [Title of the work], [Place of publication], [Publisher], [Year of publication], p. xxxExample: F. GALGANO, Diritto civile e commerciale, Padua, Cedam, 2004, p. 34;
- Contributions in edited volumes: [AUTHOR’S FIRST NAME INITIAL]. [AUTHOR’S SURNAME], [Title of the contribution], in [EDITOR’S FIRST NAME INITIAL]. [EDITOR’S SURNAME] (ed.), [Title of the edited volume], [Place of publication], [Publisher], [Year of publication], p. xxxExample: N. BOBBIO, Rappresentanza e interessi, in M. BOVERO (ed.), Teoria generale della politica, Turin, Einaudi, 1999, p. 416;
- Contributions to encyclopaedias: [AUTHOR’S FIRST NAME INITIAL]. [AUTHOR’S SURNAME], entry “[Title of the entry]”, in [Abbreviated title of the encyclopaedia], vol. [volume number], [Place of publication], [Publisher], [Year of publication], p. xxxExample: E. CANNADA-BARTOLI, entry “Interesse (diritto amministrativo)”, in Enc. dir., vol. XXII, Milan, Giuffré, 1972, p. 1;
- Contributions to legal treatises: [AUTHOR’S FIRST NAME INITIAL]. [AUTHOR’S SURNAME], [Title of the work], in [Title of the treatise], directed by [DIRECTOR’S FIRST NAME INITIAL]. [DIRECTOR’S SURNAME], [Place of publication], [Publisher], [Year of publication], p. xxxExample: N. ABRIANI, G. COTTINO, M. RICOLFI, Diritto industriale, in Trattato di diritto commerciale, directed by G. COTTINO, Padua, Cedam, 2001, p. 238;
- Journal articles: [AUTHOR’S FIRST NAME INITIAL]. [AUTHOR’S SURNAME], [Title of the contribution], in [Abbreviated journal title], [Year], p. xxxExample: M.R. SPASIANO, L’interesse pubblico e l’attività della P.A. nelle sue diverse forme, in Foro amm. T.A.R., 2005, p. 1825;
- Judicial decisions: [Abbreviated name of the adjudicating body], [where applicable, seat of the adjudicating body], [where applicable, chamber/section], [date of the decision], [decision no.]Examples: T.A.R. Campania, Naples, Section IX, 26 May 2025, No. 4022; Cons. Stato, Section IV, 17 June 2025, No. 5289.

 

 

Teaching tools

To support independent study and provide additional opportunities for in-depth learning, a variety of teaching materials will be made available through the website www.virtuale.it.

Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs) who require reasonable accommodations or compensatory measures are encouraged to inform the lecturer of their needs so that appropriate arrangements can be made in cooperation with the University's designated support services.

Office hours

See the website of Giuseppe Caia