Constitutional Court of Italy
| Constitutional Court | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Established |
1948 (in the Constitution) 1955 (effective) |
| Country |
 Italian Republic |
| Location | Rome, Italy |
| Composition method | Elected/appointed in equal portions by Italian Parliament, President of the Italian Republic, and highest Italian courts |
| Authorized by | Constitution of Italy |
| Judge term length | 9 years (not renewable) |
| No. of positions | 15 |
| Website | Official website |
| President of the Court | |
| Currently | Paolo Grossi |
| Since | 24 February 2016 |
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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Italy |
| Constitution |
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Legislature |
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| Foreign relations |
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Related topics |
The Constitutional Court of the Italian Republic (Italian: Corte costituzionale della Repubblica Italiana) is the highest court of Italy in matters of constitutional law. Sometimes, the name Consulta is used as a metonym for it, because its sessions are held in Palazzo della Consulta in Rome.
The Court was established by the republican Constitution of Italy in 1948, but it became operative only in 1955 after the enactment of the Constitutional Law n. 1 of 1953 and the Law n. 87 of 1953.[1] It held its first hearing in 1956.
Powers
According to Article 134[2] of the Constitution, the Court shall pass judgement on
- controversies on the constitutional legitimacy of laws issued by the State and Regions and when the Court declares a law unconstitutional, the law ceases to have effect the day after the publication of the ruling;
- conflicts arising from allocation of powers of the State and those powers allocated to State and Regions, and between Regions;
- charges brought against the President.
Composition
The Constitutional Court is composed of 15 judges for the term of service of nine years: 5 appointed by the President, 5 elected by the Parliament of Italy[3] and 5 elected by the ordinary and administrative supreme courts. Candidates need to be either lawyers with twenty years or more experience, full professors of law, or (former) judges of the Supreme Administrative, Civil and Criminal tribunals.[4] The members then elect the President of the Court, since 12 November 2014 this has been Alessandro Criscuolo. The President is elected from among its members in a secret ballot, by an absolute majority (8 votes in the case of a full court). If no person gets that many votes, a runoff election between the two judges with the most votes occurs. One or two vice-presidents, appointed by the President of the Court, stand in for the president in the event of his absence for any reason. The constitutional court passes on the constitutionality of laws with no right of appeal.
The court is a post-World War II innovation. Since 12 October 2007, when reform of the Italian intelligence agencies approved in August 2007 came into force, the pretext of state secret cannot be used to deny access to documents by the Court.
Membership
- Appointed by
President of Italy Courts of Italy Parliament of Italy
| Portrait | Name | Appointed by | Date elected | Date sworn in | End of term | Type of membership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Paolo Grossi | President (Giorgio Napolitano) | 7 February 2009 | 23 February 2009 | 23 February 2018 | President (since 24 February 2016) |
 | Alessandro Criscuolo | Courts (Court of Cassation) | 28 October 2008 | 11 November 2008 | 11 November 2017 | Judge[5] |
 | Giorgio Lattanzi | Courts (Court of Cassation) | 19 November 2010 | 9 December 2010 | 9 December 2019 | Vice President (since 12 November 2014) |
 | Aldo Carosi | Courts (Court of Audit) | 17 July 2011 | 13 September 2011 | 13 September 2020 | Vice President (since 24 February 2016) |
 | Marta Cartabia | President (Giorgio Napolitano) | 2 September 2011 | 13 September 2011 | 13 September 2020 | Vice President (since 12 November 2014) |
 | Mario Rosario Morelli | Courts (Court of Cassation) | 18 November 2011 | 12 December 2011 | 12 December 2020 | Judge |
 | Giancarlo Coraggio | Courts (Council of State) | 19 November 2012 | 28 January 2013 | 28 January 2022 | Judge |
 | Giuliano Amato | President (Giorgio Napolitano) | 12 September 2013 | 18 September 2013 | 18 September 2022 | Judge |
 | Silvana Sciarra | Parliament (17th Legislature) | 6 November 2014 | 11 November 2014 | 11 November 2023 | Judge |
 | Daria de Pretis | President (Giorgio Napolitano) | 18 October 2014 | 11 November 2014 | 11 November 2023 | Judge |
 | Nicolò Zanon | President (Giorgio Napolitano) | 18 October 2014 | 11 November 2014 | 11 November 2023 | Judge |
 | Franco Modugno | Parliament (17th Legislature) | 16 December 2015 | 21 December 2015 | 21 December 2024 | Judge |
 | Augusto Barbera | Parliament (17th Legislature) | 16 December 2015 | 21 December 2015 | 21 December 2024 | Judge |
 | Giulio Prosperetti | Parliament (17th Legislature) | 16 December 2015 | 21 December 2015 | 21 December 2024 | Judge |
 | Vacancy | Parliament | TBD | TBD | TBD | Judge |
See also
References
- ↑ url=http://www.governo.it/Presidenza/CONTENZIOSO/contenzioso_costituzionale/documentazione/L_19530311_87.pdf
- ↑ "The Italian Constitution" (PDF). The official website of the Presidency of the Italian Republic.
- ↑ Parliament appoints judges with increasing delay: see (in Italian)Giuseppe Salvaggiulo, Consulta, sfregio infinito. Ventisei votazioni fallite, in La Stampa, 3 October 2015 and (in Italian)Giampiero Buonomo, Negoziazione politica e Parlamento...Non solo risate, in Avanti online, 26 August 2015.
- ↑ Justin O. Frosini and Sara Pennicino (2 February 2007). "Report from Italy". thecourt.ca. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ Criscuolo had been President of the Constitutional Court from November 2014 to February 2016, when he resigned from the office for family reasons.
External links
Coordinates: 41°53′57″N 12°29′15″E / 41.8991°N 12.4875°E