Instructional goals
The course aims to provide critical knowledge of methods and procedures of the parliamentary work in Italy, also in relationship with other elective assemblies such as the European Parliament.
Prerequisites
Public Law; European Union Law
Intended learning outcomes
Applying Knowledge and Understanding: Ability to reconstruct and analyze parliamentary proceedings through official parliamentary sources, including legislative procedures, parliamentary oversight activities and EU-related procedures.
Autonomy of judgment: Ability to assess parliamentary procedures and practices in light of constitutional rules, principles, and parliamentary precedents.
Communication Skills: Ability to summarize, discuss, and critically comment on Constitutional Court judgments and key institutions of parliamentary law, both orally and in writing.
Learning Skills: Ability to independently analyze parliamentary developments, legislative history, and related constitutional jurisprudence.
Course Contents
1. The Euro-national parliamentary system
2. Politics and its limits
3. Evolution of parliamentary Rules of Procedure
4. Sources of Parliamentary law.
5. The status of MPs and political representation
6. The presiding officer
7. The political groups
8. The parliamentary committees
9. The function of Parliament
10. The parliamentary procedures
11. Italian Parliament in the EU
12. The European Parliament
Reference Books
Core Textbooks
L. GIANNITI-N. LUPO, Corso di diritto parlamentare, IV ed., Il mulino, Bologna, 2023.
N. LUPO-A. MANZELLA, Il Parlamento Europeo, II ed., LUP, Roma, 2025
F.S. TONIATO, Codice parlamentare, Giuffrè, Milano, 2025.
Latest version of the Rules of Procedures of the Chamber of Deputies and of the Senate
Teaching Methods
Lectures and class discussions, guest contributions from parliamentary officials, practical exercises using the official websites of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, presentations on Constitutional Court judgments, simulations of parliamentary procedures.
Constant reference will be made to current political and institutional developments, viewed as practical applications of the rules and procedures examined during the course.
Assessment Method
The final grade will be based on an intermediate written test (30%) and a final oral examination (70%).
During the course, students will be invited to present and discuss a Constitutional Court judgment in class. Active participation in these activities may be taken into account in the final assessment.
Thesis assignment criteria
Final mark higher than 27. Vivid interest for the public law courses
Week 1
The Euro-National Parliamentary System within the European Composite Constitution
Procedures and Institutions of the Euro-National Parliamentary System
Week 2
Politics and Its Limits: The Concept and Historical Evolution of Parliamentary Law
Parliamentary Transparency in the Digital Age: The Websites of the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate, and the European Parliament
Week 3
Sources of Parliamentary Law
Week 4
The Status of MPs and Political Representation
Constitutional Court Case Law on Parliamentary Law: General Remarks and Preparation for Student Presentations
Week 5
Class Presentations: The Constitutional Court's Jurisprudence on Parliamentary Rules of Procedure and Parliamentary Immunities
Week 6
The presiding officer
Parliamentary Groups and Committees
Week 7
Parliamentary Functions
Week 8
Parliamentary Procedures: Confidence Procedures
Week 9
Parliamentary Procedures: Legislative Procedures
Week 10
Euro-National Budgetary Procedures
Parliamentary Procedures: Oversight and political direction procedures
Week 11
European Procedures in the Italian Parliament
Week 12
The European Parliament