The objectives of this course are: 1. To introduce students to the ideas of constitution, constitutionalism and other main public law concepts, in a transnational dimension; 2. To develop in students an understanding of the relevant history and essential features of constitutions; the nature of the constitutional state and its interaction with regional and global institutions; the institutions of government and the relationship between them; the constitutional guarantees of fundamental rights and liberties; the basic principles of judicial review; the basics of public power in economic relationships. 3. To encourage a critical assessment of constitutionalism by reference to scholarship

Know - the impact of constitutional law on the society and its articulation; - the functions of the Constitution and its position in the legal system; - the structure of the institutional systems and the interaction with regional, international and global organisations - the role and content of constitutional rights; - the multilevel protection of rights. Identify the constitutional dimension of the problems and policies Solve practical cases by applying the knowledge acquired. Present oral and written arguments of a constitutional nature Working as a team and agreeing on common positions and defence strategies.

The course consists of three parts: the first is devoted to introduce the students to the basic concept of constitutionalism, including its emerging transnational dimension; the second is focused on institutions (legal, political, economic, regional and global) and the third on the protection of fundamental rights. The scope of the course is to introduce the students to master the fundamental concepts of public law, with specific regard to the relationship between democratic institution, the rule of law and the contemporary trends of constitutional democracies. Specific attention will be paid to the interaction of states with regional and global institutions, with a focus on the European Union as the most advanced experience of supranational constitutionalism

Roger Masterman and Robert Schütze (eds.), The Cambridge Companion to Comparative Constitutional Law, CUP, 2019 (selected parts). Further materials will be indicated in class or on the e-elearning page of the course

The course is based on the active participation of students. Starting from the third week, all classes will be opened by flipped classroom, with a short presentation of the students (individually or in small groups) so to stimulate discussion and critical approach to topics. Starting with week 3, classes will be opened with presentations by students, introducing the topic

At the end of the first two parts of the course, students can take, on a voluntary basis, a written exam, anticipating part of the workload for the final exam. Each test will consist on a series of open questions, to be answered in limited time and space. Each test will count 33% of the final mark, with the last 33% reserved to the final oral exam. The student can anyway decide to retake the I or the II part in the final oral exam.

Minimum grade: 27