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Direct Democracy

Italy

DD002

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	In the Constitution.
Source:	Constitution, Art. 71, 75, 87, 123, 132 and 138 https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified:	2020/07/18

DD003

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, Art. 75 https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified:	2020/07/18

DD004

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	The referendum request must be signed by 500,000 voters or presented by at least five regional councils. In a referendum, citizens are asked to vote to amend or repeal a law or other legal binding acts. No referendum is allowed for tax or budget laws, amnesties, pardons, or ratification of international treaties. The referendum succeeds if a majority of those eligible to vote have participated and if the proposal has received a majority of the valid votes. Another article of the Constitution regulates referendums for laws amending the Constitution and other constitutional acts. Such laws are submitted to popular referendum when, within three months of their publication, a request is made by one fifth of the members of either chamber, by 500.000 voters, or by five regional councils. No referendum may be carried out if the law has been approved by each chamber with a two thirds majority in the second round.
Source:	Constitution, Art. 75 and 138 https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified:	2020/07/18

DD005

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	When requested by 500,000 voters or by five regional councils, a popular referendum decides on total or partial repeal of a law or other legal binding acts.
Source:	Constitution, Art. 75 https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified:	2020/07/18

DD006

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	The people may introduce public initiatives consisting of a bill drafted in articles and signed by at least 50,000 voters.
Source:	Constitution, Art. 71 https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified:	2020/07/18

DD007

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, Art. 75 https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified:	2020/07/18

DD129

Question:	Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:	a. Always binding
Comments:	There is one specific example of consultative referendum in Italy. In 1989, an ad hoc Constitutional Law ("Legge Costituzionale 3 aprile 1989, n.2") amended the constitution for one specific case: to confer constitutional-drafting powers to the European Parliament.
Source:	Constitution, Art. 71, 75, 123, 132 and 138 https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified:	2020/07/18

DD130

Question:	Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:	c. Both constitutional and other issues
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, Art. 71, 75, 123, 132 and 138 https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified:	2020/07/18

DD131

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	The boundaries of regions and provinces can be modified with a referendum requested by the population involved. Each region has its own statute, and according to the Constitution it must contain direct democracy mechanisms for sub-national matters.
Source:	Constitution, Art. 123 and 138 https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012?lang=en
Verified:	2020/07/18

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