India vs. Italy

A Constitutional comparison

Italy and India

Both states were founded in recent years

The Italian Republic was

born after World War II, on

2nd June 1946

The Republic of India was founded on 26th January 1950...

This was the day when the Constitution entered in

force.

What do these two states have in common?

They both are

ParliamentaryDemocratic

ConstitutionalRepublics

Democratic Republic

A democratic republic is a form of state in which the power rests with the people, who choose

those who govern them through free elections

Through elections, people elect the Parliament

Parliamentary

In a parliamentary republic, the Parliament is the most important body of the state:

• It creates laws• It appoints the President and the Council of

Ministers• It controls the work of the Council of

Ministers

Constitutional

A constitutional state is a state in which the government is bounded by a

constitution

The fundamental law of the state

What is the use of a constitution?

1.It lays down and protects fundamental rights

• Equality before the law• Right to vote• Freedom of thought, speech, religion...

2.It establishes the structures of the state:

The Government, which exerts the executive power

The power to control the execution of the laws

The Parliament, which exerts the legislative power

The power to make law

The judiciary, which exerts the judiciary power

The power to punish those who do not respect the law

What is the main difference between Italy and India?

India is a federal state

Italy is a unitary state

Unitary state

A state with only one central government(one Parliament, one Council of Ministries, one

Judiciary) deciding on all national matters

Federal state

A union of states which are united by a central government.

The states can decide autonomously on certain matters, but other ones (warfare, foreign policy,

money) are a competence of the central government.

Can you tell the name of any state of India?And the name of any other federal state in the world?

Now it’s up to you!

• Why do we celebrate Republic Day?• What is India and Italy’s form of state?• What does the word “democracy” mean?• What powers does the parliament exercise?• What is a constitution and what does it

contain?• What are the differences between an unitary

and a federal state?