Politics of Istalia

The Istalian Republic is a secular democratic republic based on the rules of law and on a rigid Constitution which provides the separation of the three Powers of the State. During most part of its history Istalia adopted a Parliamentary System and experienced also periods as Presidential Republic but currently it is a Semi-Presidential Republic in which the President of the Republic (Istalian: Presidente della Repubblica), as Head of State, and a Prime Minister, called President of the Council of Ministers (Istalian: Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri) as Head of Government, share the Executive Power. The Legislative power is exercised by a bicameral Parliament, the Parliament of the Istalian Republic (Istalian: Parlamento della Repubblica Istaliana) formed by the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic (Istalian: Camera dei Deputati and Senato della Repubblica. The Judiciary is vested in the two bodies: the Supreme Tribunal of Cassation (Istalian: Tribunale Supremo di Cassazione) and the Supreme Court (Istalian: Corte Suprema); alongside these institutions there also other constitutional entities which assures the indipendency of the Judiciary.

The Executive
As said the Istalian Republic adopt a Semi-Presidential system. The President of the Republic is directly elected by the citizens with a two round majority system and as per Constitution he represents the Nation, guarantees its independence, the respect of the International Treaties and see to it that the Constitution is observed. It is his duty to propose appoint the Prime Minister and propose a Cabinet to the Parliament for the confiance. Together with the government and the President of the Council of Minister he lead Istalia's executive but only in case of Parliament support for the President: in this system if the party or coalition that support the elected President gained the majority, the appointment of a President of the Council of the President's majority party or coalition grants to the the latter a strong leadership on the national policy, but in the case that the majority is gained by an opposite coalition, the President will act as a figurehead of Istalia leaving to the President of the Council the effective executive powers.

The Legislative
The Legislature of Istalia is based on an imperfect bicameral syatem. It is composed by Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic, respectively 635 and 100 seats (4231). The Senate is a chamber of the region and act as advisory body and legislative proposer for local matter. The Senate is elected with a semi-parliamentary proportional system, on regional basis. The Chamber of Deputies is the only government body which can approve the laws and give the confidence to the Government (and also a vote of no-confidence). The Chamber is elected with a proportional system but with the correction of an electoral law Electoral Law called "Honoris" which allows and promotes the formation of pre-electoral coalition for the parties, especially those which support a common candidate to the Presidency, a system which introduces majoritarian tendencies and a strong coalition responsibility which forces to a greater stability, however the formation of coalitions is not mandatory and in this case the formation of a majority follow the logic of post-electoral deals.

The Judiciary
The Istalian judicial system is based on the Augustan law modified by a Civil Code created on the basis of the Canrillaise's codes and then by later statutes. Its independency and protection from the executive branch, respecting the principle of the power separation, is assured by a special constitutional protection. The Ministry of Justice handles the administration of courts and judiciary, including paying salaries or constructing new courthouses. The Ministry of Justice and that of the Infrastructures fund and the Ministry of Justice and that of the Interiors administer the prison system. Lastly, the Ministry of Justice receives and processes applications for presidential pardons and proposes legislation dealing with matters of civil or criminal justice. Alongside the Ministry of Justice existes the High Council of the Judiciary (istalian: Alto Consiglio della Giustizia) is a self-governing institution in order to insure the autonomy and independence of the judiciary from the other branches of the state, particularly the executive, according to the principle of the separation of powers expressed in the Italian Constitution. The High Council handles the appointment of magistrates (always through a public examination, assignment of magistrates to a specific role, promotions, transfers, subsidies for magistrates and their families, appointment of some magistrates to the Supreme Court of Cassation, the appointment and removal of honorary magistrates. The Supreme Tribunal of Cassation (istalian: Tribunale Supremo di Cassazione) is the highest court of last resort for most disputes in Istalia for both criminal and civil appeal cases while the Supreme Court (istalian: Corte Suprema) has a duty of judicial review of the laws and can strike down legislation as being in conflict with the Constitution.