President of Italy
The President of the Italian Republic (Italian Presidente della Repubblica Italiana ) is in accordance with the constitutional head of state of Italy and the symbol of its unity.
Competencies
The President is one of the six constitutional bodies ( electorate, parliament, government, president, Supreme Council of the jurisdiction, the Constitutional Court ). His role in this context is overweight in the BUOYANCY these organs and can be understood in the substance as a control function in the context of the idea of separation of powers. In addition to this role, he has as state insignia purely representative function to the outside and inside. These two features are also reflected in the duties of the president again. The tasks are on the one hand material (ie it is at their discretion whether and how it carries out that task) and on the other hand, a purely formal (ie he has no discretion on whether and the how of the exercise of the task). Examples: At the formal duties according to the constitution include the standard mainly representative functions. He is commander of the armed forces, a purely formal task unless posing a danger to the constitutional order of the armed forces. He promulgates the laws and acts of government with the force of law ( law- dispositions representative and emergency decrees ), due in a purely formal duties with the exception of one-time right to veto laws. In addition, he places them in the provided in the Constitution, the conduct of referendums on a pure formal task, as has previously ruled on the admissibility of the issue to the Constitutional Court and of the existence of the conditions ( validity and number of signatures collected ) of the Court of Cassation. Among the substantive tasks, participation in government, education plays a significant political role as the official leadership of Giorgio Napolitano has shown impressive. He also exercises the / the right of pardon, a purely material object. A significant impact on the BUOYANCY the branches of government is to order the material power of 5 of the 15 Constitutional Court judges. Also to determine the power 5 senators for life, is a purely physical power which does not have to be insignificant in the sometimes narrow majorities in the elected senators. A material power, it has to be addressed also messages to the chamber, power, which it hardly exercised. In the constitutional reality it often plays a crucial role in the management of government crises, which were significantly more frequent in the Republic of Italy in the second half of the 20th century than in other European countries. Here, a factor of the President as his most important power the material powers are to designate the Prime Minister to order the dissolution of the parliament ( one chamber or both ), which specify when the new government fails its constitutionally assigned task can not meet. He allowed this power but in the last six months of his mandate, not exercise, unless they agree with the last six months of the term of Parliament, in whole or in part in agreement ( so-called white semester).
Choice
At the election of the president requires a qualified ( special ) majority. This difficult -to-reach majority, the else comes in different form for constitutional revisions to the application, in particular, serves a broad consensus on the person of the president. In particular, the qualified majority consists in the following procedure difficult choice: The president is elected by the Parliament in joint session ( parlamento in seduta comune ), ie the two chambers of parliament (consisting of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate ) enter into joint session together in the house of the Senate. In addition, the voting MPs are supplemented by representatives of 20 regions: three per region, with the exception of Aosta Valley, which may send only one representative. The election of the President takes place in a secret ballot election of the assembled body, which should guarantee the independence of the electorate. There is a need for the purpose of broad consensus of a two-thirds majority. Can not find the candidates in the first three rounds this two-thirds majority, enough thereafter for each subsequent ballot, an absolute majority. Selectable in this office are all citizens who have reached the age of fifty years of age and are in full possession of their civil and political rights. The regular term of office is seven years. The Constitution contains no express limitation on the re-eligibility of the incumbent for one or more further terms.
The only re-elected president is the incumbent President Giorgio Napolitano.
Residence
The official residence of the President is located in the Quirinale Palace in Rome. In addition, a villa in Castelporziano, near Rome, and the Villa Rosebery him stand in Naples available.
Representation and end of term
The powers of the President are taken in his absence temporarily from the President of the Senate. For permanent prevention, for cancellation or in case of death, the assembly at least 15 days from the date of termination of the term of office shall meet the latest, to elect a new president. The meeting shall be convened by the President of the Chamber of Deputies. If both chambers of parliament has been dissolved or absent for less than three months to the end of the term, as the time allotted for this case period applies.
All former presidents are after the end of their term of right life senators.
Immunity and prosecution
The President enjoys all in the exercise of his Atmes carried out operations complete immunity. However, this does not apply to high treason or breach of the constitution. In both cases, it is made by the Parliament in joint session under indictment. Both chambers of parliament can then decide an indictment by an absolute majority of its members.