law

ANGELO SCHILLACI

In-depth comprehension of themes and roots of comparative constitutional law; studying of comparative law in the books and comparative law in action; learning of adequate critical instruments in order to communicate acquired knowledge in written and oral form and to put in context comparative issues in future working life.

The course aims at providing knowledge in the field of comparative public law, focusing on the method of comparison in constitutional law, on the study of government in the light of the historical development of constitutionalism and on recognition of personal dignity and protection of fundamental rights.

The exam of constitutional law is preliminary. Good knowledge of public and private law, jurisprudence and history of law is required. Attending other courses of comparative law is recommended.

The course will be divided into four parts:
1) introduction to constitutional comparison, in the light of the relation between law, history and culture;
2) introduction to constitutionalism
3) Government
4) Fundamental Rights

- Textbook:

G. Morbidelli – M. Volpi – G. Cerrina Feroni, Diritto costituzionale comparato, Torino, Giappichelli, 2024

or

A. Di Giovine – A. Algostino – F. Longo – A. Mastromarino, Lezioni di diritto costituzionale comparato, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2017

And

- P. Ridola, Il principio libertà nello stato costituzionale, Torino, Giappichelli, 2018


Further materials will be provided during the course through the e-learning platform. Individual learning paths and insights – such as the study of a non-Italian textbook, as well as the study of classical texts – can be discussed and arranged with the teacher.

Recommended readings: L. Elia, Costituzione, partiti, istituzioni, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2009; C. Mortati, Le forme di governo, Padova, CEDAM, 1973; A. A. Cervati, Per uno studio comparativo del diritto costituzionale, Torino, Giappichelli, 2009; P. Häberle, Per una dottrina della Costituzione come scienza della cultura, Roma, Carocci, 1998; Id., voce Stato costituzionale, in Enciclopedia giuridica; M. Galizia, Diritto costituzionale (profili storici) e Fiducia parlamentare, both in Enciclopedia del Diritto; P. Legrand, Le droit comparé, Parigi, PUF, 1999; G. Frankenberg, Comparative Law as Critique, Northampton, Edward Elgar, 2019; P. Glenn, Tradizioni giuridiche del mondo, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2011; N: Matteucci, Organizzazione del potere e libertà, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016; S. Ragone - G. Smorto, Il primo libro di diritto comparato, Torino, Einaudi, 2025.

Lectures; Workshops.

Attendance is not compulsory, but it gives the opportunity to prepare for the exam on the program reserved for attending students and, consistent with organizational needs, the opportunity to take an intermediate written test.

Oral exam.

For attending students only, a final writtent test will be provided. Workshop in class might be organized, according to the number of attending students.

The following types of questions are given by way of example only:
- 19th century liberal constitutionalism and its crisis;
- the rationalisation of the parliamentary form of government;
- the separation of powers in the US form of government;
- functions and role of the President of the Republic in the French Constitution of 1958;
- the role of the parliamentary opposition in the United Kingdom;
- models of constitutional justice;
- fundamental rights in the transition from liberal to democratic and pluralist constitutionalism.

• Constitutional Comparison - An Introduction - 4 hours
  • Books: Texts recommended during the lessons


• Constitutional Comparison - Aims and Methods - 4 hours
  • Books: Texts recommended during the lessons


• Constitutionalism - Historical Introduction - 4 hours
  • Books: Ridola, Il principio libertà nello stato costituzionale, ch. 1


• English Constitutional Tradition - 6 hours 
  • Books: Ridola, Il principio libertà nello stato costituzionale, ch. 1 - Relevant chapters on the recommended textbook - Texts recommended during the lessons


• US Constitutional Tradition - 6 hours
  • Books: Ridola, Il principio libertà nello stato costituzionale, ch. 1 -Relevant chapters on the recommended textbook - Texts recommended during the lessons


• French Constitutional Tradition - 6 hours
  • Books: Ridola, Il principio libertà nello stato costituzionale, ch. 1 -Relevant chapters on the recommended textbook - Texts recommended during the lessons


• Models of State and Models of Government - 4 hours
  • Books: Relevant chapters on the recommended textbook - Texts recommended during the lessons


• Forms of government: concept and models - 2 hours
  • Books: Relevant chapters on the recommended textbook - Texts recommended during the lessons


• Presidential Government and the US experience - 6 hours
  • Books: Relevant chapters on the recommended textbook - Texts recommended during the lessons


• Parliamentary form of government - Introduction - 2 hours
  • Books: Relevant chapters on the recommended textbook - Texts recommended during the lessons


• English Parliamentarism - 6 hours
  • Books: Relevant chapters on the recommended textbook - Texts recommended during the lessons


• Parliamentarism in the French tradition: the III and IV Republic - 4 hours
  • Books: Relevant chapters on the recommended textbook - Texts recommended during the lessons


• German Constitutional Tradition: the Weimar Constitution - 4 hours
  • Books: Relevant chapters on the recommended textbook - Texts recommended during the lessons


• Parliamentarism in German Basic Law 1949 - 6 hours
  • Books: Relevant chapters on the recommended textbook - Texts recommended during the lessons


• Semipresidentialism in the French V Republic - 4 hours
  • Books: Relevant chapters on the recommended textbook - Texts recommended during the lessons


• Written exam - 2 hours
  • Books: -