Professional paper

Local Self-Govemment in Italy

Romea Manojlović orcid.org/0000-0002-0292-0180 ; Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb

Abstract

The paper deals with the organisation of local self-government in Italy as it is defined by Italian régulations, primarily by Decree on the Organisation of Local Units of 2000. The Decree has legal power of a law. The paper begins by analysing the territorial structure of the Italian self-government and outlines its monotype, three-tier local self-government with medium-sized municipalities. It proceeds to local affairs from self-governing and delegated scope and continues with direct citizens’participation in decision-making on local affairs, The author points out that the use ofthe forms of direct democracy dépends on the local régulations. Local représentative body (municipal council), local executive bodies (municipal board and mayor), and administrative bodies were described, as well as theirrespective membership, ways of élection, and compétences. The System of direct élection ofmayors has been given special attention. The ways offinancing local self-government units is mentioned and the rôle of thè collegiate board of economic-financial auditors, an independent body whose task is to assist thereprésentative and executive bodies with creating and passing local budgets, is explained. Finally, the author outlines central-local relations, including supervision over local bylaws and supervision oflocai bodies. With regard to supervision over locai bylaws, the stress is on the control oflegality and on the compétences of the Regional Commission for the Control ofMunicipal and Provincial Bylaws. Supervision of locai bodies primarily refers to the manners ofand preconditions for dissolution of municipal councils as well as removals from office of mayors, members ofmunicipal councils, and members of executive boards. Mechanisms
used against mafia’s influence on local bodies are given special attention in the text.The author concludes with suggestions concerning the Institutes Croatia may take over from the Italian local-self-government System.

Keywords

local self-government - Italy; territorial organisation of local self-government; local affairs; direct élection of mayors; local bodies; local finances; central-local relations

Hrčak ID:

135501

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/135501

Publication date:

4.12.2008.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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