The Italian Parliament and th British one:

The Italian Parliament and th British one:

THE DIFFERENCES

Di Matteo Di Ponzio Riccardo Serecchia Valerio Tarani

History of the italian parliament

The Italian Parliament was born from the Statuto Albertino of 1848 in the Kingdom of Sardinia and, after the Unification of Italy (1861) and the Constitution of 1948, became the main body of the Italian Republic. It consists of two Houses with equal powers: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic, which pass laws, oversee the government, and represent the people.

History of the english parliament

The English Parliament has medieval origins: from the Magna Carta of 1215 and the first assemblies that included nobles and representatives of the towns came the House of Lords and the House of Commons. After the Glorious Revolution (1689), Parliament gained supremacy over the king. Today, the United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy: real power belongs to the House of Commons, while the House of Lords mainly has a revising role..

The Italian Parliament

The Parliament is the legislative body of the Italian Republic. It is composed by two huoses: - Chamber of Deputies - Senate of Republic Its main role is to make laws, represent citizens and oversee the government.

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THE ENGLISH PARLIAMENT

As a whole, Parliament represents the will of the people and ensures the proper functioning of British democracy. It is composed of two chambers:

• the House of Commons

• the House of Lords.

These chambers meet separately but work together to pass laws and oversee the government. At the head of the system is the Crown, which still has a formal role in the legislative process: no law can come into force without Royal Assent, so the royal approval (now purely symbolic).

The House of Commons is the most important and powerful chamber of Parliament. It is composed of 650 members, called Members of Parliament (MPs), directly elected by the people through a first-past-the-post electoral system. Its tasks include:

• proposing, debating, and approving laws
• overseeing the government's actions.

The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the party with the most seats and leads the government together with his cabinet. During sessions, order is maintained by the Speaker of the House, an impartial figure who regulates debates. Debates in the House of Commons are often lively and represent a typical example of the vibrant British democratic spirit.

The House of Lords is not elective: its members are not chosen by the people. It is made up of approximately 700 members, divided into:

• Life Peers (appointed for life for particular merit),

• Bishops (senior members of the Church of England),

• Hereditary Peers (nobles who have inherited the title).

The main function of the House of Lords is to review and amend laws passed by the Commons, offering a technical and thoughtful opinion. It cannot permanently block a law, but it can delay it or suggest changes. Although it has less political power, it represents an important part of British tradition and symbolizes the country's experience and continuity.

The legislative process almost always begins in the House of Commons, where a bill is debated, approved, and then sent to the Lords for a second review. Once approved by both Houses, the bill receives Royal Assent and becomes officially valid. Parliament is rich in centuries-old traditions: for example, during the opening ceremony, an officer called Black Rod is sent to summon the Commons to the House of Lords, a symbolic gesture representing the dialogue between the two houses of Parliament. Another important symbol is the Mace, a golden staff that represents royal authority and must be present in the chamber for sessions to be valid.

Why does it work?

The bicameral structure works because it provides a controlled and balanced system, in which decisions made by one chamber can be reviewed by the other. This ensures that laws are thoroughly debated before being approved.

LA FAMIGLIA REALE

La famiglia reale britannica, attualmente guidata dal re Carlo III, rappresenta uno degli elementi più importanti della tradizione del Regno Unito. Oggi il suo ruolo è principalmente cerimoniale e simbolico, poiché il potere politico, come abbiamo visto poco fa, appartiene al Parlamento. Il sovrano mantiene comunque alcune funzioni istituzionali, come l’apertura ufficiale del Parlamento e la firma delle leggi approvate dalle due Camere, ma non può intervenire nelle decisioni politiche. Essa è anche impegnata in numerose attività benefiche e culturali considerata ed è considerata un elemento di unità e continuità storica, che collega le antiche tradizioni del regno con la società moderna.

Chamber of Deputies

What is it?- One of the two houses of the Italian Parliament (the lower house) - Works alongside the Senate of the Republic Meets at Palazzo Montecitorio in Rome It is composed by 400 deputies elected every 5 years by citizens.If you want to be a deputy, you must be 25 years old. Main Functions - Passes laws (with the Senate) - Debates national issues - Holds the government accountable - Approves the state budget

The Senate

What is it?- The upper house of the Italian Parliament; - Works alongside the Chamber of Deputies; - Meets at Palazzo Madama in Rome. It is composed by 200 senators, plus some life senators (ex. Liliana Segre). The senators are voted every 5 years as the chamber of deputies. If you want to be a senator you must be 40 years old. Its main function are: - Sharing equal legislative powers with the Chamber of Deputies - Debating about laws - Monitoring the government’s actions - Participate in constitutional changes and appointments