POLITICS
Conventional Long Form Name of country: Italian Republic
Capital City: Rome
Type of Government: Republic
Date of Independence: March 17, 1861
National Holiday: Republic Day - June 2nd
Chief of State: President Giorgio Napolitano
Head of Government: Prime Minister Enrico Letta
Description of Executive Branch/Powers: Cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the Prime Minister and nominated by the President of the Republic
Elections: President elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a seven-year term (no term limits). Prime minister appointed by the President and confirmed by Parliament.
Election Results: Giorgio Napolitano elected President on the fourth round of voting. Electoral college vote - 543
Description of Legislative Branch/Powers: Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate.
315 seats; members elected by proportional vote with the winning coalition in each region receiving 55% of seats from that region. Members to serve five-year terms.
Up to 5 senators for life appointed by the president of the Republic and the Chamber of Deputies.
630 seats; members elected by popular vote with the winning national coalition receiving 54% of chamber seats; members to serve five-year terms
Elections: Senate - last held on 13-14 April 2008 Chamber of Deputies - last held on 13-14 April 2008. President Napolitano dissolved Parliament on 22 December 2012
Description of Judicial Branch/Powers: Constitutional Court (composed of 15 judges: one-third appointed by the president, one-third elected by parliament, one-third elected by the ordinary and administrative Supreme Courts); Supreme Court of Cassation
Suffrage (who is allowed to vote): 18 years old; universal - except in senatorial elections, where minimum age of 25
Name of their Ambassador to the U.S.: John R. Phillips
Location of Italy embassy in the U.S.: Washington, DC
Locations of Italy consulates in the U.S. listed below:
Location of U.S. embassy in Italy: Rome
Location of U.S. consulates in Italy listed below:
Description of the Symbolism of flag: Three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red.
Design inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797.
Colors are those of Milan.
Red and white combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard.
National Symbols: White, five-pointed star
Descriptions of International Disputes: Italy's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and northern Africa
Quantity of refugees inside country and countries of origin of refugees listed below from 2012:
Quantity of Stateless Persons: 470 (2012)
Description of current human trafficking issues related to this country: N/A
Description of Illicit Drug trafficking/use: important gateway for and consumer of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian herion entering the European market: money laundering by organized crime and from smuggling.
Capital City: Rome
Type of Government: Republic
Date of Independence: March 17, 1861
National Holiday: Republic Day - June 2nd
Chief of State: President Giorgio Napolitano
Head of Government: Prime Minister Enrico Letta
Description of Executive Branch/Powers: Cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the Prime Minister and nominated by the President of the Republic
Elections: President elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a seven-year term (no term limits). Prime minister appointed by the President and confirmed by Parliament.
Election Results: Giorgio Napolitano elected President on the fourth round of voting. Electoral college vote - 543
Description of Legislative Branch/Powers: Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate.
315 seats; members elected by proportional vote with the winning coalition in each region receiving 55% of seats from that region. Members to serve five-year terms.
Up to 5 senators for life appointed by the president of the Republic and the Chamber of Deputies.
630 seats; members elected by popular vote with the winning national coalition receiving 54% of chamber seats; members to serve five-year terms
Elections: Senate - last held on 13-14 April 2008 Chamber of Deputies - last held on 13-14 April 2008. President Napolitano dissolved Parliament on 22 December 2012
Description of Judicial Branch/Powers: Constitutional Court (composed of 15 judges: one-third appointed by the president, one-third elected by parliament, one-third elected by the ordinary and administrative Supreme Courts); Supreme Court of Cassation
Suffrage (who is allowed to vote): 18 years old; universal - except in senatorial elections, where minimum age of 25
Name of their Ambassador to the U.S.: John R. Phillips
Location of Italy embassy in the U.S.: Washington, DC
Locations of Italy consulates in the U.S. listed below:
- Boston, MA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
- Miami, FL
- New York City, NY
- Philadelphia, CA
- Detroit, MI
- San Francisco, CA
- Newark, NJ
Location of U.S. embassy in Italy: Rome
Location of U.S. consulates in Italy listed below:
- Florence
- Milan
- Naples
Description of the Symbolism of flag: Three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red.
Design inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797.
Colors are those of Milan.
Red and white combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard.
National Symbols: White, five-pointed star
Descriptions of International Disputes: Italy's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and northern Africa
Quantity of refugees inside country and countries of origin of refugees listed below from 2012:
- 11,345 - Eritrea
- 9,284 - Somalia
- 5,058 - Afghanistan
Quantity of Stateless Persons: 470 (2012)
Description of current human trafficking issues related to this country: N/A
Description of Illicit Drug trafficking/use: important gateway for and consumer of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian herion entering the European market: money laundering by organized crime and from smuggling.