A constitutional referendum was held in Italy on 25 and 26 June 2006. The reforms were proposed and initially approved during Berlusconi II and III cabinet between October 2004 and November 2005. If ultimately approved by referendum, in continuation with the 2001 constitutional enacted modifications, these reforms would have substantially completed the transformation of Italy from a

unitary state A unitary state is a sovereign state governed as a single entity in which the central government is the supreme authority. The central government may create (or abolish) administrative divisions (sub-national units). Such units exercise only th ...

into a

federal republic A federal republic is a federation of Federated state, states with a republican form of government. At its core, the literal meaning of the word republic when used to reference a form of government means: "a country that is governed by elected r ...

Political background, proposed changes and outcome

Second confirmatory referendum in Italian republican history, launched on the initiative of the center-right legislature XIV, it aimed at modifying the second part of the

Constitution of Italy The Constitution of the Italian Republic ( it, Costituzione della Repubblica Italiana) was enacted by the Constituent Assembly of Italy, Constituent Assembly on 22 December 1947, with 453 votes in favour and 62 against. The text, which has sin ...

in several respects. The constitutional law revision, approved by an

absolute majority A supermajority, supra-majority, qualified majority, or special majority is a requirement for a proposal to gain a specified level of support which is greater than the threshold of more than one-half used for a simple majority. Supermajority r ...

of the members of the

Italian Parliament The Italian Parliament ( it, Parlamento italiano) is the national parliament of the Italian Republic. It is the representative body of Italian citizens and is the successor to the Parliament of the Kingdom of Italy (1861–1943), the transitio ...

, according to the provisions of art. 138 of the constitution, had opened the possibility to the request for confirmation by one of the three subjects provided for by the article. This request was received by more than one fifth of the members of a chamber, by more than 500,000 voters and by more than five regional councils. Voters were asked whether they approved of amending 57 articles of the constitution. They would have given more power to the

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...

by allowing him or her to dissolve parliament, appoint and dismiss ministers, and control government policy. The

President of Italy The president of Italy, officially denoted as president of the Italian Republic ( it, Presidente della Repubblica Italiana) is the head of state of Italy. In that role, the president represents national unity, and guarantees that Italian pol ...

would have become guarantor of the constitution and the republic's federal unity. The reforms would have also ended Italy's perfect bicameralism: the

Chamber of Deputies The chamber of deputies is the lower house in many bicameral legislatures and the sole house in some unicameral legislatures. Description Historically, French Chamber of Deputies was the lower house of the French Parliament during the Bourbon ...

would have been given responsibility for foreign policy, defense and immigration, and the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the e ...

– renamed "Federal Senate" – responsibility for nationwide federal law. The Italian Parliament as a whole would have undergone a reduction in the number of deputies (from 630 to 518) and senators (from 315 to 252) for a total cut of 175 MPs, down from 945 to 770 seats. Consequently, the reforms would also have increased the power of the regions, giving them control of education, healthcare, law and order, as well as giving them representation in the Supreme Court of Cassation. The proposals were opposed by incumbent Prodi II Cabinet, and were rejected by 61.29% of voters.

Results

Notes

References

{{Italian elections 2006 elections in Italy 2006 referendums Constitutional referendums in Italy Federalism in Italy June 2006 events in Europe