The Italian Kingdom was proclaimed on 17th March, 1861.
The King, Carlo Alberto extended to the whole Italy his "Statuto
Albertino" which was a kind of Constitution given to the
"Regno di Sardegna " in 1848.
The "Statuto Albertino" guaranteed the equality of the
law for all citizens, the abolition of some tax privileges, the
personal freedom and a limited freedom of press. However it still
remained a constitution given by the King and the Parliament was
half appointed by the King himself and half by a limited suffrage.
The Statuto Albertino remained until 1948 when the Republican Constitution
was voted.
The years from 1861 up today may be divided in four periods:
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The oligarchic period (from 1861 to the end of 19th century)
- In 1861 only 2% of people could vote: only men, 25 years old
who could read and write (75% of people were illiterate) and paid
40 Lira taxes (a very high amount of money). There were no political
parties and/or unions and liberalism was dominant.
- In 1882 a Reform Act by Depretis (the Prime Minister)
extended the right to vote to male citizens 21 years old
who paid 19.80 Liras Taxes or had passed the 2nd Elementary
exam.
The electorate now was 6.9% of the population.
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The liberal period (from the beginning of the 20th century
to 1922)
It was a period of fast development : parties and unions
were born and became stronger and the foundations for a state
economical and social policy were laid.
- In 1912 (Giolitti Prime Minister) the right was extended
to all 30 year old male citizens. Male adults (21 years
old) could vote if they fulfilled one of the following conditions:
they had done the compulsory military service
- they had passed the 2nd elementary examination
- they had a personal high income
- In 1918 there was the universal suffrage for all 21 year
old males. Males under 21 could vote only if they had fought
in WWI.
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The Fascism (from 1922 to 1943)
There were no longer democratic elections, political parties
and unions were illegal with the only exceptions of the Fascist
Party and Corporations. It was the period of dictatorship.
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The Republican Period (from 1946 up today)
It starts on 2nd of June 1946 when all 21 year old men and women
(Universal Suffrage) were asked to choose between Monarchy and Republic.
The universal suffrage became part of the Italian Constitution (1st
January, 1948).
The Italian Parliament is formed by: the Camera dei
Deputati (all 18 year old citizens can vote but candidates
must be over 25) and the Senato (all 25 year
old citizens can vote but candidates must be over 40). All
elections are by direct universal suffrage.
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