A History of Modern Political Constitutions

tained the essential nature of the unitary state of Italy, for Article 5 of the Constitution states categorically that the Italian Republic is "one and indivisible."

The new Constitution does, however, permit a measure of decentralisation unknown to the original constitution. In fact, Article 5, from which we have already quoted, adds that the Republic "recognises and promotes local autonomy," and there is a later group of Articles (114-133) which lay down the form and functions of a regional organisation. Nineteen regions are named, and of these, five, including Sicily and Sardinia, are given a special status. Each region must have a popularly elected Council, which elects an executive committee (la giunta regionale) and a President. The powers and functions of these regional bodies are stated in lists, but, generally, they are not wider than those of the larger Local Authorities (Counties and County Boroughs) in Britain, and, though the rights of the new Italian Regions are secured as part of the law of the constitution, they cannot be said to introduce a federal element into the frame of government. It is true to say, therefore, that the constitution of the new Republic, while it changes the titular headship of the state from an hereditary monarchy to an elective presidency, does not fundamentally disturb the eightyyear-old tradition of political unity in Italy.

ALEXANDER: World Political Patterns, Ch. 13.

DICEY: Law of the Constitution, Chs. 1-3, and Introduction (3).

FINER: Modern Government, Ch. 9.

JENNINGS: Parliament, Ch. 1.

LASKI: Grammar of Politics, Ch. 2.

WILLIAMSON: Short History of British Expansion, pp. 537-73, 617-34.

ZINK: Modern Governments, Sections I, II.

CONSTITUTIONS OF ALL COUNTRIES: Vol. I. The British Empire, pp. 1-4, 5-18, 113-36, 140-88, 189-221.

ANNUAL REGISTER FOR 1946 AND 1947.

BATE: South Africa.

BROGAN: French Nation.

CARRINGTON: British Overseas.

GORDON WALKER: Commonwealth.

GRINDROD: Italy.

JENNINGS: British Commonwealth.

KEITH: The Governments of the British Empire; The Dominions as Sovereign States.

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