The failed constitutional reform of the Italian Senate¨

La mancata riforma costituzionale del Senato italiano

Abstract

The essay aims at analysing the main features of the constitutional reform of the Italian bicameral Parliament that was proposed by the Renzi Government, approved by the two Houses but then rejected by a referendum on the 4th December 2016. It contains some reflections on the difficulty of reforming bicameral legislatures, especially “while business is ongoing”, and on the possible futures improvements of parliamentary procedures, after the failure of the constitutional reform and without amending the Constitution.

Keywords: Parliament; Bicameralism; Constitutional Reform; Referendum; Senate