Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with a basic knowledge of the Constitution, the fundamental principles of democratic society, the fundamental rights and duties of people, the functioning of public institutions, the Italian form of government and its main evolutionary trends, as well as new issues of contemporary constitutionalism and global challenges that democracies are already called to face today.
The course intends to contribute to the formation of professionals who know how to participate responsibly and actively, according to their specific skills, in the social, civil and cultural life of the community, respecting the rules, rights and duties of each person.
At the end of the course, the student will have matured
- the basic knowledge of the Constitution, the fundamental principles of the contemporary legal system and the functioning of democratic institutions;
- the ability to understand, evaluate, even critically, the topics covered in the course;
- the ability to apply the acquired knowledge to concrete cases and to the dynamics of daily life.
Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required.
The course is open to all students enrolled in any degree program at the University of Parma with the exception of those enrolled in the Law degree course
Course unit content
The course is organized around keywords of Constitutional Law and it will focus also on current issues.
The lessons will concern the concept of Constitution and Italian constitutional history; the concept of democracy and contemporary challenges; the principles and mechanisms of functioning of the Italian Republic; the fundamental principles of the Italian Constitution (the personalist principle, the principle of pluralism, the principle of solidarity); the status of Italian and foreign citizens; the principle of equality; the economic and social Constitution; the relationship between Religion and Law; the concept of peace/war in the Italian Constitution; the concept of health and its constitutional guarantees; the challenges of the current digital revolution; the constitutional protection of the environment and the principle of sustainability.
The lessons will be integrated also by the organization of seminars, regarding current and challenging issues.
Full programme
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Bibliography
A) For students enrolled in degree courses other than Political Science and International Relations (SPERI) and International and European Relations (RIE)
Valerio Onida, La Costituzione, Bologna, Il Mulino, latest edition.
B) For students enrolled in Political Science and International Relations (SPERI):
C. Caruso, C. Valentini (a cura di), Grammatica del Costituzionalismo, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2021.
C) For students enrolled in International and Europea Relations (RIE):
C. Caruso, C. Valentini (a cura di), Grammatica del Costituzionalismo, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2021.
Regarding the textbooks, further indications will be released by the Professor before the beginning of the course.
Teaching methods
The course will be conducted through frontal lectures and possible supplementary seminar events, notice of which will be given during the course.
At the end of the course, depending on availability, a visit to the Italian Parliament, with the possibility of attending part of the sessions of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, may be organized for attending students who are interested.
Assessment methods and criteria
The test consists of an oral examination, with a one more general question and other next more specific ones, with the purpose to evaluate:
- the knowledge of the topics in which the course is structured;
- the ability to grasp the main evolutionary trends of the subject;
- the ability to connect the different themes studied;
- the ability to critically elaborate the acquired knowledge.
Other information
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