Conventional Long Form of Country's Name:
Italian Republic Capital City: Rome Type of Government: Republic Date of Independence: March 12, 1861 National Holiday: Republic Day- June 2 Chief of State: President Giorgio Napolitano Head of Government: Prime Minister Mario Monti Description of Executive Branch: Cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the Prime Minister and nominated by the President of the Republic Elections: President elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a seven-year term (no term limits). Prime minister appointed by the President and confirmed by Parliament. Election Results: Giorgio Napolitano elected President on the fourth round of voting; electoral college vote - 543 Description of Legislative Branch: Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (315 seats; members elected by proportional vote with the winning coalition in each region receiving 55% of seats from that region; members to serve five-year terms; and up to 5 senators for life appointed by the president of the Republic) and the Chamber of Deputies (630 seats; members elected by popular vote with the winning national coalition receiving 54% of chamber seats; members to serve five-year terms)Elections: Senate - last held on 13-14 April 2008 Chamber of Deputies - last held on 13-14 April 2008. President Napolitano dissolved Parliament on 22 December 2012 |
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Description of Judicial Branch
Constitutional Court (composed of 15 judges: one-third appointed by the president, one-third elected by parliament, one-third elected by the ordinary and administrative Supreme Courts); Supreme Court of Cassation Sufferage 18 years of age (except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25) Their Ambassador to U.S. Claudio Bisogniero Location of Their Embassy in U.S. 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington,DC Locations of Their Consulates in the U.S. Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Detroit U.S. Ambassador to Them David Thorne Location of U.S. Embassy There Via Vittorio Veneto 121, Rome Locations of U.S. Consulants There Florence, Milan, Naples Name of Their Representative to UN Cesare Ragaglini National Symbol white, five-pointed star (Stella d'Italia) Flag Description Three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; design inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797; colors are those of Milan (red and white combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard |