| Renato Schifani ( M) |
| Antonio Malaschini ( M) |
- 315 directly elected
- 4 appointed by the President of the Republic
- 3 ex-officio members (former Presidents of the Republic)
Palazzo Madama
00186 ROMA
Tel.: (3906) 67 061
Fax: (3906) 67 06 28 92
Cable: Senato della Repubblica, 00186 Roma
| http://www.parlamento.it |
| http://www.senato.it/senato.htm |
- 1 single-member constituency in Valle d'Aosta (1 seat)
- 6 single-member constituencies in Trentino-Alto Adige (6 seats) equally distributed between Italian-speaking Trento (Trent) province and German-speaking Bolzano (Südtirol) province
- 1 constituency for Italians abroad representing 4 geographical groups (6 seats): a) Europe (including the entire Russian Federation and Turkey); b) South America; c) North and Central America; and d) Africa, Asia, Oceania and Antarctica
- proportional representation system applying the d'Hondt method to regional voting results for 302 seats
- proportional representation system for the constituency for Italians abroad representing 4 geographical groups (6 seats)
*First-past-the-post system for single-seat-constituencies in Valle d'Aosta and Trentino-Alto Adige (12 seats).
The minimum thresholds for a seat in the Senate are based on regional voting results:
- for a political coalition: 20 per cent of the total number of valid votes in every region/constituency;
- for a political list within a coalition: 3 per cent of the total number of valid votes in every region/constituency;
- for a political party (list) not affiliated with any political coalition: 8 per cent of the total number of valid votes in every region/constituency.
If the political coalition or political party with the highest number of votes fails to win 55 per cent of the seats to be filled in the region, it is given "bonus" seats to obtain the minimum of 55 per cent of seats required in the region. The remaining seats are distributed among the other qualifying coalitions and individual parties. However, no regional majority bonus seats are awarded in Molise, which elects only two senators.
Seats which become vacant between general elections are filled by the "next-in-line" candidate of the same party list. By-elections are held in the case of majority seats.
Voting is not compulsory.
- Italian citizenship
- disqualifications: criminal conviction, immoral conduct as defined by the law
Pursuant to Law No. 459/2001 and its implementing regulations (Presidential Decree No. 104 of 2003), Italians abroad meeting the above-mentioned requirements are entitled to elect 6 members representing the Constituency for Italians Abroad (Circonscrizione Estero). They can vote by post or in the constituency in Italy in which they are registered. Electors residing overseas and wishing to return to Italy to cast their vote must notify the relevant Consular Office in writing by 31 December the year before the normal expiry of the legislature or, if Parliament is dissolved early, within 10 days of the calling of the election.
- age: minimum 40
- Italian citizenship
Candidates running in the Constituency for Italians Abroad must be both resident and qualified electors of that geographical group.
- executive of a State enterprise or State-assisted company
- signatures of between 1,000 and 3,500 electors (for candidates associated with a group having at least two other candidates in other constituencies of the same region)
Also available:
Archive of past election results for this chamber
| Round no 1 (13 April 2008): Election results | ||||
| Number of registered electors | ||||
| Voters | 34'718'630 (80.4%) | |||
| Blank or invalid ballot papers | 1'318'658 | |||
| Valid votes | 33'399'972 | |||
| Round no 1: Distribution of votes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Group | Candidates | Votes | % of votes | |||||||||||||||||||||
| People of Freedom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern League | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Italy of Values (IV-LDP) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Union of the Centre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Tyrolean People's Party (SVP) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SVP - Together for Autonomy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Movement for Autonomy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Associative Movement of Italians Abroad | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| For Aosta Valley (PvdA) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Round no 1: Distribution of seats | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Group | Total of seats | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| People of Freedom | 147 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic Party | 118 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern League | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Italy of Values (IV-LDP) | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Union of the Centre | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Tyrolean People's Party (SVP) | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SVP - Together for Autonomy | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Movement for Autonomy | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Associative Movement of Italians Abroad | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| For Aosta Valley (PvdA) | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- http://politiche2008.interno.it/
- http://www.senato.it/composizione/index.htm
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, cessation of mandate, temporary functional incapacity if he/she must serve as Acting Head of State, death, dissolution of the Senate
- the election is held at the start of the new legislature
- before the members' mandates have been validated
- an absolute majority of votes is required for the first and second rounds; an absolute majority of the votes cast by those present for the third round. If no one obtains the required majority in the third round, a run-off is held between the two candidates who obtained the most votes. In case of a tie, the eldest candidate is declared elected
- the Board supervises the voting
- the eldest Senator announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged
- in the order of precedence, the eldest President of the two Houses comes first
- the President of the Chamber of Deputies presides over joint sittings of both Houses
- in the absence of the President, one of the four Vice-Presidents designated by the President of the Senate can assume his/her role and functions
- consists of the President, four Vice-Presidents, 3 Questors and 8 secretaries
- meets at the initiative of the President
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and may increase allotted speaking time, in consultation with the President of the Chamber of Deputies, the Committee Chairmen and the Government
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
- appoints the Chairmen of certain special committees
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Senate
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- decides which amendments are inadmissible
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Senate, basing itself on precedents
- approves the Senate's budget
- appoints the Secretary General on a proposal by the President of the Senate
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- proposes the appointment of holders of office characterized by their autonomy and independence, in agreement with the President of the Chamber of Deputies
- must be consulted in certain circumstances (dissolution, appointment of the Head of Government)
· Procedure (Art. 72 (last paragraph) and Art. 87(1) of Presidential Decree N° 361 of 30 March 1957, Rules 2 and 14 to 17 of the Rules governing the Examination of Credentials, Art. 19 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
· Procedure (Art. 89 of Presidential Decree N° 361 of 30 March 1957)
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: the Senate (save in the event of incompatibility)
- Forfeiture of mandate on grounds of incompatibility or loss of eligibility (Art. 66 of the Constitution in conjunction with Art. 51, 56(2), 58(2) and 65 of the Constitution, Rule 18 of the Rules governing the Examination of Credentials, Art. 19 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Forfeiture of mandate for breaching the rules governing electoral campaigns (Art. 15(7) of Act N° 515 regulating electoral campaigns for political elections)
- Loss of mandate pursuant to a judicial decision: criminal conviction entailing the ancillary penalty of exclusion from public office
1. The President
2. The Vice-President
3. Life senators, according to seniority and, in cases of equal eligibility, according to age
4. Quaestors, according to seniority in the office of Senior Quaestor and, in cases of equal eligibility, according to age
5. Secretaries, according to seniority and, in cases of equal eligibility, according to age
6. Chairpersons of joint equi-representational commissions, committees and delegations, according to seniority and, in cases of equal eligibility, according to age
7. Presidents of parliamentary commissions and committees, according to seniority and, in cases of equal eligibility, according to age
8. Parliamentary secretaries of political parties represented in Parliament, by alphabetical order
9. Leaders of parliamentary groups, according to the numerical strength of the group 10. Vice-Presidents of joint equi-representational commissions, committees and delegations, according to seniority and, in cases of equal eligibility, according to age
11. Vice-Chairpersons of parliamentary commissions and committees, according to seniority and, in cases of equal eligibility, according to age
12. Secretaries of parliamentary commissions, committees and delegations, according to seniority and, in case of equal seniority, according to age
13. Presidents of advisory sub-committees, according to seniority and, in cases of equal eligibility, according to age
14. Other senators, according to seniority in Parliament and, in cases of equal eligibility, according to age
· Basic salary (Art. 69 of the Constitution): Lit. 18,560,281 (gross) per month· + Monthly subsistence allowance
· No tax exemption
· Pension scheme
· Other facilities:
(a) Secretariat
(b) Assistants
(c) Postal and telephone services
(d) Travel and transport
· Parliamentary non-accountability is applicable to words spoken and written by MPs both within and outside Parliament, provided that they bear a functional relationship to the exercise of the mandate.
· Derogations: insults and contempt (Art. 66 and 67 of the Standing Orders of the Senate; see Discipline)
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and, on expiry of the mandate, affords protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate.
· It is applicable to criminal and civil proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and detention on remand, house or body searches, interception of their conversations or communications and seizure of their mail.
· Derogations:
- Senators may be arrested, without prior authorisation by the Senate, in execution of a conviction that is not subject to appeal.
- Senators may be arrested without prior authorisation by the Senate if they are caught committing an offence for which an arrest warrant is compulsory.
· Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or court.
· Protection is provided throughout the mandate and also covers judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election.
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 68, paras. 2 and 3, of the Constitution):
- Competent authority: the Senate
- Procedure (Art. 19(5) and Art. 135 of the Standing Orders of the Senate). In this case, MPs can be given a hearing. There is no possibility of appeal.
· Parliament cannot impose conditions on the prosecution and/or detention.
· Parliament cannot suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members.
· In the event of pre-trial custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned cannot be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament.
· It is provided by the parliamentary groups or the Bureau of the Senate.
· Handbook of parliamentary procedure:
- Vade mecum for Senators
· Penalty for failure to fulfil this obligation: reduction in the variable proportion of the monthly subsistence allowance
· Disciplinary measures foreseen:
- Call to order, possibly with an entry in the record (Art. 66 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Censure (Art. 67 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Exclusion from the Senate Hall for the remainder of the sitting (Art. 67 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Suspension of the sitting (Art. 67 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Suspension from Parliament (Art. 67 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
· Specific cases:
- Insults or contempt (Art. 66 and 67 of the Standing Orders of the Senate): call to order, possibly with an entry in the record, censure, exclusion from the Senate Hall for the remainder of the sitting, suspension of the sitting, suspension from Parliament
- Serious disturbances (Art. 68 of the Standing Orders of the Senate): call to order, suspension or adjournment of the sitting· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties (Art. 8 of the Standing Orders of the Senate):
- Call to order, possibly with an entry in the record, censure, exclusion from the Senate Hall for the remainder of the sitting, suspension of the sitting, serious disturbances: the President
- Suspension from Parliament: the Bureau of the Senate
· Procedure:
- Call to order, possibly with an entry in the record, insults and contempt (Art. 66 of the Standing Orders of the Senate) Censure, exclusion from the Senate Hall for the remainder of the sitting, suspension of the sitting, suspension from Parliament, insults and contempt (Art. 67 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Serious disturbances (Art. 68 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
· Penalties for violation of the code of conduct:
- Forfeiture of mandate (Art. 66 of the Constitution in conjunction with Art. 58(2) and 65 of the Constitution; incompatibility)
- Penal sanctions (Art. 290 and 313 of the Penal Code, Art. 135(6) of the Standing Orders of the Senate; insulting the Republic, the institutions and the armed forces)
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
- Forfeiture of mandate: the Senate
- Penal sanctions: the ordinary judicial authorities
· Procedure:
- Forfeiture of mandate (Art. 66 of the Constitution in conjunction with Art. 65 of the Constitution, Rule 18 of the Rules governing the Examination of Credentials; incompatibility). In this case, MPs have no possibility of appeal.
- Penal sanctions (Art. 290 and 313 of the Penal Code, Art. 135(6) of the Standing Orders of the Senate; insulting the Republic, the institutions and the armed forces). In this case, MPs have no possibility of appeal.
Also available:
Archive of past election results for this chamber
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Last Elections | Presidency of the Parliament | Parliamentary Mandate
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