The first part of the course will examine the development of the Italian regional system in the evolution of the Italian constitutional system, from the forecasts set in the Constituent Assembly, to the late implementation of the regional system, up to the reforms of the 1990s aimed at enhancing the role of the Regions in the constitutional system and the proposals called for to make Article 116 of the Constitution and so-called differentiated regionalism effective. The second part of the course will examine the evolution of the system of local authorities (metropolitan cities, provinces and municipalities) and in particular the form of government, organisational structure and activity.