Programme

Part I - General introduction. Theory of the European Constitution and constitutional principles of the Union
- The idea of a European Constitution and European constitutional law. The European constituent process
- The thesis of the European democratic deficit and the question of the "European Demos"
- The stages of European integration: from "Ventotene" to Lisbon
- The Lisbon Treaty in the light of multilevel constitutionalism. The strengthening of the European constitutional heritage and the constitutional traditions common to the Member States
- European citizenship, European representative democracy and the European political party system.

Part II - The institutional system of the Union and the sources of European law
- The European form of government: general principles
- The European Parliament and the role of national parliaments
- The reform of the Council system
- The European Commission, the President of the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
- Principles relating to European sources
- European legislative procedures
- European law and national laws

Part III - European protection of fundamental rights
- The judicial system of the European Union (structure and principles)
- The Union's jurisdictions
- The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the European Convention on Human Rights
- European fundamental rights and domestic law

Core Documentation

- Robert Schütze, European Constitutional law, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, latest edition
or
- Allan Rosas, Lorna Armati, EU Constitutional Law. An Introduction, Hart Publishing, Oxford 2018.

- Relevant European legal Texts (TEU, TFEU, Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, ECHR, etc.)

Reference Bibliography

- Hartley T.C., The foundations of European Union law. An introduction to the constitutional and administrative law of the European Union, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2014. - Repetto G. (Ed.), The constitutional relevance of the ECHR in domestic and European law, Intersentia, Cambridge 2013. - Bilancia P., The dynamics of the EU integration and the impact on the national constitutional law, Giuffré, Milano 2012. - von Bogdandy A., Bast J. (Eds), Principles of European constitutional law, Hart Publishing, Oxford 2009 (Second Edition). - Douglas-Scott S., Constitutional law of the European Union, Longman, Harlow 2002. - A. Buratti, Western constitutionalism. History, institutions, comparative law, Giappichelli, Torino 2019.

Type of delivery of the course

Teaching will mainly be based on frontal lessons aimed at acquiring the basics of European constitutional law. Case-law of the European Courts will also be discussed. Class attendance for students of International Studies is mandatory. In the case of an extension of the COVID-19 emergency will be taken all the appropriate measures on teaching by remote. Classes will not be recorded.

Attendance

Attendance at the course is mandatory, but highly recommended. During each lecture the presence of attending students will be verified. Absence from lectures, if justified, is allowed in a reasonable minimum number of hours (four).

Type of evaluation

A mid-term oral presentation is expected, as well as a final oral examination on the program. In the case of an extension of the COVID-19 emergency will be taken all the appropriate measures for student evaluation by remote.