TY - JOUR
T1 - The independence of the Italian Constitutional Court
AU - Breton, Albert
AU - Fraschini, Angela
PY - 2003/12
Y1 - 2003/12
N2 - It is often asserted that the Italian Constitutional Court is not independent of the Executive and Legislative branches of the government in Rome. We offer a view of independence that is congruent with bodies such as constitutional courts. We argue that the evidence, both qualitative and quantitative, however poor it may be, indicates that the Italian Constitutional Court is as independent as any other corresponding constitutional or supreme court of democratic countries. The evidence is not directly conclusive because the question, in the end, is not whether the judges, one by one, are independent, but whether the Court is independent. The evidence we offer pertains mostly to judges. If judges are independent, as that evidence seems to indicate, the Court is a fortiori even more independent.
AB - It is often asserted that the Italian Constitutional Court is not independent of the Executive and Legislative branches of the government in Rome. We offer a view of independence that is congruent with bodies such as constitutional courts. We argue that the evidence, both qualitative and quantitative, however poor it may be, indicates that the Italian Constitutional Court is as independent as any other corresponding constitutional or supreme court of democratic countries. The evidence is not directly conclusive because the question, in the end, is not whether the judges, one by one, are independent, but whether the Court is independent. The evidence we offer pertains mostly to judges. If judges are independent, as that evidence seems to indicate, the Court is a fortiori even more independent.
KW - Courts
KW - Independence
KW - Italy
KW - Judges
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=4043154121&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1023/B:COPE.0000003861.45073.45
DO - 10.1023/B:COPE.0000003861.45073.45
M3 - Review article
SN - 1043-4062
VL - 14
SP - 319
EP - 333
JO - Constitutional Political Economy
JF - Constitutional Political Economy
IS - 4
ER -