What Role for Regional Assemblies in Regional States?: Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom in Comparative Perspective
- Autores: Cristina Fasone
- Localización: Perspectives on Federalism, ISSN-e 2036-5438, Vol. 4, Nº. 2, 2012
- Idioma: inglés
- Enlaces
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Resumen
The article aims to underline firstly the trend towards the homogenization of the subnational forms of governments, at regional level, across regional States, focusing on Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom (UK). This is only marginally the outcome of constitutional provisions and jurisprudence, but it is mainly caused by the passive attitude of the Regions, which either remain inactive to the opportunity of reforms and adaptation or decide to adopt institutional solutions already experimented or ‘constitutionally prepackaged’, without any changes.
Secondly, it is highlighted that, with the exception of the UK, regional Assemblies with legislative powers have experienced a process of progressive weakening, especially on the side of the legislative function. Also in order to counteract this tendency, Regions of the three States are trying to enhance the role of legislative Assemblies as trait d’union between voters and institutions at subnational level, on the one hand, testing tools which are inedited at State level; on the other hand, strengthening the position of standing committees within the Assemblies.
