Preface. The government in Italy and Spain. Constitutional rules, practices and conventions

Abstract

The preface aims at introducing some areas of comparison between Italy and Spain, by focusing on three thematic elements: the role of political parties in shaping the form of government; the legislative activity carried on by the executive as indicator and measure of political constitutional change; the fragmentation of traditional party system as a cause of government instability, and occasion for institutional innovation as well. The comparison leads to investigate the role of constitutional conventions in defining the form of government, so suggesting some methodological criteria for assessing their relevance. The final part, in line with the monographic issue, discusses the «open» future of democratic governments in Italy and Spain, suspended between constitutional rules and political dynamics.