Statuto Albertino
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The so-called Statuto Albertino ("Albertine Statute") is the constitution that King Charles Albert of Savoy conceded to the Kingdom of Sardinia (including also most parts of north-western Italy, such as Piedmont) on March 4, 1848.
Historically, the Statuto was proclaimed only because of the concern of revolutionary insurrection which agitated Italy at the time (and Charles Albert was only following the example of other Italian rulers), but it was the only constitution surviving the repression that followed the [[The Revolutions of 1848 in the Italian States|First war of independence]] in Italy (1848-1849). The Statuto remained at the base of the kingdom's legal system even after Italian unification was achieved and the Kingdom of Sardinia turned into the Kingdom of Italy. Even if it suffered deep modifications, especially during the fascist dictatorship of Benito Mussolini (who, however, ruled with the tacit approval of king Victor Emmanuel III), it was never formally abrogated until Italy assumed the republican form of government in 1946.
In its original version, it instituted a Parliament formed by a Senate entirely nominated by the king and a lower elected House of Deputies. The king retained extensive powers, even if they were rarely used in reality.
External links
- The Italian text (http://www.quirinale.it/costituzione/Preunitarie-testi.htm) of the Statuto Albertino.