OCR Specification focus:
‘the constitution and nature of the Kingdom of Italy’
Italy’s unification in 1861 created a new political entity. Understanding its constitutional framework and nature is essential to grasping how Italy functioned as a nation-state.
The Constitution of the Kingdom of Italy
The Statuto Albertino
The constitution of the new Kingdom of Italy was not newly drafted but was an extension of the Statuto Albertino (Albertine Statute) granted by King Charles Albert of Piedmont in 1848.
Title page of the Statuto Albertino (1848), the constitutional charter extended from Piedmont-Sardinia to the new Kingdom of Italy. This primary source illustrates the legal foundation that shaped Italy’s constitutional monarchy and bicameral parliament. The document is in Italian, as issued at the time. Source
Statuto Albertino: A constitutional charter introduced in Piedmont-Sardinia in 1848, which became the basis of law and governance in the unified Kingdom of Italy.
The Statuto was a flexible constitution, meaning it could be amended by ordinary legislation rather than requiring a special constitutional process. This made it adaptable, but also limited protections for rights.
Key Features of the Statuto
The Statuto Albertino included several defining elements:
Italy was a constitutional monarchy under the House of Savoy.
The king remained the head of state with strong executive powers.
The government was composed of ministers appointed by the king, though they were responsible to parliament.
Legislative power was shared between the king and a bicameral parliament.
Basic civil liberties, such as equality before the law, limited freedom of the press, and freedom of association, were recognised but often restricted in practice.
The Monarchy’s Power
The king’s authority was significant:
He could appoint and dismiss ministers.
He had the power to dissolve parliament.
He retained command of the armed forces and controlled foreign policy.
Thus, the monarchy was not a symbolic institution but an active and decisive element of Italian politics.
The Nature of the Kingdom of Italy
Piedmontisation
The new Italy was effectively built around the institutions, laws, and administrative systems of Piedmont. This process, known as Piedmontisation, meant that other Italian states lost much of their distinctiveness.
Piedmontisation: The imposition of Piedmontese laws, institutions, and practices across the newly unified Italian state after 1861.
This centralised model created resentment, particularly in regions such as the Mezzogiorno (southern Italy), where traditions and local identities were disregarded.
Regional Divisions
The Kingdom of Italy struggled with geographical, cultural, and social divisions:
The north was more industrialised and economically advanced.
The south was largely agrarian and impoverished.
Regional dialects and traditions persisted, limiting the sense of national identity.
These divisions highlighted the fragility of Italian unity and complicated the development of a coherent national state.
Civil Rights and Limitations
Although the Statuto promised certain freedoms, these were limited in practice:
Censorship restricted freedom of expression and press.
Only a small minority of the population had the right to vote, as suffrage was based on property and literacy qualifications.
Political participation was restricted to elites, leaving most Italians excluded from national politics.
This meant the Kingdom was liberal in appearance but oligarchic in reality.
Parliament and Political System
Bicameral Structure
Parliament was divided into two chambers:
Chamber of Deputies: Elected, though suffrage was very limited (initially only about 2% of the population).
Senate: Appointed by the king, usually comprising aristocrats, bishops, and former ministers.
This arrangement reflected a cautious approach to democracy, ensuring the monarchy and aristocracy maintained dominance.
Weakness of Parliament
Parliament was weak compared to the monarchy:
Ministers were accountable primarily to the king, not parliament.
Governments could fall due to the king’s will, not parliamentary votes.
Elections were controlled by local elites and patronage, often leading to corruption and limited representation.
Thus, parliamentary politics often lacked true democratic legitimacy.
The Role of the Church
The Catholic Church played a contradictory role in the early Kingdom of Italy:
The seizure of the Papal States and Rome’s eventual annexation in 1870 created hostility between Church and State.
Map of the Kingdom of Italy in 1870, showing the national territory after the annexation of Rome. Provincial outlines help visualise the state’s administrative reach under the unifying constitutional framework. Source
The Pope refused to recognise the new Kingdom, instructing Catholics not to participate in politics through the Non Expedit decree.
This further undermined national unity by excluding a large section of the population from political life.
Social and Political Challenges
The Kingdom faced significant challenges:
Brigandage (armed resistance in the south) reflected discontent with Piedmontese rule.
High taxation and conscription fuelled resentment, especially in poorer regions.
The limited franchise meant Italy’s political system was elitist and disconnected from the majority of its citizens.
Identity and Legitimacy
Despite unification, Italy’s new monarchy struggled with:
Establishing a shared national identity across diverse regions.
Balancing modern constitutional principles with monarchical traditions.
Reconciling the aspirations of liberal nationalists with the realities of authoritarian centralism.
The constitution and nature of the Kingdom of Italy therefore embodied both progress and limitation: it created the framework for a modern state, but one dominated by elites, hindered by divisions, and burdened with unresolved tensions.
FAQ
The Statuto Albertino was already functioning successfully in Piedmont-Sardinia and was considered flexible enough to apply to a larger kingdom. Adopting it avoided political disputes that could have arisen from writing a new constitution and reinforced Piedmont’s dominance in the new state.
Because the Statuto could be changed by ordinary parliamentary law, it lacked entrenched guarantees of rights.
This meant:
Governments could adjust rules to maintain control.
Civil liberties were often curtailed during periods of unrest.
The monarchy and elite could preserve dominance without needing constitutional reform.
The property and literacy requirements excluded most of the population from voting.
Only about 2% of Italians were enfranchised initially.
Political culture remained elite-driven, centred on wealthy landowners and professionals.
Ordinary Italians felt disconnected from the state, which contributed to discontent and instability, particularly in the south.
The Pope’s refusal to recognise the Kingdom weakened participation. The Non Expedit ban on Catholic involvement in politics excluded millions of Italians from elections and parliamentary life.
This deepened divisions between Church and State, limiting the constitution’s ability to unify Italy under one political system.
Piedmontese laws, taxes, and conscription were imposed across all regions, disregarding local traditions.
Southern peasants resented higher taxes and conscription rules.
Local elites in former independent states disliked losing influence.
The constitution appeared more like an instrument of Piedmontese dominance than a national framework, fuelling unrest and alienation.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
In which year was the Statuto Albertino first granted in Piedmont-Sardinia, later forming the basis of the constitution for the Kingdom of Italy?
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for correct identification of the year: 1848
0 marks for incorrect or vague answers.
(Maximum 2 marks: 2 marks for correct year, 1 mark if answer refers only to the “revolutions of 1848” without specifying the year clearly.)
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain two ways in which the Statuto Albertino shaped the political nature of the Kingdom of Italy after 1861.
Mark Scheme:
Award up to 3 marks for each well-explained point.
1 mark for identifying a relevant way.
1 mark for describing the feature.
1 mark for explaining how this shaped the political nature of the Kingdom of Italy.
Possible points:
Monarchy retained strong powers: The king could appoint/dismiss ministers, dissolve parliament, and control the armed forces. This meant Italy remained a monarchy with significant executive authority. (Up to 3 marks)
Bicameral parliament established: A Chamber of Deputies (limited franchise) and a Senate (appointed by the king) were created, ensuring the system was parliamentary but restricted and elitist. (Up to 3 marks)
Recognition of limited civil rights: Freedom of press and association were formally recognised but constrained in practice, showing Italy was liberal in theory but oligarchic in reality. (Up to 3 marks)
Maximum: 6 marks.
Alternative valid answers may be credited if they demonstrate clear understanding of how the Statuto influenced the Kingdom’s political nature.
