DLgs

D.Lgs. is the abbreviation used for Decreti Legislativi (legislative decrees) in the Italian legal system. These are acts issued by the Government under a delegation from Parliament to regulate, fill in details, or implement more general framework laws without issuing a new law of ordinary type. The delegation is provided by a legge di delega, which sets the general principles, aims, content boundaries, and a time frame for the government to act.

The constitutional basis rests with Article 76 of the Italian Constitution, which authorizes Parliament to entrust the Government with the legislative power for specific matters. A legislative decree thus has the force of law once published in the Official Journal, but it must remain within the scope and limits established by the delegating law. Decreti legislativi may be used to transpose EU directives, reorganize regulatory sectors, or provide detailed rules for complex policies.

Parliament retains oversight over D.Lgs. by retaining the power to modify or revoke them through subsequent ordinary laws. The Constitutional Court can review decrees for compliance with the delegation and with the Constitution. In practice, DLgs are a primary tool for implementing policy with both flexibility and speed, while preserving parliamentary control.

Notable examples include D.Lgs. 231/2001 on corporate liability for offenses, D.Lgs. 81/2008 on health and safety at work, and D.Lgs. 50/2016 on public procurement. These decrees illustrate how delegated legislation shapes substantial parts of Italian law.