deputato

Deputato is the Italian term for a member of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Parliament of Italy. Deputies are elected representatives who participate in drafting and voting on legislation, scrutinize the government, and represent constituencies at the national level.

Election and term: Deputies are elected in general elections by Italian citizens aged 25 or older. They serve a five-year term, unless Parliament is dissolved earlier. The Chamber of Deputies has 630 members.

Roles and powers: Deputies debate and shape laws, approve the national budget, and exercise oversight of the executive through committees, inquiries, and motions of confidence or no confidence. They may propose bills and amendments, and they participate in joint committees with the Senate on certain matters.

Relation to the Senate: Italy's Parliament is bicameral; the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic share legislative authority. For a law to pass, both houses must approve it, and in several cases the Senate has equal powers to the Chamber. The President of the Republic can dissolve Parliament, triggering new elections.

Qualifications and ethics: In addition to age 25, candidates must be Italian citizens and meet other legal requirements; some offices may be incompatible with deputy status. Deputies are expected to comply with ethics rules and can be subject to investigations.

History: The title and institution date to the unification of Italy; the Chamber of Deputies formed in the Kingdom and continued after the 1948 Constitution when the Republic was established. The term remains in use to designate elected representatives in the modern Italian political system.