legalità

Legalità is an Italian term that denotes the quality or state of being legal or lawful. In everyday and institutional usage it refers to compliance with laws and to the broader principle that governance and public action should be conducted according to the law. The word derives from Latin legalitas, itself from legalis, meaning pertaining to law.

In legal philosophy and constitutional law, legality encompasses two related notions: the normative requirement that norms, offenses and penalties be defined by law (the principle of legality), and the consequent obligation for public actors to act within the legal framework. The principle of legalità includes safeguards such as nulla poena sine lege (no punishment without a prior law) and the foreseeability of criminal consequences, as well as the idea that acts by authorities must have a legal basis. It also supports due process and non-retroactivity in penal matters.

In Italy, legalità is also a social and political concept associated with integrity, transparency, and anti-corruption efforts. It has been promoted in education, public administration, and anti-mafia campaigns, where the emphasis is on lawful conduct as the foundation for democratic legitimacy and social development. Municipal and national programs often frame governance, procurement, and public safety around the promotion of legalité.

Conceptually, some scholars distinguish legality (following the letter of the law) from legitimacy (the broader moral justification of laws and authority). In practice, both aspects intersect in promoting rule of law, equal treatment, and protection of rights within a democratic framework.