Among the various forms through which political authority is organized across a nation, the unitary and federal state models are the most prominent and widely adopted structures globally. These classifications, based on the institutional arrangements of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, primarily aim to preserve political unity. However, in response to the unique historical backgrounds, sociocultural characteristics, and ethnic compositions of certain societies, a third model—the regional state—has emerged as an alternative. Unlike the federal system, the regional state does not comprise multiple sovereign entities; rather, it allows greater autonomy in specific domains than the unitary model. The scope of political autonomy granted to regions is defined by the constitution and legal framework of the overarching state. Regional authorities are typically empowered to legislate and govern in designated areas, with the extent and nature of these powers clearly delineated in the national constitution and the founding statutes of the regions.
Italy serves as a notable example of a regional state. The vast territorial expansion of the Roman Empire, the urban governance structures established during that period, the rise of feudal systems following the empire’s decline, and the subsequent cultural and linguistic diversification across European communities hindered the effective implementation of a strictly unitary system. In response, the regional state model was adopted to both maintain political cohesion and accommodate societal diversity by enabling localized self-governance.
Regional State Unitary State Federal State Italy Authority
Over time, various forms of states have emerged concerning the distribution of sovereign powers, which encompass the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of political authority. The unitary state and the federal state are among the foremost types that come to mind. Globally, these two forms of state organization are the most commonly encountered. In a unitary state structure, sovereignty belongs exclusively to a single state. State powers are not shared with any other state or institutional formation. Legislative, executive, and judicial powers are centralized, thereby ensuring political unity. The authority to make decisions resides with the state, and the consent of any other state in the decision-making process is not required. Although certain powers are delegated to local administrations established to address local needs, these powers do not amount to a sharing of political sovereignty. In a federal state structure, sovereignty is shared. There exist two separate levels of government exercising sovereignty over the same territory and population, with the scope of their respective powers defined by constitutional boundaries. The legislative, executive, and judicial powers are established separately within both levels of government. In the federal system, the powers of the federated states and the federal government are delineated and limited by the constitution with clear and definitive boundaries. In cases of jurisdictional disputes between these levels of government, resolution is provided by the Constitutional Court. Federated states are granted the right to be represented within the federal structure through a second chamber or institution. In this way, they contribute to the exercise of federal legislative authority.
In addition to these two main state forms, a third model—namely, the regional state—has emerged due to various historical, social, economic, cultural, and similar factors. The regional state structure diverges from the unitary state particularly in terms of the distribution of powers, while differing from the federal state in that it does not grant its regions the status of separate states, as is the case with federated entities. For this reason, there is a broadly accepted view that the regional state should be recognized as a distinct third form of state structure. In the structure of a regional state, two distinct levels of governance exist: the central government and the regional entities. Both levels hold authority over the same population and territory. The regional entities possess competencies in legislative and executive matters, and in some instances, also in the judiciary. Furthermore, regions have the right to challenge central laws before the Constitutional Court. The powers of the regions are determined by the constitution. Just as the constitution grants powers to the regions, it also allows for the withdrawal of such powers by constitutional means. One of the countries where the regional state structure is observed is Italy. During the Roman Empire, each city was regarded as a separate political entity. It is well known that many cities within the Roman Empire had their own distinct ways of life and encompassed various cultural, ethnic, and social groups. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, these city-states reemerged as independent entities. The city-state structure remained in place until the 19th century. The unification of Italy was first achieved under Napoleon. The primary driving force behind this unification was economic in nature. Although tensions between the north and the south are said to persist to this day, the unification of Italy was accompanied by a difficult and tumultuous process.
Following the Second World War, the Italian Republic was established with the adoption of a new constitution in 1948. Aware of the profound economic, social, and cultural disparities across the regions upon which the Italian unification was built, the founding architects of the Republic designed the state structure on the basis of a regional model. The 1948 Constitution recognized 18 autonomous regional entities. In 1963, with the designation of Friuli-Venezia Giulia as a special-status region and the establishment of Molise as a region with ordinary status, the number of autonomous regions increased to 20. The powers vested in these regions vary depending on whether they possess special or ordinary status. Although various adjustments concerning the powers of the regions have been made over time, constitutional amendments enacted between 1999 and 2001 significantly enhanced the competencies of regional governments, while simultaneously limiting the central government’s capacity to intervene in regional affairs. Article 117 of the Italian Constitution explicitly enumerates the respective powers of the central and regional governments. While legislative authority is generally delegated to the regions, exclusive authority over matters of critical importance—such as foreign policy, national security, and citizenship—is reserved for the central government. Apart from these, the article also lists specific areas in which the regions are competent to legislate. In the event of a dispute between the central government and a region regarding the exercise of legislative powers, both ordinary and extraordinary supervisory mechanisms are foreseen. As an extraordinary measure, the President of the Republic holds the authority to dissolve regional councils in cases of constitutional violations or threats to national security. In addition to this, ordinary mechanisms include the appointment of commissioners by the central government or the referral of regional legislation to the Constitutional Court.