Abstract

The Statuto Albertino was enacted in March 1848 and came into force in May (when the Houses of Parliament convened for the first time), but in July it was «suspended» by a law (proposed by the liberals and opposed by the democrats), which resulted in the suspension of the activities of Parliament from 5th August to 17th October 1848. This law (titled Extraordinary Powers of the Government during the War) came into force... when the war was over and gave the Government, among things, legislative power. The Government amply exercised this power in various ways and as a result the first forms of legislative decree and law decree were issued. This occurred spontaneously i.e. in the absence of provisions formally legitimising these decrees.