| STAT | Italy | United States | HISTORY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative divisions | 15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous regions (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma)<br /><strong>regions:</strong> Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Toscana (Tuscany), Umbria, Veneto (Venetia)<br /><strong>autonomous regions:</strong> Friuli-Venezia Giulia; Sardegna (Sardinia); Sicilia (Sicily); Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-South Tyrol) or Trentino-Suedtirol (German); Valle d'Aosta (Aosta Valley) or Vallee d'Aoste (French) | 50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming |
|
| Capital city > Geographic coordinates | 41 54 N, 12 29 E | 38 53 N, 77 02 W |
|
| Capital city > Name | Rome | Washington, DC |
|
| Constitution | previous 1848 (originally for Kingdom of Sardinia and adopted by Kingdom of Italy in 1861); latest enacted 22 December 1947, adopted 27 December 1947, entered into force 1 January 1948; amended many times, last in 2012 | previous 1781 (Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union); latest drafted July - September 1787, submitted to the Congress of the Confederation 20 September 1787, submitted for states' ratification 28 September 1787, ratification completed by nine sta |
|
| Executive branch > Cabinet | Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister and nominated by the President of the Republic | Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval |
|
| Executive branch > Chief of state | President Giorgio NAPOLITANO (since 15 May 2006) | President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009) |
|
| Executive branch > Head of government | Prime Minister Enrico LETTA (since 17 April 2013) | President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009) |
|
| Government type | republic | Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition |
|
| International organization participation | ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CDB, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC | ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), ANZUS, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, EAPC, EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNSC (permanent), UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC |
|
| Judicial branch | Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale (composed of 15 judges: one-third appointed by the president, one-third elected by parliament, one-third elected by the ordinary and administrative Supreme Courts); Supreme Court of Cassation or Corte Suprema di Cassazione | Supreme Court (nine justices; nominated by the president and confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate; appointed to serve for life); United States Courts of Appeal; United States District Courts; State and County Courts |
|
| Legal system | civil law system; judicial review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court | common law system based on English common law at the federal level; state legal systems based on common law except Louisiana, which is based on Napoleonic civil code; judicial review of legislative acts |
|
| Legislative branch | bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of the Senate or Senato della Repubblica (315 seats; members elected by proportional vote with the winning coalition in each region receiving 55% of seats from that region; members to serve five-year terms; and up to 5 senators for life appointed by the president of the Republic) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera dei Deputati (630 seats; members elected by popular vote with the winning national coalition receiving 54% of chamber seats; members to serve five-year terms); note - it has not been clarified if each president has the power to designate up to five senators or if five is the number of senators for life who might sit in the Senate | bicameral Congress consists of the Senate |
|
| Political parties and leaders | <strong>Center-right coalition [Silvio BERLUSCONI]: </strong><br />People of Freedom or PdL [Silvio BERLUSCONI]<br />Northern League or LN [Roberto MARONI]<br />Brothers of Italy or Fdl [Giorgia MELONI and Ignazio LA RUSSA]<br />The Right or LD [Francesco STORACE]<br />other minor parties<br /><br /><strong>Italy Common Good (Center-Left) [Pier Luigi BERSANI]:</strong><br />Democratic Party or PD [Pier Luigi BERSANI]<br />Left Ecology Freedom or SEL [Nichi VENDOLA]<br />Italian Socialist Party or PSI [Riccardo NENCINI]<br />Democratic Centre or CD [Bruno TABACCI and Massimo DONADI]<br />South Tyrolean People's Party or SVP [Luis DURNWALDER]<br /><br /><strong>With Monti for Italy (Centrist):</strong><br />Civic Choice or SC [Mario MONTI]<br />Union of the Center or UdC [Pier Ferdinando CASINI]<br />Future and Freedom for Italy or FLI [Gianfranco FINI]<br /><br /><strong>other coalitions and parties:</strong><br />Civil Revolution or RC [Antonio INGROIA]<br />Act to Stop the Decline or FiD [Oscar GIANNINO]<br />Five Star Movment or M5S [Beppe GRILLO] | Democratic Party [Debbie Wasserman SCHULTZ]<br />Green Party<br />Libertarian Party [Mark HINKLE]<br />Republican Party [Reince PRIEBUS] |
|
| Political pressure groups and leaders | manufacturers and merchants associations - Confcommercio; Confindustria<br />organized farm groups - Confcoltivatori; Confagricoltura; Roman Catholic Church<br />three major trade union confederations - Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro or CGIL [Susanna CAMUSSO] which is left wing; Confederazione Italiana dei Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL [Raffaele BONANNI], which is Roman Catholic centrist; Unione Italiana del Lavoro or UIL [Luigi ANGELETTI] which is lay centrist | environmentalists; business groups; labor unions; churches; ethnic groups; political action committees or PACs; health groups; education groups; civic groups; youth groups; transportation groups; agricultural groups; veterans groups; women's groups; reform lobbies |
|
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal (except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25) | 18 years of age; universal |
|
| Country name > Conventional long form | Italian Republic | United States of America | |
| Executive branch > Elections | president elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of parliament and 58 regional representatives for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held on 24-25 February 2013 (next to be held in 2020); prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by parliament | president and vice president elected on the same ticket by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each state; president and vice president serve four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 6 November 2012 (next to be held on 8 November 2016) |
|
| National symbol(s) | white, five-pointed star (Stella d'Italia) | bald eagle | |
| Flag description | three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; design inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797; colors are those of Milan (red and white) combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard | 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; the blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship; red symbolizes courage, zeal, and fervency, while white denotes purity and rectitude of conduct; commonly referred to by its nickname of Old Glory |
|
| Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days |
6
Ranked 161st. 20% more than United States |
5
Ranked 170th. |
|
| Country name > Conventional short form | Italy | United States | |
| Constitutional form | Republic | Republic | |
| Transnational Issues > Disputes > International | Italy's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and northern Africa | the US has intensified domestic security measures and is collaborating closely with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across the international borders; abundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; 1990 Maritime Boundary Agreement in the Bering Sea still awaits Russian Duma ratification; Canada and the United States dispute how to divide the Beaufort Sea and the status of the Northwest Passage but continue to work cooperatively to survey the Arctic continental shelf; The Bahamas and US have not been able to agree on a maritime boundary; US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other states; Marshall Islands claims Wake Island; Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island among the islands listed in its 2006 draft constitution |
|
| National anthem | <strong>name: </strong>"Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Goffredo MAMELI/Michele NOVARO | <strong>name: </strong>"The Star-Spangled Banner"<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH | |
| Legislative branch > Election results | Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Pier Luigi BERSANI coalition 123 (PD 111, SEL 7, SVP 2, other 3), Silvio BERLUSCONI coalition 117 (PdL 98, LN 18, other 1), M5S 54, Mario MONTI coalition 19, other 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Pier Luigi BERSANI coalition 345 (PD 297, SEL 37, CD 6 SVP 5), Silvio BERLUSCONI coalition 125 (PdL 98, LN 18, FdI 9), M5S 109, Mario MONTI coalition 47, other 4 | Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 54, Republican Party 45, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 201, Republican Party 234 |
|
| Legislative branch > Elections | Senate - last held on 24-25 February 2013 (next to be held in 2018); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 24-25 February 2013 (next to be held in 2018) | Senate - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held on 4 November 2014); House of Representatives - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held on 4 November 2014) |
|
| Democracy and rights > Press freedom index |
26.11
Ranked 6th. 43% more than United States |
18.22
Ranked 13th. |
|
| Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage |
21.43%
Ranked 73th. 21% more than United States |
17.78%
Ranked 91st. |
|
| Independence | 17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1870) | 4 July 1776 (declared); 3 September 1783 (recognized by Great Britain) |
|
| Executive branch > Election results | Giorgio NAPOLITANO elected president on the sixth round of voting; electoral college vote - 739 | Barack H. OBAMA reelected president; percent of popular vote - Barack H. OBAMA 50.6%, Mitt ROMNEY 47.9%, other 1.5%; |
|
| Judicial branch > Subordinate courts | various lower civil and criminal courts (primary and secondary tribunals, courts, and courts of appeal) | Courts of Appeal (includes the US Court of Appeal for the Federal District and 12 regional appeals courts); 94 federal district courts in 50 states and territories | |
| Basis of executive legitimacy | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence | Presidency is independent of legislature | |
| Transnational Issues > Illicit drugs | important gateway for and consumer of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market; money laundering by organized crime and from smuggling | world's largest consumer of cocaine (shipped from Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean), Colombian heroin, and Mexican heroin and marijuana; major consumer of ecstasy and Mexican methamphetamine; minor consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering center | |
| Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press |
33
Ranked 125th. 83% more than United States |
18
Ranked 171st. |
|
| Corruption > Bribe Payers Index |
7.4
Ranked 16th. |
8.1
Ranked 8th. 9% more than Italy |
|
| Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament |
17.3%
Ranked 69th. 14% more than United States |
15.2%
Ranked 79th. |
|
| Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number |
6
Ranked 114th. The same as United States |
6
Ranked 103th. |
|
| Democracy > Civil and political liberties |
5.5
Ranked 29th. |
6
Ranked 6th. 9% more than Italy |
|
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ |
357.61 billion$
Ranked 4th. |
1.84 trillion$
Ranked 1st. 5 times more than Italy |
|
| National holiday | Republic Day, 2 June | Independence Day, 4 July (1776) |
|
| Capital > Geographic coordinates | 41 54 N, 12 29 E | 38 53 N, 77 02 W | |
| Democracy > First female parliamentarian | 1946 (elected) | 1917 (elected) | |
| Time required to start a business > Days |
13 days
Ranked 150th. 3 times more than United States |
5 days
Ranked 167th. |
|
| Leaders > President | Giorgio Napolitano | Barack Obama |
|
| Democracy > Gender Parity Index in primary level enrolment |
0.995
Ranked 51st. About the same as United States |
0.991
Ranked 52nd. |
|
| Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office | Supreme Court judges appointed by the Superior Council of the Judiciary, headed by the president, to serve NA terms; Constitutional Court judges - 5 appointed by the president, 5 elected by parliament, 5 elected by select higher courts; judges serve up to 9 years) | president nominates, and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints Supreme Court justices; justices appointed for life | |
| Democracy and rights > Democracy Index |
7.74
Ranked 25th. |
8.11
Ranked 18th. 5% more than Italy |
|
| Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient |
4.1
Ranked 71st. |
4.5
Ranked 43th. 10% more than Italy |
|
| Red tape > Time required to register property > Days |
16
Ranked 145th. 33% more than United States |
12
Ranked 158th. |
|
| Politics | Two months after the 2013 elections left a stalemated parliament, a grand coalition was formed under Enrico Letta | Barack Obama, America's first black president, was re-elected in November 2012 | |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | withdrew acceptance of compulsory ICJ jurisdiction in 2005; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2002 |
|
| Parliament > Seats held by men |
495
Ranked 4th. 39% more than United States |
356
Ranked 21st. |
|
| Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years |
1.8
Ranked 131st. 20% more than United States |
1.5
Ranked 144th. |
|
| Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million |
0.0985
Ranked 167th. 5 times more than United States |
0.0191
Ranked 185th. |
|
| Parliament > Seats held by women |
135
Ranked 13th. 75% more than United States |
77
Ranked 27th. |
|
| Leaders > President > Summary | President Giorgio Napolitano has been a stabilising influence on Italian political life | Barack Obama, the country's first black president | |
| Democracy > Democratic institutions rating |
10
Ranked 21st. The same as United States |
10
Ranked 9th. |
|
| UN membership date | 14 Dec. 1955 | 24 Oct. 1945 | |
| Democracy and rights > Democracy Index per million people |
0.127
Ranked 28th. 5 times more than United States |
0.0258
Ranked 34th. |
|
| Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number |
11
Ranked 151st. |
16
Ranked 60th. 45% more than Italy |
|
| Capital city | Rome | Washington, DC | |
| Capital > Name | Rome | Washington, DC | |
| Legal origin | <a href=/country/fr>French</a> | <a href=/encyclopedia/England>English</a> | |
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per capita |
6,101.91$
per capita
Ranked 13th. |
6,281.51$
per capita
Ranked 14th. 3% more than Italy |
|
| Spending > Expense > Current LCU |
631.13 billion
Ranked 29th. |
3.7 trillion
Ranked 1st. 6 times more than Italy |
|
| Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days |
124
Ranked 56th. 2 times more than United States |
60
Ranked 144th. |
|
| Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Registered voter turnout |
81.4%
Ranked 36th. 28% more than United States |
63.8%
Ranked 101st. |
|
| Democracy and rights > Year women first voted at national level | 1946 | 1920 | |
| Legislature (parliament) > People per member |
63,411
Ranked 52nd. |
575,019
Ranked 3rd. 9 times more than Italy |
|
| Capital > Time difference | UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) | UTC-5 (during Standard Time) | |
| International relations | Italian forces have been active in peacekeeping in the Balkans, Africa and Middle East, and are present in Afghanistan | The US has a leading role on the world stage, militarily and diplomatically. Its combat troops are set to leave Afghanistan by late 2014 | |
| Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days per million |
2.04
Ranked 159th. 11 times more than United States |
0.191
Ranked 186th. |
|
| Leaders > Head of state > Term limit for head of state |
7
Ranked 8th. 75% more than United States |
4
Ranked 129th. |
|
| Legislature (parliament) > Upper house members |
315
Ranked 3rd. 3 times more than United States |
100
Ranked 24th. |
|
| Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members |
630
Ranked 5th. 45% more than United States |
435
Ranked 25th. |
|
| Democracy > Female ministers |
25.6%
Ranked 26th. 4 times more than United States |
7.1%
Ranked 92nd. |
|
| Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days |
1,185
Ranked 17th. 3 times more than United States |
370
Ranked 164th. |
|
| Democracy > Female parliamentarians |
9.1%
Ranked 102nd. |
13.8%
Ranked 60th. 52% more than Italy |
|
| Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number |
4
Ranked 158th. The same as United States |
4
Ranked 145th. |
|
| Leaders > President > Profile | <p>Giorgio Napolitano was re-elected as president of Italy in April 2013 - the first time in the history of the Italian republic that an incumbent president had been voted in to serve a second term.</p> <p>The 87-years-old Mr Napolitano had previously signalled that he was keen to retire and had ruled himself out as a candidate, but after five rounds of voting failed to elect a new president, he was prevailed upon to stand as a consensus candidate in the sixth round.</p> <p>In that ballot, he secured 738 votes out of a possible total of 1,007 that could be cast by the combined chambers of parliament.</p> <p>Mr Napolitano's re-election came in the wake of an inconclusive parliamentary election in February 2013 that gave rise to protracted negotiations over the formation of a new government.</p> <p>During this period, the president came to be seen as a guarantor of stability. However, those pushing for change and a radical shake-up of the old political class saw Mr Napolitano's re-election as a further sign of political stagnation.</p> <p>Giorgio Napolitano began his first term of office in May 2006, when he was sworn in as Italy's 11th post-war president.</p> <p>The former member of the Italian Communist Party was among the leading architects of the party's transformation into a social-democratic movement.</p> <p>The Italian president heads the armed forces and has powers to veto legislation, disband parliament and call elections.</p> <p>For most of his first term, Mr Napolitano preferred to remain distant from the often treacherous world of Italian parliamentary politics, and so when he did intervene directly - as happened in November 2011, when he issued a not-so-coded message to the political class to examine its conscience and acknowledge collective responsibility for the crisis facing the country - his words carried considerable weight.</p> | <p>Barack Obama, a Democrat and America's first black president, was re-elected for a second term in November 2012 after a bitterly-fought campaign against Republican challenger Mitt Romney.</p> <p>The Democrats kept control of the Senate and the Republicans remained in control of the House of Representatives, leading to political gridlock in Congress on the budget in late 2013.</p> <p>The campaign focused on the ailing US economy. In his inaugural speech in January 2013, Mr Obama called on Democrats and Republicans to work together to sustain the country's fragile economic recovery. He also pledged an end to "ten years of war", signalling the departure of US troops from Afghanistan in 2014.</p> <p>First term challenges</p> <p>The worst economic crisis in the US since the Great Depression of the 1930s dominated much of Mr Obama's first term. The president pursued an aggressive policy of economic stimulus, including bail-outs of major car makers.</p> <p>He made reform of the healthcare system to extend coverage and reduce ballooning costs one of his top domestic priorities.</p> <p>Despite a tortuous drafting process and vociferous Republican opposition, Mr Obama and Democrats in Congress finally succeeded in passing a health care bill in March 2010.</p> <p>However, the health reform, along with the $787bn stimulus package passed in February 2010 to shore up an ailing economy, galvanised opposition among opponents to Mr Obama's agenda.</p> <p>The American Right in particular worried about what it saw as moves to extend the role of the state in the economy, and the threat of excessive public debt.</p> <p>Tea Party boost for Republicans</span> <p>The rise of the conservative Tea Party movement in 2009 re-energised the Republicans and helped them to capitalise on popular discontent at the slow pace of America's economic recovery.</p> <p>The Republicans made sweeping gains in mid-term elections in November 2010, regaining control of the House of Representatives.</p> <p>In autumn 2011 anti-capitalist protestors took to the streets of major cities, marching under the slogan "Occupy Wall Street", against "corporate greed" and increasing government debt. The protests inspired marches in other cities worldwide in October 2011.</p> <p>Bin Laden operation</span> <p>In May 2011, Mr Obama was widely applauded domestically - including by the Right - for his decision to order the operation that killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. </p> <p>Barack Obama was born in 1961 in Hawaii, the son of a black Kenyan father and a white American mother. After attending an elite Hawaiian academy and Columbia University in New York, he went on to Harvard Law School, where he graduated in 1991.</p> <p>Mr Obama practiced law and did community work in Chicago, where he also became active in the Democratic Party. He won a seat in the Illinois state senate in 1996, and followed this up by winning a US Senate seat in 2004.</p> <p>He emphatic victory over his opponent John McCain in the 2008 presidential election ended eight years of Republican rule in the White House.</p> <p>Mr Obama ran for president on a ticket promising change, and came to office riding a wave of high expectations from his supporters, both at home and abroad.</p> <p>He is widely acknowledged to be a charismatic figure and is noted for his stirring oratory. </p> | |
| Role of head of state | Ceremonial | Executive | |
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita |
6,101.91$
Ranked 13th. |
6,299.75$
Ranked 14th. 3% more than Italy |
|
| Start-up procedures to register a business > Number |
9
Ranked 93th. 80% more than United States |
5
Ranked 154th. |
|
| Strength of legal rights index > 0=weak to 10=strong |
3
Ranked 143th. |
8
Ranked 27th. 3 times more than Italy |
|
| Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million |
0.0673
Ranked 121st. 5 times more than United States |
0.0143
Ranked 141st. |
|
| Spending > Compensation of employees > Current LCU |
97.33 billion
Ranked 31st. |
399.42 billion
Ranked 14th. 4 times more than Italy |
|
| Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > Current LCU |
411.71 billion
Ranked 22nd. |
2.56 trillion
Ranked 1st. 6 times more than Italy |
|
| Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for upper house members |
5
Ranked 39th. |
6
Ranked 17th. 20% more than Italy |
|
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per $ GDP |
0.203$
per $1 of GDP
Ranked 31st. 28% more than United States |
0.158$
per $1 of GDP
Ranked 76th. |
|
| Parliament > Seats held by women per million people |
2.2
Ranked 121st. 9 times more than United States |
0.243
Ranked 175th. |
|
| Foreign relations > Nepal > Date of Establishment | August 31, 1959 | April 25, 1947 | |
| Democracy > Female suffrage | 1945 | "1920 ,1960" | |
| Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days |
233.5
Ranked 35th. 3 times more than United States |
91
Ranked 157th. |
|
| Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Syrian National Council | Informal relations Verbal support Rejection of Assad government | Recognised on 5 December 2011 (as legitimate representative) | |
| Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million |
0.607
Ranked 165th. 6 times more than United States |
0.102
Ranked 185th. |
|
| Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days per million |
0.0985
Ranked 182nd. 6 times more than United States |
0.0159
Ranked 188th. |
|
| Red tape > Time required to register property > Days per million |
0.41
Ranked 161st. 11 times more than United States |
0.0382
Ranked 181st. |
|
| Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million |
0.181
Ranked 167th. 4 times more than United States |
0.051
Ranked 182nd. |
|
| Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million |
3.83
Ranked 155th. 13 times more than United States |
0.29
Ranked 183th. |
|
| Capital > Daylight saving time | +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October | +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November | |
| Spending > Interest payments > Current LCU |
75.59 billion
Ranked 18th. |
270.49 billion
Ranked 1st. 4 times more than Italy |
|
| Democracy and rights > Major left wing party | Democratic Party | Democratic Party | |
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ > Per capita |
3,794.89 constant 2000 US$
per c
Ranked 14th. |
5,464.23 constant 2000 US$
per c
Ranked 8th. 44% more than Italy |
|
| Time required to build a warehouse > Days |
284 days
Ranked 27th. 4 times more than United States |
69 days
Ranked 164th. |
|
| Failed States Index |
44.6
Ranked 7th. 33% more than United States |
33.5
Ranked 14th. |
|
| Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population |
47.33 million
Ranked 12th. |
213.95 million
Ranked 2nd. 5 times more than Italy |
|
| Democracy > Female candidacy |
1,945
Ranked 101st. 9% more than United States |
1,788
Ranked 161st. |
|
| Trademarks > Nonresidents > Per capita |
0.143
per 1,000 people
Ranked 43th. 55% more than United States |
0.092
per 1,000 people
Ranked 35th. |
|
| Trademarks > Nonresidents per 1000 |
0.143
Ranked 44th. 55% more than United States |
0.0922
Ranked 35th. |
|
| Foreign relations > Croatia > Date of Establishment | January 17, 1992 | August 11, 1992 | |
| National anthem > Name | "Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians) | "The Star-Spangled Banner" | |
| Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Total vote |
40.2 million
Ranked 9th. |
99.74 million
Ranked 3rd. 2 times more than Italy |
|
| Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voter registration |
49.36 million
Ranked 12th. |
156.42 million
Ranked 2nd. 3 times more than Italy |
|
| Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Turnout |
84.9
Ranked 21st. 82% more than United States |
46.6
Ranked 93th. |
|
| Time required to enforce a contract > Days |
1,210 days
Ranked 10th. 4 times more than United States |
300 days
Ranked 136th. |
|
| Start-up procedures to register a business > Number > Per capita |
0.154
per 1 million people
Ranked 146th. 9 times more than United States |
0.017
per 1 million people
Ranked 168th. |
|
| Democracy and rights > Electoral system | PR (MMP) | FPTP | |
| Procedures to register property > Number |
8
Ranked 37th. Twice as much as United States |
4
Ranked 131st. |
|
| Procedures to build a warehouse > Number |
17
Ranked 84th. |
18
Ranked 67th. 6% more than Italy |
|
| Democracy and rights > Party system | Multi | Two | |
| Democracy and rights > Structure | Parliamentary | Presidential | |
| Democracy > Secret ballot > Date of introduction | 1861 | 1891 | |
| Trademarks > Residents |
39,459
Ranked 11th. |
213,495
Ranked 2nd. 5 times more than Italy |
|
| Procedures to register property > Number > Per capita |
0.137
per 1 million people
Ranked 139th. 11 times more than United States |
0.013
per 1 million people
Ranked 164th. |
|
| Procedures to enforce a contract > Number > Per capita |
0.683
per 1 million people
Ranked 142nd. 12 times more than United States |
0.057
per 1 million people
Ranked 167th. |
|
| Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members |
5
Ranked 74th. 3 times more than United States |
2
Ranked 183th. |
|
| Republic establishment date | June 12, 1946 | September 3, 1783 | |
| Democracy and rights > Major right wing party | Forza Italia | Republican Party | |
| Foreign relations > Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia | Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said "The move does not apply in an international legal framework. An ethnic-based balkanisation of the Caucasus is a serious danger for all". | President George W. Bush condemned the actions taken by Russia and called on them to "reconsider this irresponsible decision." Bush then stated that in "accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions that remain in force, Abkhazia and South Ossetia are within the internationally recognised borders of Georgia, and they must remain so." Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also said the decision made by Russia was "regrettable" and further stated that since "the United States is a permanent member of the Security Council this simply will be dead on arrival in the Security Council." United States President George W. Bush acknowledged the ceasefire accord brokered by the French President and President of the European Council , Nicolas Sarkozy . The accord was signed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on 12 August 2008 Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page ). | |
| Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population per 1000 |
821.68
Ranked 7th. 11% more than United States |
737.5
Ranked 40th. |
|
| Democracy and rights > Strongly federal? | No | Yes | |
| Democracy and rights > Strong judicial review? | No | Yes | |
| Foreign relations > Date of establishment of relations with China | November 6, 1970 | January 1, 1979 | |
| Capital city > Time difference | UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) | UTC-5 (during Standard Time) |
|
| Spending > Goods and services expense > % of expense |
3.82%
Ranked 85th. |
15.67%
Ranked 32nd. 4 times more than Italy |
|
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ per capita |
3,794.89 constant 2000 US$
Ranked 14th. |
5,480.09 constant 2000 US$
Ranked 8th. 44% more than Italy |
|
| Democracy and rights > Last election | February 2013 | November 2012 | |
| Spending > Interest payments > % of revenue |
12.81%
Ranked 11th. 7% more than United States |
11.93%
Ranked 1st. |
|
| Democracy and rights > Next election | February 2018 | November 2016 | |
| Spending > Interest payments > % of expense |
11.98%
Ranked 12th. 64% more than United States |
7.31%
Ranked 3rd. |
|
| Spending > Other expense > % of expense |
5.21%
Ranked 51st. |
26.91%
Ranked 1st. 5 times more than Italy |
|
| Spending > Compensation of employees > % of expense |
15.42%
Ranked 63th. 28% more than United States |
12.08%
Ranked 75th. |
|
| Ruling party | Democrat / NCD | Democratic | |
| Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million |
0.288
Ranked 146th. 5 times more than United States |
0.0603
Ranked 164th. |
|
| Spending > Expense > % of GDP |
40.25%
Ranked 13th. 55% more than United States |
25.94%
Ranked 2nd. |
|
| Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million |
19.45
Ranked 146th. 17 times more than United States |
1.18
Ranked 185th. |
|
| Foreign relations > International recognition of the Syrian National Council notes | On 25 November Italian Foreign Minister, Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata reiterated Italy's support to "organised opposition" in the shape of SNC. On 11 December, Terzi met SNC's president Burhan Ghalioun and said Italy would intensify its contacts with SNC which grouped "an important segment" of the Syrian opposition . | The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton , deemed the Syrian National Council as a \u201cleading and legitimate representative of Syrians seeking a peaceful democratic transition,\u201d and that the United States was \u201ccommitted to helping... make this transition.\u201d | |
| Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Kosovo |
None
|
None
|
|
| Democracy and rights > Major party notes | Until 1992 the major party was the centrist Christian Democracy , which had been in government for five decades; the second one was the Italian Communist Party . | In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Federalist Party , Democratic-Republican Party , and Whig Party were all major. | |
| Democracy and rights > Active Labor party | Labour Federation | Socialist Labor Party of America Labor Party (United States, 1996) Minnesota Democratic\u2013Farmer\u2013Labor Party | |
| Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament |
948
Ranked 3rd. 77% more than United States |
535
Ranked 25th. |
|
| Legislature (parliament) > Strongly bicameral? | Yes | Yes | |
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current LCU | 287558000000 | 1844600000000 |
|
| Time to prepare and pay taxes > Hours |
360 hours
Ranked 46th. 11% more than United States |
325 hours
Ranked 54th. |
|
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ |
222.41 billion constant 2000 US$
Ranked 5th. |
1.6 trillion constant 2000 US$
Ranked 1st. 7 times more than Italy |
|
| Procedures to build a warehouse > Number > Per capita |
0.29
per 1 million people
Ranked 146th. 5 times more than United States |
0.06
per 1 million people
Ranked 165th. |
|
| Spending > Goods and services expense > Current LCU |
24.09 billion
Ranked 44th. |
518.29 billion
Ranked 9th. 22 times more than Italy |
|
| National anthem > Note | adopted 1946; the anthem, originally written in 1847, is also known as "L'Inno di Mameli" (Mameli's Hymn), and "Fratelli D'Italia" (Brothers of Italy) | adopted 1931; during the War of 1812, after witnessing the successful American defense of Fort McHenry in Baltimore following British naval bombardment, Francis Scott KEY wrote the lyrics to what would become the national anthem; the lyrics were set to the tune of "The Anacreontic Song;" only the first verse is sung | |
| Flag description > Note | similar to the flag of Mexico, which is longer, uses darker shades of red and green, and has its coat of arms centered on the white band; Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green | the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico | |
| Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number |
37
Ranked 108th. 16% more than United States |
32
Ranked 154th. |
|
| Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million |
0.0821
Ranked 168th. 6 times more than United States |
0.0127
Ranked 181st. |
|
| Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million |
0.679
Ranked 141st. 12 times more than United States |
0.057
Ranked 166th. |
|
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant LCU | 241400500000 | 1604600000000 |
|
| Trademarks > Residents > Per capita |
0.693
per 1,000 people
Ranked 24th. |
0.727
per 1,000 people
Ranked 18th. 5% more than Italy |
|
| Time to resolve insolvency > Years |
1.2 years
Ranked 133th. |
1.5 years
Ranked 127th. 25% more than Italy |
|
| Spending > Other expense > Current LCU |
32.86 billion
Ranked 29th. |
995.12 billion
Ranked 1st. 30 times more than Italy |
|
| Trademarks > Residents per million |
692.97
Ranked 25th. |
729.14
Ranked 18th. 5% more than Italy |
|
| General government final > Consumption expenditure > Annual % growth |
1.16%
Ranked 86th. |
2.5%
Ranked 70th. 2 times more than Italy |
|
| Procedures to register property > Number per million |
0.136
Ranked 139th. 10 times more than United States |
0.0134
Ranked 163th. |
|
| Time required to register property > Days |
27 days
Ranked 121st. 2 times more than United States |
12 days
Ranked 145th. |
|
| Trademarks > Nonresidents |
8,135
Ranked 16th. |
26,988
Ranked 2nd. 3 times more than Italy |
|
| Parliament > Seats held by men per million people |
8.05
Ranked 129th. 7 times more than United States |
1.12
Ranked 185th. |
|
| Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > % of expense |
65.23%
Ranked 18th. |
69.14%
Ranked 1st. 6% more than Italy |
|
| Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > % |
31.4%
Ranked 34th. 75% more than United States |
17.9%
Ranked 97th. |
|
| Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million |
0.153
Ranked 145th. 9 times more than United States |
0.0168
Ranked 167th. |
|
| Procedures to enforce a contract > Number |
40
Ranked 54th. 2 times more than United States |
17
Ranked 164th. |
|
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