Article 117

Legislative authority is vested in the State and the Regions in accordance with the Constitution and with the conditions stemming from European Union law and international obligations. The State shall have exclusive legislative authority in the following areas: a) foreign policy and international relations of the State; relations between the State and the European Union; right of asylum and legal status of citizens of States not belonging to the European Union; b) immigration; c) relations between the Republic and religious faiths; d) defence and armed forces; State security; arms and weapons, ammunition and explosives; e) the currency, protection of savings, financial markets; protection of competition; foreign exchange system; State taxation and accounting systems; harmonisation of public accounts; equalisation of financial resources; f) State bodies and their electoral laws; national referenda; elections to the European Parliament; g) legal and administrative organisation of the State and of national public entities; h) public order and security, with the exception of local administrative police; i) citizenship, civil status and registry offices; l) jurisdiction and procedural law; civil and criminal law; administrative justice; m) determination of the essential levels of benefits relating to civil and social entitlements that must be guaranteed throughout the national territory; n) general rules regarding education; o) social security; p) electoral legislation, governing bodies and fundamental functions of Municipalities, Provinces and Metropolitan Cities; q) customs, protection of national borders and international prophylaxis; r) weights and measures; standard time; statistical and computerised co-ordination of information and data of State, regional and local administrations; works of the intellect; s) protection of the environment, the ecosystem and cultural heritage. The following matters are subject to concurrent legislation: international relations of the Regions and their relations with the European Union; foreign trade; protection and safety of labour; education, without prejudice to the autonomy of schools and excepting vocational education and training; professions; support of scientific and technological research and innovation in production sectors; health protection; food products; regulatory framework of sports; civil protection; land stewardship; civilian ports and airports; large transport and navigation networks; regulatory framework of communications; production, transport and distribution of energy at national level; complementary and supplementary social security; co-ordination of public finance and of the taxation system; enhancement of cultural and environmental assets, including the promotion and organisation of cultural activities; savings banks, rural banks, regional credit institutions; regional land and agricultural credit institutions. With regard to matters of concurrent legislation, legislative authority is vested in the Regions, except for the determination of fundamental principles, which is reserved for State legislation. The Regions shall have legislative authority in all matters that are not expressly reserved for State legislation. The Regions and the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano shall participate in decisions related to the drafting of EU legislative acts in any matters falling within their competence and shall be responsible for the implementation and execution of international agreements and European Union acts, subject to procedural rules set out in State legislation regulating the exercise of substitution powers in the case of non-performance on their part. The authority to issue regulations is vested in the State with respect to matters of exclusive legislation, except where delegated to the Regions. The authority to issue regulations is vested in the Regions in all other matters. Municipalities, Provinces and Metropolitan Cities shall have the authority to issue regulations with respect to the organisation and performance of the functions attributed to them. Regional laws shall remove any hindrance to the full equality of men and women in social, cultural and economic life and shall promote equal access to elected offices for women and men. Understandings between a Region and other Regions intended to improve the performance of regional functions, including by means of the establishment of joint bodies if appropriate, shall be ratified by regional law. In matters falling within their competence, Regions may enter into agreements with foreign States and understandings with local authorities of other States in the cases and in the forms laid down by State legislation.