A reader recently posed a thought-provoking question about the Italian Constitution and the “1948 case,” specifically:
I had just been thinking that if violating someone’s constitutional rights in Italy today was a criminal offense, then why can’t it be a criminal offense Ex Post Facto — that it could’ve or should’ve been a crime before 1948 also? In this view, then maybe women can argue that the 1912 law excluding them from passing on their Italian bloodline by virtue of being female (and perhaps an only child) was/and is unconstitutional. And the Italian government then in 1912, 1948 and today, would be liable and have to reverse any and all cases to be in favor of petitioners seeking citizenship by descent through maternal ancestry…?
In other words, this inquiry was made regarding the potential criminality of violating constitutional rights in Italy and whether ex post facto rules could apply to cases of maternal citizenship by descent prior to 1948. The question specifically considered a scenario where an Italian husband and wife gave birth in the U.S. to an only child—a girl. The query questioned if the Italian government’s past actions, which seemingly violated women’s constitutional rights by excluding them from passing on their citizenship, could be addressed retroactively.
Legal Framework of a 1948 case
Initially, it is essential to understand that consulates and town halls in Italy cannot be charged with violating the law when they reject a 1948 case. Indeed, they are bound to apply the applicable law at the time of the event, which, in this context, is the 1912 law. This law did not permit women to pass on Italian citizenship to their children up untile January 1, 1948, when the Italian Constitution was introduced. This limitation exists because the principles of the Corte di Cassazione jurisprudence that later allowed maternal descent claims were not in effect before 1948 time and can only be applied by judges.
Recent Italian court rulings have indeed recognized the rights of individuals to claim Italian citizenship through maternal descent, even for births that occurred before 1948. The pivotal case in this regard is the decision rendered by the Corte di Cassazione in ruling 4466/2009. This ruling held that the effects of the unjust and discriminatory 1912 law, which denied women the right to pass on citizenship, must cease with the law’s termination, effective January 1, 1948.
Legal Implications of the Corte di Cassazione’s Decision
From January 1, 1948, citizenship must be considered automatically restored for those who lost it or did not acquire it due to the 1912 law, unless there was an express renunciation by those entitled. The Corte di Cassazione articulated that previous rules, deemed illegitimate by the Constitutional Court, are inapplicable and have no effect from this date onwards. This includes relationships still affected by gender-based discrimination or the husband’s dominance in family relationships, provided there is a person who can seek judicial protection.
These principles, however, are currently valid and applicable only within the judicial system. State offices and consulates will continue to apply the laws that were in effect at the time of the event (so the discriminatory 1912 law, for births taking place before January 1st, 1948), unless the Italian legislator modifies the current citizenship laws to incorporate the principles established by the Corte di Cassazione.
That is the reason why, while Italian judges today are recognizing citizenship claims through maternal lineage for births occurring before 1948, these rulings are not yet applicable at the administrative level. For such principles to be universally applied, legislative changes are necessary. This ensures that those affected by historical discriminatory laws can seek justice and potentially restore their rightful citizenship.
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