Good Practices and Innovations in Public Governance 2003-2011
Good Practices and Innovations in Public Governance 2003-2011 Good Practices and Innovations in Public Governance 2003-2011
Good Practices and InnovATIONS in Public Governance Europe and North America Italy 2010 category 3 – 1st Place Winner Youth in the Law Hall (Ragazzi in Aula) Regione Piemonte-Consiglio Regionale del Piemonte Description This is an initiative to engage young citizens in government policymaking by allowing high-school students to draft and present new laws to the Regional Council of Piedmont for possible parliamentary approval. Summary The Ragazzi in Aula initiative, or Youth in the Law Hall, is based on the concept of open government. It enables secondary students and their teachers to participate in law drafting sessions of the Regional Council of Piedmont and to personally experience the decision-making processes that characterize the local legislative assembly. The project, developed in agreement with the regional department of the Ministry of Education, lets students live a day as regional Councillors by presenting, discussing and possibly approving new laws. The main aim of the programme is to communicate to young people the importance and necessity of voicing and contributing their ideas to government, and to do so in an appropriate manner, given the regulations that govern these processes. Since the programme’s inception in 1998, 200 secondary schools have participated and more than 550 bills have been tabled. Some of laws proposed by students have actually been debated by the Regional Parliament. The approval of a law to conserve culturally significant sundials is an example of the initiative’s potential to advance participatory democracy. The costs of this initiative are relatively low compared to the positive outcomes. Youth in the Law Hall successfully promotes participatory government by giving the youth of Piedmont an opportunity to take part in public affairs and by enhancing the government’s ability to respond to the demands and needs of its citizens. The Problem Too often, young people are excluded from the legislative process and their views on public affairs are not taken into account. However, involving young people in governance is not an easy task. To benefit from an exchange of views with the community’s younger citizens, policymakers and public officials must make a conscious commitment and effort to be inclusive and responsive. For their part, young people need to be trained to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to actively participate and 144
2010 Category 3: Italy influence the decision-making processes. They need to be inspired to think about existing laws and potential solutions to a multitude of societal concerns affecting the community they belong to. The Solution In 1997 the Italian Chamber of Deputies approved a project to encourage students of secondary school to role-play and experience the law-making process, and further, to live a day at the Italian Parliament. After one year, thanks to a proposal from the Regional Council of Piedmont, this project was extended to each region of Italy, allowing students to experience at a more local level a day in their regional parliament. Since then, Youth in the Law Hall has undergone organisational changes with the aim of improving the quality of laws drawn up by the young and with knowledge that since 2008 the project has gone from role play to a real-life exercise in participatory democracy. The turning point occurred in 2005, when it was decided to forward select draft laws to advisory groups for further consideration. Since 1998 the Regional Parliament has evaluated more than 550 law proposals coming from 200 secondary schools in Piedmont. Over 3,000 students from ages 14 to 18 have actively participated in this project. Every year the Regional Council of Piedmont, along with the Italian Ministry of Education, selects an average of 10 projects to be discussed within the Parliament building. The proposals submitted in 2009 addressed such matters as: • The creation of nurseries and babysitting facilities in regional companies. • Constraints on drinking and driving. • Norms for tattooing and piercing businesses. • Teenage pregnancy. • The construction of Multilingual Centres. • Animal protection awareness. • The early issuance of child benefits and alimony. One proposal that came from this project and was enacted into law concerns the conservation of sundials with scenic, historical, cultural, scientific or artistic significance. This law (Regional Law 33) was passed on 3 December 2008 and is now applicable to the entire Piedmont region. By facilitating young citizens’ participation in civic matters, Youth in the Law Hall encourages students to proactively think about contemporary societal issues and come up with possible legislative solutions to present and discuss at the local legislative assembly. The project prepares young people for the future, providing them with first- 145
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2010 Category 3: Italy<br />
<strong>in</strong>fluence the decision-mak<strong>in</strong>g processes. They need to be <strong>in</strong>spired to th<strong>in</strong>k about<br />
exist<strong>in</strong>g laws <strong>and</strong> potential solutions to a multitude of societal concerns affect<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
community they belong to.<br />
The Solution<br />
In 1997 the Italian Chamber of Deputies approved a project to encourage students of<br />
secondary school to role-play <strong>and</strong> experience the law-mak<strong>in</strong>g process, <strong>and</strong> further, to<br />
live a day at the Italian Parliament. After one year, thanks to a proposal from the<br />
Regional Council of Piedmont, this project was extended to each region of Italy, allow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
students to experience at a more local level a day <strong>in</strong> their regional parliament.<br />
S<strong>in</strong>ce then, Youth <strong>in</strong> the Law Hall has undergone organisational changes with the aim<br />
of improv<strong>in</strong>g the quality of laws drawn up by the young <strong>and</strong> with knowledge that<br />
s<strong>in</strong>ce 2008 the project has gone from role play to a real-life exercise <strong>in</strong> participatory<br />
democracy. The turn<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>t occurred <strong>in</strong> 2005, when it was decided to forward select<br />
draft laws to advisory groups for further consideration.<br />
S<strong>in</strong>ce 1998 the Regional Parliament has evaluated more than 550 law proposals com<strong>in</strong>g<br />
from 200 secondary schools <strong>in</strong> Piedmont. Over 3,000 students from ages 14 to 18<br />
have actively participated <strong>in</strong> this project. Every year the Regional Council of Piedmont,<br />
along with the Italian M<strong>in</strong>istry of Education, selects an average of 10 projects<br />
to be discussed with<strong>in</strong> the Parliament build<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
The proposals submitted <strong>in</strong> 2009 addressed such matters as:<br />
• The creation of nurseries <strong>and</strong> babysitt<strong>in</strong>g facilities <strong>in</strong> regional companies.<br />
• Constra<strong>in</strong>ts on dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> driv<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
• Norms for tattoo<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> pierc<strong>in</strong>g bus<strong>in</strong>esses.<br />
• Teenage pregnancy.<br />
• The construction of Multil<strong>in</strong>gual Centres.<br />
• Animal protection awareness.<br />
• The early issuance of child benefits <strong>and</strong> alimony.<br />
One proposal that came from this project <strong>and</strong> was enacted <strong>in</strong>to law concerns the<br />
conservation of sundials with scenic, historical, cultural, scientific or artistic significance.<br />
This law (Regional Law 33) was passed on 3 December 2008 <strong>and</strong> is now applicable<br />
to the entire Piedmont region.<br />
By facilitat<strong>in</strong>g young citizens’ participation <strong>in</strong> civic matters, Youth <strong>in</strong> the Law Hall<br />
encourages students to proactively th<strong>in</strong>k about contemporary societal issues <strong>and</strong> come<br />
up with possible legislative solutions to present <strong>and</strong> discuss at the local legislative assembly.<br />
The project prepares young people for the future, provid<strong>in</strong>g them with first-<br />
145