ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the intergovernmental institutional and procedural relations in the Italian system, highlighting their functioning and peculiarities. In this regard, two points are worth being underlined. First, there is an increase of intergovernmental relationships in decentralised States overall. This trend can be considered as an attempt to give the subnational level a collective voice in the national policy process. Above all, where no regional second chambers exist, bodies and procedures can be the only means by which regional and local governments can influence the national policy. Second, the institutions of intergovernmental relations are important for the development of coherent policies, but they usually reduce the role of elected assemblies: in fact, the decisions reached in this context are compromises among executives, and neither the national parliament nor the regional legislature are responsible for the decisions taken while being bound by them.
