FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
Art. 1
Italy is a democratic Republic founded on labour.
Sovereignty belongs to the people and is exercised by the people in the forms
and within the limits of the Constitution.
Art. 2
The Republic recognises and guarantees the inviolable rights of the person,
both as an individual and in the social groups where human personality is
expressed. The Republic expects that the fundamental duties of political,
economic and social solidarity be fulfilled.
Art. 3
All citizens have equal social dignity and are equal before the law, without
distinction of sex, race, language, religion, political opinion, personal and
social conditions.
It is the duty of the Republic to remove those obstacles of an economic or
social nature which constrain the freedom and equality of citizens, thereby
impeding the full development of the human person and the effective
participation of all workers in the political, economic and social organisation
of the country.
Art. 4
The Republic recognises the right of all citizens to work and promotes those
conditions which render this right effective.
Every citizen has the duty, according to personal potential and individual
choice, to perform an activity or a function that contributes to the material or
spiritual progress of society.
Art. 5
The Republic is one and indivisible. It recognises and promotes local
autonomies, and implements the fullest measure of administrative
decentralisation in those services which depend on the State. The Republic
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adapts the principles and methods of its legislation to the requirements of
autonomy and decentralisation.