State in San Marino

San Marino does not have one single codified constitutional document. Its constitutional framework consists of historical statutes, constitutional laws and the Dichiarazione dei Diritti dei Cittadini e dei Principi Fondamentali dell'Ordinamento Sammarinese. Generally recognized rules of international law form part of domestic law, while the European Convention on Human Rights and ratified human-rights treaties protect fundamental rights and take priority in a conflict of norms. Popular sovereignty, representative and direct democracy, separation of powers and judicial independence shape the state order. Two Capitani Reggenti jointly serve as heads of state. The Consiglio Grande e Generale (CGG) elects them for six-month terms. They represent the republic, safeguard the constitutional order, preside over the CGG without voting rights and promulgate laws. They can issue emergency decrees, but the CGG must ratify them within three months. The Capitani Reggenti also appoint a government-forming mandate, convene the Consiglio Giudiziario and receive Istanze d'Arengo, which are formal citizen petitions. Candidates need to be over 25 years old and hold cittadinanza originaria; a person cannot be re-elected for three years after serving. The CGG has 60 members elected by universal, direct and secret suffrage. It makes laws, sets political guidelines and exercises political oversight. Legislative initiatives can come from citizens, CGG members, committees, the Congresso di Stato, Giunte di Castello and other actors under the applicable qualified law. The Congresso di Stato is the collegial government and is politically accountable to the CGG. It includes up to ten Segretari di Stato covering ten legal policy areas, with limited scope for technical members. The government issues regulations, delegated decrees and emergency decree-laws within the legal framework; emergency decree-laws also require CGG ratification within three months. The Tribunale Unico is San Marino's central court system. Judges are subject only to the law. The Collegio Garante della Costituzionalità delle Norme acts as the constitutional court and reviews laws, disputes between state organs and the admissibility of direct-democracy procedures. The Consiglio Giudiziario safeguards the autonomy and independence of the judiciary, while the Avvocatura dello Stato represents the state in legal matters. San Marino is divided into nine Castelli: Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Città and Serravalle. Each has a Capitano di Castello and a Giunta di Castello. These bodies handle locally assigned representation, cultural, social and sporting activities, markets, ambulant trade, proposals on traffic and opinions on local projects. Their autonomy is legally limited; strategic projects remain with the CGG or Congresso di Stato. State operating funds for the Castelli are distributed half equally and half according to population. Local accounts are due by 28 February, and a local project opinion normally has a maximum period of 30 days. The Pubblica Amministrazione includes state organs, offices, services, public entities and autonomous state companies within the Settore Pubblico Allargato. The administration works through both vertical reporting lines and horizontal process or project structures. The DGFP manages personnel, organisation, administrative simplification, efficiency, innovation and performance monitoring. Public employment includes nine grades under the Nuovo Regime alongside older-regime and private-contract arrangements. Recruitment from grade IV generally follows a selection procedure under Legge n.107/2009. Public employees are agenti pubblici and follow a code of conduct. Administrative services are available through gov.sm and the Portale Servizi Online PA, including digital applications, certificates, public calls and complaints. ACTA and tNotice support digital delivery. Amministrazione Trasparente publishes organisational, financial, procedural, planning, protection and consultation information. Access to administrative records follows Legge n.160/2011 and Regolamento n.16/2015. Fees and deadlines depend on the specific law or service, so no single general fee or deadline applies to every request. The CGG adopts annual and multi-year budgets. Legge 22 December 2025 n.158 approved the 2026 budget and the 2026–2028 multi-year budget, effective from 27 December 2025. The Ragioneria Generale dello Stato prepares budget drafts, consolidates the Settore Pubblico Allargato and manages public revenue, expenditure, assets and debt. BCSM handles treasury, payment and government-bond functions. Public-finance oversight is assigned to the Commissione di Controllo della Finanza Pubblica. The IMF reported broad public debt of 62.8% of GDP in 2024 and projected 61.3% at the end of 2025; refinancing of a Eurobond in 2027 remains a central financing risk alongside banking-sector and pension risks. BCSM supervises banks, financial and insurance institutions, authorisations, ongoing reporting, inspections, sanctions, depositor protection, payment systems, monetary functions and treasury services. The AIF within BCSM is San Marino's financial intelligence and central anti-money-laundering authority. It analyses suspicious reports, requests information, conducts inspections, can freeze assets or stop transactions for up to ten working days and refers matters to criminal justice authorities. Other oversight bodies include the independent data-protection authority, the Autorità Garante per l'Informazione and the Ufficio Nazionale di Statistica. Public participation includes access to public office, political participation, assembly, association, expression, religion, communication and education, subject to law. Citizens can use Istanze d'Arengo, popular legislative initiatives and referendums under special legislation. Public laws and decisions appear through the Bollettino Ufficiale, the legal archive, CGG meetings, minutes, streaming and administrative transparency services. The Autorità Garante per l'Informazione oversees media pluralism, registers and financing and ownership transparency, but it is not a court. San Marino's three police corps have different functions. The Gendarmeria handles criminal prevention and investigation, public order and protection of people and property. The Polizia Civile handles traffic, administrative and regulatory controls, trade, taxation, labour, environmental matters, traffic accidents and judicial investigations. The Guardia di Rocca protects borders, the Palazzo Pubblico, government departments and institutions and enforces customs, currency and financial rules. The Interforze operations centre coordinates them. Emergency numbers are 112, 113 and 115. The Servizio Protezione Civile coordinates risk analysis, preparedness, disaster response, fire protection and occupational safety with public, private and volunteer structures, including Castello volunteers.