Okay kiddo, so a long time ago Italy used to be just a bunch of different city-states and kingdoms with their own rulers. But after World War II, the people decided they wanted to be one big country with one government to make things easier. So they made a new constitution and formed the Italian Republic in 1946.
The first President of the Republic was a man named Enrico De Nicola, and the first Prime Minister (the head of government) was Alcide De Gasperi. They worked hard to rebuild the country after the war and set up a democratic government where the people could vote for their leaders.
Since then, there have been many ups and downs in Italian politics. Sometimes the government is stable and effective, and sometimes there are a lot of scandals and changes in leadership. But overall, Italy has become a prosperous and influential country in Europe and the world, known for its food, art, and culture.