Governing Structure
Spain is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy, and its political organization is characterized by a multi-tiered system that includes the national, regional, and local levels of government. The Spanish Constitution, adopted in 1978, establishes the framework for the country’s political structure.
Regional Level
Spain is divided into 17 Autonomous Communities, each with its own regional government. These communities have varying degrees of legislative and executive powers, as granted by the Constitution. This decentralization is a key feature of the Spanish political system and is enshrined in the Constitution, recognizing and respecting the cultural and historical diversity of the regions. 10 Communities are divided into several provinces, while the other 7 are uniprovincial.
Moreover, Ceuta and Melilla are two autonomous cities located on the northern coast of Africa, serving as unique and strategically positioned Spanish enclaves. Both territories are situated on the Mediterranean coast, Ceuta borders Morocco to the west, while Melilla does it to the east.
Each Autonomous Community operates under its own Statute of Autonomy, which serves as a regional constitution. These statutes define the scope of self-governance, outline regional institutions, and specify the relationship between the regional government and the central government.
Regional autonomy respects and promotes the rich cultural and linguistic diversity of Spain. Regions like Catalonia and Galicia, for example, have distinct languages and cultural traditions that are protected and promoted by their autonomous status.
The issue of regional autonomy is often intertwined with debates on national unity. Some regions, like Catalonia, have expressed desires for greater independence, leading to political discussions and at times, tensions with the central government.
Regional Parliaments: Each Autonomous Community has its own parliament, responsible for regional legislation within the framework of the national Constitution. These parliaments pass laws and regulations that apply specifically to their respective regions.
The president of the regional government is the head of the regional executive. This person is typically the leader of the political party or coalition that secures a majority in the regional parliament. The president oversees the regional executive and represents the community at the national level.
Regional governments have executive powers to administer and implement policies within their jurisdictions. They manage services such as education, healthcare, and transportation, adapting national policies to the regional context.
Local Level
Municipalities: Spain is divided into municipalities, which are the basic units of local government. Municipalities vary widely in size and population, ranging from small rural villages to large urban centers. Each municipality has its own local council responsible for local governance.
Local Councils:
- Elected Representatives: Local councils are composed of elected representatives known as councilors. The number of councilors in each municipality depends on its population size. Councilors are elected through a proportional representation system.
- Mayor: The head of the local council is the mayor, who is either directly elected by the residents or indirectly chosen from among the elected councilors. The mayor plays a crucial role in local governance, presiding over council meetings and representing the municipality.
Electoral Process
Spain operates under a proportional representation system for its national elections, with a complex yet democratic electoral process. The election system is designed to ensure fair representation of political parties in both the Congress of Deputies (lower house) and the Senate (upper house) of the Cortes Generales.
Congress of deputies: Deputies are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system, using the D’Hondt method. Spain is divided into 50 electoral constituencies, which vary in size based on population. Each constituency has a specific number of seats in the Congress of Deputies, allocated proportionally to the population. Political parties present closed lists of candidates in each constituency. The D’Hondt method is then applied to distribute seats among the competing parties based on the percentage of votes they receive. This system aims to achieve a proportional representation of parties in the Congress. In overall 350 deputies are elected.
Senate: The Senate election involves a mix of majority and proportional representation. Spain is divided into 59 constituencies for the Senate election. Each Autonomous Community is a single constituency, and larger communities have four senators, while smaller ones have two. For each constituency, a majority of seats (three out of four or one out of two) is awarded to the party or coalition with the most votes. The remaining seats are distributed proportionally among the other parties that surpass a certain threshold. The Senate aims to represent the diversity of the Autonomous Communities, ensuring that each community has a minimum representation, regardless of its population size.
General elections are held every four years, though the sitting Prime Minister has the authority to call for early elections. The timing of elections is crucial in shaping the political landscape and influencing voter turnout.
Regional and local elections may be held independently of general elections. Autonomous Communities and municipalities have their own electoral calendars, allowing residents to choose their regional and local representatives. Usually regional and local elections are held at the same time in most of the Autonomous Communities.
National Level
Monarchy: Spain is a constitutional monarchy, with the monarch serving as the ceremonial head of state. Since 2014, King Felipe VI has held this position. The role of the monarch is largely symbolic.
Parliamentary Democracy: Spain operates under a parliamentary democracy, where the Prime Minister is the head of government. The Parliament, known as the Cortes Generales, consists of two chambers: the Congress of Deputies (lower house) and the Senate (upper house).
- Congress of Deputies: The lower house holds significant legislative powers and is central to the formation of the government. The party or coalition with a majority in the Congress usually forms the government, and its leader becomes the Prime Minister.
- Senate: The Senate acts as a revising chamber and represents the interests of the Autonomous Communities. While its legislative powers are more limited compared to the Congress, it plays a crucial role in matters related to regional interests.
Prime Minister: The head of government is the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the monarch, is usually the leader of the political party with the majority in the Congress of Deputies. The Prime Minister oversees the executive branch and is responsible for day-to-day governance.
Cabinet: The Prime Minister leads the Council of Ministers, composed of ministers responsible for various government departments. This cabinet is collectively responsible for policy decisions and administration.
Policy Formulation: The Prime Minister, supported by the cabinet, is responsible for formulating and implementing government policies. They address national and international issues, economic challenges, and social concerns.