UNIT 9. SPAIN TODAY (SOCIAL SCIENCE)

UNIT 9

Seven people from different political parties wrote the Constitution. Then, it was debated in Cortes Generales and it was asked by a referéndum.

-          Government: Spain is a democratic state, base don national sovereignity.

·         The Spanish State is a parliamentary monarchy.

·         The King is the Head of State but he can´t pass laws. He is also Commander-in-Chief of the Spanish  Armed Forces.

·         The Crown is hereditary.

-          Organisation:

·         Spain is divided into 17 Autonomous Communities and 2 autonomous cities. They have also local governments.

·         They are governed by Status of Autonomy that defines  their language, name, boundaries, and symbols.

·         Autonomous Communities are divided into provinces and municipalities.

-          Symbols:

·         The flag, the coat of arms and the national anthem. (Lla Marcha Real)

·         Castilian  Spanish is the oficial language but there are other languages in some Autonomous Communities.

-          Citizens´ rights and responsabilities

·         Rights: equality, freedom of speech, freedom to work and travel, healthcare and education, etc.

·         Responsabilities: pay taxes, respect the law, respect public services, take care of the environment, etc.

-          Elections:

According to the Consitution, Spanish can vote over the age of 18.

·         They take place every four years. Previously, political parties show their campaigns.

·         In Spain there are more than 80 registred political parties.

·         People vote by secret ballot.

THE STATE

There are three powers: legislative, executive and judicial.

-          Legislative power: Parliament in  Spain (Cortes Generales) is bicameral and it represents  all Spanish citizens.

§  The lower chamber: The Congress of Deputies (El Congreso de los Diputados). The memebers are deputies (diputados) and they approve or not laws. They belong to different political parties and their number depends on the number of votes they receive in the general elections.

§  The upper chamber: The Senate (El Senado). The memebers are Senators (senadores). They make sure the Autonomous Communities follow the Constitution. Senators can pass laws but can´t veto them.

The two chambers of Pparliament make decisions together to control the Executive.

-          Executive power: The party with most votes in elections form the government. The Prime Minister is selected by memebers of the Congress. He or she is the Head of the Government and chooses the ministers.  There are twelve ministers:

§  Health, Social Services and Equality

§  Education, Culture and Sport

§  Emplyment and Social Security

§  Economic Allairs and Competition

§  Treasury and Public Administrations

§  Agriculture, Food and Environmental Allairs

§  Defence

§  Interior

§  Justice

§  Public Works

§  Industry, Energy and Tourism

§  Foreign Affairs and Cooperation7

-          Judicial power: it belongs to courts and tribunals. Judges and magistrates ensures that laws are obeyed. The highest judicial bodies are The Supreme Court  (El tribunal Supremo) and The Constitutional Court (El tribunal Consititucional)

§  The Supreme Court can start proceedings against ministers, senators or the Prime minister and can accept or reject sentences of lower courts.

§  The Consitutional Court decides laws are in concordance with the Constitution. It can reject decisions by The Supreme  Court if humand rights have not been respected.