Eleanor Finch
Spain has had a long and tumultuous history with its form of government, with the monarchy being the prevalent form of holding the utmost political power. In the mid-18th century, under Charles III, the Spanish Crown implemented the Bourbon Reforms to rationalize administration and increase revenue from the empire. The modern Spanish Parliament was born in the early 19th century, and the country has had a parliamentary system with a written constitution since 1833, except during the First Republic (1873–74), the Second Republic (1931–36), and the Spanish Civil War (1936–39). Spain's first democratically elected Constituent Cortes since the Second Spanish Republic met in 1977, and in 1978, a new democratic constitution was approved by referendum, establishing Spain as a constitutional parliamentary monarchy with King Juan Carlos I as Head of State.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year Spain became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy | 1978 |
| Constitution | The 1978 constitution disinherits members of the royal family from succession if they marry against the expressed prohibition of the monarch and the Cortes Generales |
| Monarch | King Juan Carlos I (until 2014) |
| Current Monarch | King Felipe VI |
| Monarch's role | Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, symbol of national unity, to sanction and promulgate laws, to summon and dissolve the Cortes Generales (the Parliament) and to call elections, to call a referendum, to propose a candidate for prime minister, to appoint or remove him from office, to issue decrees agreed upon by the Council of Ministers, to confer civil and military positions, to award honours and distinctions, to be informed of the affairs of the State, to exercise the right to grant pardons, to exercise the High Patronage of the Royal Academies, to ratify laws, declare wars, and sign treaties decided upon by the government |
| Legislature | Cortes Generales |
| Legislature composition | Two chambers: a lower chamber, the Congress of Deputies, and an upper chamber, the Senate |
| Deputies | 350 members |
| Senators | 266 senators, 208 of whom are elected by direct universal suffrage and 58 are appointed by the Legislative Assemblies of the Autonomous Communities |
| Deputies and Senators term | 4 years |
| Deputies election system | Proportional representation electoral system governed by the d'Hondt formula |
| Senators election system | Plurality system at the provincial level |
| Autonomous Communities | 17 autonomous communities and two autonomous cities |
| Autonomous Communities government system | Parliamentary |
| Autonomous Communities basic institutions | Parliament, the president of the Autonomous Community and the regional government |
| Autonomous Communities powers | Ability to approve their own annual budgets and determine their own resources through taxes, rates and surcharges |
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What You'll Learn
Spain's transition from an authoritarian regime to a modern democracy
From 1833 until 1939, Spain almost continually had a parliamentary system with a written constitution. During this period, there were several exceptions, including the First Republic (1873-74), the Second Republic (1931-36), and the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). From the end of the Spanish Civil War in April 1939 until November 1975, Spain was ruled by General Francisco Franco. Franco's regime was based on a series of Fundamental Laws that declared Spain a monarchy and established a legislature known as the Cortes. However, this system differed significantly from Spain's modern constitutional traditions.
In 1976, Adolfo Suárez was designated prime minister by King Juan Carlos I, with the task of convincing the regime to dismantle itself and call for elections to a Constituent Assembly. Suárez successfully accomplished both tasks, and in 1977, the first democratically elected Constituent Cortes since the Second Spanish Republic met. This marked the beginning of Spain's transition to a modern democracy.
In 1978, a new democratic constitution was promulgated and approved by referendum, declaring Spain a constitutional parliamentary monarchy with King Juan Carlos I as Head of State. This constitution re-established a constitutional monarchy as the form of government for Spain, ending the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. The modern Parliament in Spain was born in the early 19th century when Parliament (known as Las Cortes) passed the first Constitution of Spain in Cadiz in 1812.
Today, Spain is a social and democratic state, subject to the rule of law, advocating liberty, justice, equality, and political pluralism as its highest values. The political form of the Spanish State is a parliamentary monarchy, with the monarchy as a constitutional form of government. The current monarch, King Felipe VI, is the head of the Spanish State and a symbol of its unity and permanence.
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The role of the monarch in the constitutional monarchy
Spain became a constitutional parliamentary monarchy in 1978, with H.M. King Juan Carlos I as its Head of State. The country's current monarch is Felipe VI, who ascended the throne after his father, Juan Carlos I, abdicated in 2014.
A constitutional monarchy is a form of monarchy in which the monarch's authority is derived from and bound by a constitution. It is also known as a limited, parliamentary, or democratic monarchy. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch is typically the head of state and performs mainly ceremonial and representative functions. While they may have some reserve powers, they do not exercise executive or policy-making power, and their role is largely symbolic.
The role of the monarch in a constitutional monarchy, such as Spain, can be summarised as follows:
Head of State
The monarch is the head of state and represents the continuity and unity of the nation. They embody the country's identity and serve as a symbol of its people. In Spain, the monarch is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, although they do not have direct authority over them.
Legislative Functions
The monarch has some legislative functions, including summoning and dissolving the legislature, sanctioning and promulgating laws, and calling for referendums under certain circumstances. They also appoint the prime minister and other ministers, as well as propose a candidate for prime minister. The monarch can also issue decrees agreed upon by the Council of Ministers and confer civil and military positions.
Diplomatic Role
The monarch plays a significant diplomatic role, as all ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives are accredited by them, and foreign representatives in the country are accredited to the monarch. The monarch also receives incoming and outgoing ambassadors.
Ceremonial and Representative Functions
The monarch performs various ceremonial and representative duties, such as giving honours and distinctions to recognise public service and excellence. They also support voluntary organisations and charities through visits and speeches, such as the King's annual Christmas broadcast. These duties help foster a sense of national identity, pride, and stability.
Immunity and Prerogative
The monarch has certain legal immunities and prerogatives, such as sovereign immunity, which means they cannot be held legally accountable for their actions. They also have the royal prerogative, which allows them to exercise limited powers under specific circumstances.
It is important to note that while the monarch has these functions and powers, they are still bound by the constitution and must act within the limits set by the legal framework. The specific duties and powers of a constitutional monarch can vary depending on the country's constitution and political system.
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The Spanish Constitution of 1978
The constitution declared Spain a constitutional parliamentary monarchy, with H.M. King Juan Carlos I as Head of State. It established the position of the King, with his role legitimized by the constitution and the people. The constitution also reaffirmed the dynastic legitimacy of Juan Carlos I, due to the renunciation of his father, Juan de Borbón y Battenberg, in 1977.
The constitution addressed various issues that emerged with the advent of a democratic regime, including political pluralism, the relationship between church and state, and the official language of the Spanish state. One of the most contentious issues was the autonomy of the Spanish regions, with Title VIII of the Constitution providing a political compromise. The constitution also established a bicameral parliamentary system, with a lower house (Congress of Deputies) and an upper house (Senate), both elected by the people, creating a democratic system.
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The Spanish monarchy's history
The Spanish monarchy has a long and complex history, dating back centuries. From the 19th century onwards, Spain was a highly centralised state, often with a parliamentary system and a written constitution. However, there were periods of civil unrest and political upheaval, which saw the monarchy's role and power fluctuate.
In the mid-1800s, Spain was in a state of flux, with the Napoleonic Wars and the subsequent abdication of King Ferdinand VII in 1808. This period also saw the emergence of the liberal Spanish Constitution of 1812, which was later rejected by Ferdinand, along with his exclusion of liberals from his ministerial appointments, leading to a decline in support for the monarchy.
The Royal Statute of 1834 established a bicameral Parliament system, consisting of an Upper House (Estamento de Próceres) and a Lower House (Estamento de Procuradores). However, this Parliament had limited legislative and budgetary functions, and the King retained significant executive powers.
The Constitution of 1869 reflected progressive and democratic ideals, including a return to the concept of national sovereignty and an ambitious declaration of rights. The bicameral parliamentary system was maintained, with the King retaining his powers but ministers now being responsible to Parliament.
In 1876, the Constitution established a power-sharing arrangement between the conservative and liberal parties, providing stability to the system. However, this stability was short-lived, as the end of the century brought significant political and social challenges, leading to a coup d'état in 1923 and the establishment of a dictatorship under General Primo de Rivera.
The Second Republic was proclaimed in 1931, and a unicameral parliamentary model was adopted. This period saw the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and the rule of General Francisco Franco from 1939 to 1975. Franco's regime differed significantly from Spain's modern constitutional traditions, and the country underwent a transition towards democracy after his death.
In 1976, Adolfo Suárez was designated prime minister, tasked with dismantling the authoritarian regime and establishing a democratic system. This culminated in the promulgation of a new democratic constitution in 1978, which declared Spain a constitutional parliamentary monarchy with King Juan Carlos I as Head of State. The current monarch, King Felipe VI, ascended the throne in 2014 after his father's abdication.
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The Spanish monarchy's current state
The Spanish monarchy, also known as the Spanish Crown, is the constitutional form of government of Spain. It consists of a hereditary monarch who reigns as the head of state, the highest office in the country. The monarchy in Spain has been the prevalent form of government throughout history.
The current Spanish monarchy is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with King Felipe VI as the head of state. Felipe VI ascended to the throne after his father, King Juan Carlos I, abdicated in 2014. Juan Carlos I played a crucial role in Spain's transition to democracy, famously defusing a military coup in 1981 and addressing the nation in a show of unity.
The Spanish Constitution of 1978 re-established a constitutional parliamentary monarchy as the form of government for Spain, following the end of the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. This constitution outlines the powers and responsibilities of the monarch, including sanctioning and promulgating laws, summoning and dissolving the Cortes Generales (the Parliament), calling for elections and referendums, proposing and appointing the prime minister, and commanding the Spanish Armed Forces.
The Cortes Generales, or the Parliament, is composed of two chambers: the Congress of Deputies (lower chamber) and the Senate (upper chamber). The current Spanish Parliament is a bicameral system, with 266 senators and 350 members of the Congress of Deputies. The composition and functions of the government adhere to the norms of contemporary parliamentarianism, with the government responsible for executive functions, legislative action, and overseeing domestic and foreign policy.
While the monarchy in Spain has a long history, public opinion on its continuation is varied. Polls conducted in 2020 and 2021 showed conflicting results, with the latter indicating more support for the monarchy. Nonetheless, Spain's monarchy remains a key aspect of the country's government and political landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
Spain became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy in 1978, following the approval of a new democratic constitution by referendum.
The first monarch of the modern Spanish monarchy was King Juan Carlos I, who reigned from 1978 to 2014.
From the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939 until 1975, Spain was ruled by General Francisco Franco. His regime differed from Spain's modern constitutional traditions.
In the mid-1800s, Spain was a highly centralized state that did not recognize the country's regional diversity. The monarchy was facing declining support due to King Ferdinand VII's rejection of the liberal Spanish Constitution of 1812.
