Eleanor Finch
Spain's 1978 Constitution established both national and regional governance, creating 17 comunidades autónomas (autonomous communities) and two autonomous cities. The Constitution guarantees limited autonomy to the nationalities and regions that make up Spain, with each community exercising its right to self-government within the limits set forth in the constitution and organic laws known as Statutes of Autonomy. The autonomous communities of Spain reflect the country's diversity, history, and political development, with each community having its own parliament and jurisdiction over specific areas such as education, health, and culture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Number of autonomous communities | 17 |
| Autonomous cities | Ceuta, Melilla |
| Autonomous communities with "historic nationalities" | Catalonia, Basque Country, Galicia |
| Autonomous communities with independence movements | Catalonia, Basque Country, Navarre, Galicia, Canary Islands |
| Autonomous communities with their own language | Catalonia, Basque Country, Galicia |
| Autonomous community with the right to collect taxes | Basque Country, Navarra |
| Autonomous community with oldest city | Aragon |
| Autonomous community with UNESCO World Heritage Site | Castile and León |
| Autonomous community with UNESCO Biosphere Reserves | Asturias |
| Autonomous community with popular tourist destinations | Canary Islands |
| Autonomous community with UNESCO World Heritage City | Oviedo |
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What You'll Learn
Spain's 1978 Constitution and the right to autonomy
The 1978 Constitution of Spain is the core of the country's political and legal systems. It guarantees the right to autonomy or self-government of the "nationalities and regions" that make up Spain. The constitution outlines the permissible powers of each autonomous community, as well as areas that must remain under national control. This process of asymmetric devolution of power allows for the diverse nature of Spain's communities, with stronger local nationalism resulting in more devolved powers.
The constitution was drafted by seven deputies from all parliamentary groups, and it was approved on 31 October 1978. It was a response to the country's transition to democracy and the need to balance centralist and federalist views. The constitution avoids labels such as 'federal' for the territorial arrangements, instead referring to an "indissoluble unity" of the Spanish Nation.
The autonomous communities are the first-level administrative divisions of Spain, and there are 17 of them, plus two autonomous cities (Ceuta and Melilla). These communities have the right to self-government within the limits set by the constitution and organic laws known as Statutes of Autonomy. The Statutes of Autonomy outline the administrative structure and powers of each community.
The Statutes of Autonomy can be amended over time, allowing communities to progressively enlarge their powers. The Basque Country and Catalonia were the first to receive Statutes of Autonomy in 1979, and Catalonia amended its statute in 2006. The Constitutional Court oversees the constitutionality of laws and protects the rights enshrined in the constitution. It also resolves conflicts between the Spanish State and the Autonomous Communities and hears cases defending local autonomy.
Since the end of the Franco regime, Spain has experienced regional separatist movements, particularly in the Basque Country and Catalonia. The constitution provides a pathway for addressing these tensions, with its recognition of the right to autonomy and self-government for Spain's diverse nationalities and regions.
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The Basque Country's special autonomy
The Basque Country, also officially called Euskadi, is an autonomous community in northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Araba, Bizkaia, and Gipuzkoa. The Basque Country was granted the status of nationality by the Spanish Constitution of 1978. The autonomous community is based on the Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country, a foundational legal document providing the framework for the development of the Basque people in the Southern Basque Country. The Basque Country has its own Statute of Autonomy, which outlines its administrative structure and competencies.
The Basque Country has a unique history and culture that sets it apart from other regions in Spain. The Basque people have a strong sense of pride and identity, and their language, Euskera, is linguistically distinct from Spanish and French. The Basque language is spoken by approximately 28% of modern Basques, and there are at least six Basque dialects. The Basque Autonomous Community has worked to revive the Euskera language, and it is now co-official with Spanish in all territories of the autonomous community. The Basque Autonomous Community also has its own flag, which features two crosses, a green diagonal cross, and a superimposed white perpendicular cross on a red background.
The Basque Country has a population of over 2.2 million people, almost half of whom live in the Bilbao metropolitan area. Bilbao is the largest city in the Basque Country and is located in the province of Biscay. Vitoria-Gasteiz, located in the province of Álava, is the de facto capital of the Basque Country as it is the location of the Basque Parliament and the headquarters of the Basque Government. The Basque Country has a diverse demographic, with 28.2% of its population born outside the region and immigration playing a crucial role in its demographics.
The Basque Country has special autonomy within Spain, with the right to self-government and limited autonomy guaranteed by the Spanish Constitution of 1978. The autonomous community has sole jurisdiction in certain matters, including the delimitation of municipal territory, the organization and functioning of its institutions of self-government, and internal electoral legislation affecting its parliament and provincial councils. The Basque Country also has jurisdiction over agriculture and livestock farming, fishing, and hydraulic projects that are contained within its territory.
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Catalonia's independence movement
The country with autonomous communities recognised by its 1978 Constitution is Spain. The 1978 Constitution of Spain outlines the permissible powers of each autonomous community, as well as areas that must remain under national control. There are 17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities (Ceuta and Melilla) that are collectively referred to as "autonomies".
Catalonia is one of these autonomous communities. The Catalan independence movement is a social and political movement that seeks independence for Catalonia from Spain. The movement has roots in Catalan nationalism and can be traced back to the mid-19th century, influenced by romantic ideas that were widespread in Europe at the time. The first relevant organised Catalan independence party, Estat Català ("Catalan State"), was founded in 1922 by Francesc Macià. In 1931, Estat Català and other parties formed Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya ("Republican Left of Catalonia", ERC).
In 1979, the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia was approved in a referendum with 88% of voters supporting it. This led to the marginalisation of pro-independence political groups, and for a time, the gap was filled by militant groups such as Terra Lliure. However, the movement gained momentum again in the early 2010s, with the formation of the Association of Municipalities for Independence in 2011. Between 2009 and 2011, 552 towns held independence referendums, and in 2017, a banned independence referendum was met with a heavy police crackdown, leading to the declaration of independence by the Catalan parliament on 27 October 2017. Madrid responded by dissolving parliament, sacking its leaders, and calling a snap election.
The Catalan independence movement has garnered international attention due to its multiple clashes with the Spanish government. The movement is based on Catalonia's distinct culture and identity, as well as its economic strength as one of Spain's wealthiest regions, contributing almost 19% of Spanish GDP. However, opponents of Catalan independence argue that the majority of the Catalan public does not support independence and have accused the movement of racism or elitism.
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The status of the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, located 100 kilometres (62 miles) northwest of the African continent. The islands are the southernmost autonomous community of Spain, consisting of seven main islands: Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. The only other populated island is La Graciosa, which is administratively dependent on Lanzarote. The Canary Islands have a population of 2.25 million people and are the most populous overseas special territory of the European Union.
The islands were formed by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago and are known for their rich volcanic soils and mild temperatures, which support a wide variety of vegetation. The climate is subtropical, with warm temperatures and little seasonal variation. The average yearly temperature is 22ºC, and annual precipitation is low, rarely exceeding 10 inches.
The Canary Islands have a long and complex history, with evidence of human habitation dating back thousands of years. The indigenous Canarians had a social structure that encompassed a system of matrilineal descent, with social status and wealth being hereditary. The islands were conquered and colonised by Spain in the 15th century, and they remained under Spanish rule for most of their history.
Today, the Canary Islands are an autonomous community of Spain, established by the statute of autonomy in August 1982. They have a high degree of autonomy, with their own administrative structure and competencies. However, they do not enjoy any special degree of autonomy compared to other Spanish regions, as each one is considered an autonomous community with equal status.
There have been independence movements in the Canary Islands, along with other Spanish regions such as Catalonia and the Basque Country, pleading for secession from Spain. However, the Canary Islands continue to be an integral part of Spain, with their status as an autonomous community recognised by the 1978 Spanish Constitution.
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The impact of Spain's transition to democracy
The country with autonomous communities recognised by its 1978 constitution is Spain. The Spanish transition to democracy, known as "la Transición" or "the Transition", was a period of modern Spanish history that saw a regime change from the Francoist dictatorship to a parliamentary system in the form of a constitutional monarchy under Juan Carlos I.
The transition began in November 1975, two days after the death of dictator Francisco Franco. Initially, there was an attempt to reform the institutions of dictatorship through existing legal means, but social and political pressure led to the formation of a democratic parliament in the 1977 general election. This new parliament had the power to write a new constitution, which was then approved by referendum in December 1978.
The transition was an ambitious plan that enjoyed ample support within Spain and internationally. Western governments, led by the United States, favoured a Spanish constitutional monarchy, as did many liberal capitalists. The transition was facilitated by a de facto alliance between Juan Carlos and political forces opposed to maintaining the status quo.
Adolfo Suárez, appointed as Prime Minister by Juan Carlos in July 1976, played a key role in the transition. He adopted a series of measured policies to add credibility to his project, including issuing political amnesties, dissolving the Francoist secret police, legalising the right to strike and unionise, and introducing a new electoral system act to bring Spain's electoral system in line with other liberal parliamentary democracies.
The 1978 Constitution created 17 autonomous communities and two autonomous cities (Ceuta and Melilla), collectively known as "autonomies". These communities were granted the right to self-government within the limits set forth in the constitution and organic laws known as Statutes of Autonomy. Each statute sets out the devolved powers for each community, with communities that have stronger local nationalism typically being granted more powers. This type of devolution has been described as asymmetric, allowing for a diverse range of communities.
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Frequently asked questions
Spain.
There are 17 autonomous communities in Spain.
Some examples of autonomous communities in Spain include Catalonia, the Basque Country, Galicia, Andalusia, Aragon, and the Canary Islands.
The autonomous communities in Spain were created to guarantee limited autonomy to the nationalities and regions that make up the country, allowing for self-government within the limits set by the Constitution.
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