Spain is a democratic state, of law and welfare, with a market economy.
Spain is a state whose political form is a parliamentary monarchy. The system of government is based on national sovereignty, the division of powers and a parliamentary system. It is a parliamentary system because of the central role of the legislative power or Parliament.
National sovereignty belongs to the Spanish people, that is, all citizens are holders of public power and from it the legislative, executive and judicial powers derive.
Citizens participate in public affairs through representatives who are elected in free, universal, secret and plural elections. Citizens also participate in public affairs directly, in the cases provided for by the rules, for example: popular legislative initiative, holding public office, exercising the right of petition, voting in a referendum and participating in consultations, among others.
The division of powers involves attributing the exercise of the different forms of political power - legislative, executive and judicial - to different institutions. This division is not absolute, there are relations, balances and reciprocal controls between the different institutions. Different institutions sometimes need to collaborate with each other, while others act independently or control other institutions. This organization of the institutions is very important; it avoids abuse in the exercise of power.
La Spanish Constitution of 1978 establishes the institutional organization of Spain and heads our legal system. The other legal rules develop it. It is a great achievement of consensus and coexistence. It was approved by referendum by a large majority of voters and voters.
Here are the main outlines of the institutional system that allows us to live together and make decisions:
- Spain is a democracy, a state of law and a state of well-being. We have a social market economy.
- The values of our model of coexistence are: freedom, justice, equality, solidarity, political pluralism, dignity of the person and respect for fundamental rights and public freedoms.
- The Constitution protects the fundamental rights of individuals and establishes principles to guide the actions of public authorities. Some features of this constitutional framework are highlighted:
- Rights to equality, non-discrimination, freedom of ideology, religion, sexual orientation, expression, teaching, assembly, demonstration, association, political parties, syndicates, business associations and strike.
- Reserve a space for private property and freedom of enterprise.
- It encourages the participation of all in public affairs through representatives and in some cases directly.
- Pay attention to education, health, social security. It refers to work and housing. Consider consumers, families, seniors, youth, and the disabled. It values science, culture, artistic heritage and the environment among others.
- Especially our Magna Carta protects cultural diversity as part of everyone’s heritage.
- Spanish is the official Spanish language of the State. The other Spanish languages will also be official in the respective Autonomous Communities according to their Statutes.
- The rights are complemented by duties for all, respect the legality, the rights of others, contribute to public spending and defend Spain.
- Sovereignty belongs to the Spanish people, that is, to all Spaniards, from whom the powers of the state derive: legislative, executive, judicial.
- It establishes a parliamentary monarchy and a system of government based on parliamentary representation. See the section State institutions.
- Establishes the unity of the state and the autonomy of the Autonomous Communities (regions)
- Territorially Spain is one of the most decentralized states in the world. They can be differentiated (See the section Autonomous Communities and Local Administrations):
- common institutions for the whole territory;
- 17 Autonomous Communities (regions) with extensive powers,
- two autonomous cities and
- More than 8,100 local authorities.
- Spain is a member of the European Union and participates in this economic and political project. Like other states, it has given economic and political powers to the European institutions; it shares its exercise with 27 other Member States and their citizens. See the section European Union.
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