Diapositiva 1

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Following the death of general Franco in
1975, with heralded the end of 36 years of
crippilng dictatorship, Spain has become a
parliamentary democracy. After Francos death,
political parties were legalised, the Socialists
in February 1977 and the Communists in April. The
first general elections were held in 1979 and
were won by the Union de Centro Democratica (UCD)
led by Adolfo Suarez, who was largely credited
with transforming Spain from a dictatorship into
a democracy.
Franco
Adolfo Suarez
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New Constitution

• The new Spanish constitution of 6th November,
  1978, arguably the most liberal in western
  Europe.The most important task of the
  constitution was to devolve power to the regions,
  which were given their own governments, regional
  assemblies and supreme legal authorities.

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Legislative (Parliamen)
Judiciary
Executive
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Parliament
-The nacional parliament has two chambers,
the lower of which is the Congress of Deputies
and the upper the Senate. The Congress consists
of 350 members representing Spains 50 provinces
and the North African enclaves of Ceuta and
Melilla. Members of Congress are elected by a
system of proportional representation for four
years. There are 254 members of the Senate who
are elected directly by a first-past-the-post
system. The Senate represents the 17 autonomous
regions. The Senate has the power to amend or
veto legislation initiated by Congress.
-Under the law, the official result of a
general election in Spain in made public five
days after the vote. This allows sufficient time
for recounts and disputed results, if necessary.
After the members have been sworn in the king
meets with the party leaders and asks one of them
usually the leader of the largest party to
form a government in Spain, which must then be
ratified by parliament. The leader of the party
of government becomes the president of Spain and
has his official residence in the Moncloa Palace
in Madrid.
The Moncloa Palace
The Congress of Deputies
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Judiciary
The Constitutional Court is responsible
for ensuring that laws passed by parliament
comply with the constitution and international
agreements to which Spain is party. The Judiciary
is independent of the government, with the
highest legal body being the General Council of
Judicial Power which has 20 independent menbers
and is headed by the presindent of the Supreme
Court.
Supreme Court