Political institutions represent the ideas and power of the people.

  In this unit we will see how Spain is politicaly organised and how citizen or people can participate in the ruling of the country.

 

HOW THE STATE OF SPAIN IS ORGANISED

* The Spanish constitution of 1978 established that Spain is constitutional monarchy.

Spain is a democratic state: all citizens have the same rights and obligations.

 --> The king is head of state,

 --> The prime minister (or president) is head of government.

 --> The Cortes Generales, or parliament, consists of two houses.

1.The Congress of Deputies is the lower house, which has 350 members elected by proportional representation.

2. The Senate is the upper house, it has 208 elected members and more than 50 indirectly…

 

Click on the picture of the Spanish Constitution if you want to   see, read or listen to  some parts of the Spanish Constitution in English

Monument to the Spanish Constitution of 1978.  It is in front ot the Museum of Natural Sciences of Madrid

 

 * Political parties are big groups o citizens with similar ideas about how to govern. Political parties stand for election to obtain the most votes in order to govern.

 

 * Elections

- Only over 18 years old people can vote.

- Political parties with the majority of votes forms the goverment.

--> Different types of elections according to the territory to be governed:

TERRITORY	ELECTIONS  that takes place
Municipality	Municipal elections: Citizens vote for their local councillors
Autonomous Community (or Region)	Autonomous Community elections: Citizens vote for the members of parliament of  their Autonomous Community
Country	General elections: Citizens vote for a political party. Those who win seats in the Congress of Deputies, and elect the President of the country.
European Unión	European Parliament Elections

 

* AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITIES

They have a parliament that works similarly as the Nation or State parliament.

They have the statutes of autonomy, which are the most important laws of the Autonomous Communities. They are for the region like a constitution for a country

 

 HOW CITIZENS PARTICIPATE

 

  To live peacefully in a society, we have to respect people in several ways.

We are equal before the law = all laws, rights and obligations apply equally to everybody.

- Right to equality = anybody can be descriminated because of sex, race, religion or beliefs.

- Right to demonstrate and practice religious and political beliefs

- Right to express and share our ideas freely

- Right to vote in elections.

- Peaceful assembly.

 

People voting in elections	Right to express your ideas	Value and Respect each other