+

SPAIN
+

POLITICAL SYSTEM
+ Government

Constitutional
monarchy (Juan
Carlos I
proclaimed King
November 22,
1975).
Constitution:
1978.
+ Excecutive

President of
government nominated
by monarch, subject to
approval by
democratically elected
Congress of Deputies
+ Legislative

Bicameral Cortes: a
350-seat Congress of
Deputies (elected by
the d'Hondt system of
proportional
representation) and a
Senate.
+ Judicial

. Constitutional Tribunal
has jurisdiction over
constitutional issues.
Supreme Tribunal heads
system comprising
territorial, provincial,
regional, and municipal
courts.
+

GEO-POLITICS
+ Location

Southwestern Europe,
bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, North
Atlantic Ocean, Bay of
Biscay, and Pyrenees
Mountains; southwest of
France

geopolítica
de España
+ Land Area

Southwestern Europe,
bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, North
Atlantic Ocean, Bay of
Biscay, and Pyrenees
Mountains; southwest of
France

geopolítica
de España
+ Administrative Division

17 autonomous communities (comunidades

autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma) and
2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas,)

geopolítica
de España
+ Border
total: 1,917.8 km

border countries: 
 Andorra 63.7 km

 France 623 km
 Gibraltar 1.2 km
 Portugal 1,214 km,
 Morocco (Ceuta) 6.3 km,
Morocco (Melilla) 9.6 km
geopolítica
de España
+

HISTORY
+ Spanish Civil War
The
 Elections in 1936 revealed a Spain
divided, politically and
geographically, between the left
and the right wings.

 Military coup. Occurred on July 17

after the assassination of a right
wing leader caused the army to
rise.

 The coup failed as “spontaneous”

resistance from republicans and
leftists countered the military; the
result was a bloody civil war that
lasted three years.
Historia
de España
+ Franco’s Dictatorship

 An authoritarian and conservative

dictatorship under General Franco
ruled over Spain.

 Franco’s Spain stayed largely neutral

in World War 2, allowing the regime
to survive until Franco’s death in
1975. By its end the regime was
increasingly at odds with a Spain
which had been culturally
transformed.

Historia
de España
+ Democratization
 After Franco’s death in November 1975
he was succeeded, in 1969, by Juan
Carlos, an heir to the vacant throne.

 The new king was committed to

democracy and careful negotiation, as
well as the presence of a modern
society looking for freedom, allowed a
referendum on political reform,
followed by a new constitution which
was approved by 88% in 1978.

Historia
de España
+

Current Situation
+ Constitution
 approved by legislature
31 October 1978;
passed by referendum 6
December 1978; signed
by the king 27
December 1978

Situación Actual
de España
+ Chief of State
  KingJUAN CARLOS I
(since 22 November 1975);
Heir Apparent Prince
FELIPE, son of the
monarch, born 30 January
1968

Situación Actual
de España
+ Head of Government

  President of the Government

 Mariano RAJOY (since 20

December 2011);

 Vice President (and Minister

of the President's Office)
Soraya Saenz de
SANTAMARIA (since 22
December 2011)

Situación Actual
de España