What You Need to Know About Spanish Politics
In this article, you will learn more about the principles of the Spanish government, the role of the Prime Minister, the multi-party system and the Supreme Court of Spain. In addition, you will be able to identify the important issues in Spanish politics, including its economy and political system. Despite its lack of experience, Spain is still a democracy with strong principles. To learn more, please read on:
Principles of Spanish government
The Constitution of Spain lays down the principles of government. The Spanish government is primarily responsible for making decisions related to public policy and is governed by a Constitution. The Constitution also outlines the process for amending the Constitution. Two procedures are available for amending the Constitution. The general procedure requires a qualified majority of three-fifths of the parliamentary chambers. The referendum procedure is not compulsory, but requires the consent of a simple majority in the Senate and Congress.
Power of the Prime Minister
In Spanish politics, the Prime Minister is the head of state. He has the power to appoint and dismiss the government. The powers of the government depend on the size of the Spanish population and the number of members elected. In addition to the power of the prime minister, the Government of Spain also controls the Spanish armed forces. Although the Prime Minister is the head of state, the king remains the supreme commander.
Multi-party system
In the 2015 Spanish election, the PSOE and PP were placed to the right and the UP to the left. Both parties lost seats but the PP won a plurality in the regions, while the PSOE lost its first election in four years. The PP and PSOE were also overrepresented due to their alliance with the Communist Party of Spain (PSOE). Ciudadanos, however, received similar votes and seats and suffered a large loss.
Supreme Court of Spain
The Supreme Court of Spain is made up of several branches. The President of the Supreme Court, the General Council of the Judiciary, the Vice-President, the Chairperson of each chamber, and an undetermined number of Magistrates make up the judiciary. They meet in the Convent of the Salesas Reales in Madrid and are protected by a Special Commissariat of the Court. Members of the judiciary must meet strict qualifications and may not work in a public place or in an unauthorized area.
Power of the Inquisition court
The Inquisition court was a court that ruled Spain for over 500 years. It was composed of three parts: the alguacil, the executive arm of the court, and the nuncio, the person in charge of spreading court notices. The commissioner, or alcalde, was the chief executive officer of the court and was responsible for ensuring that defendants were properly fed and housed.