Spanish Government
Encyclopedia
Spain is a constitutional monarchy
whose government is defined by the Constitution of Spain
. This was approved by a general referendum of the people of Spain in 1978. The final interpretation of the Constitution, in the case of dispute, is the business of the Constitutional Court of Spain
.
There are three main institutions known as the Cortes Generales
which are legally independent:
.
and written in black - Gobierno de España (in English: Government of Spain) - and in the right side the building that represents the official house of the President of Spain, La Moncloa and where press conferences are given and the Council of Ministers meets. Below it is an instance of a variating use, combinated for the purposes of the Finance Ministry.
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
whose government is defined by the Constitution of Spain
Constitution of Spain
Spain's first Constitution was passed in 1812. A list of the different Spanish constitutional laws follows:During Franco's dictatorship, there were many attempts to create stable institutions that did not emanate from the dictator as they did in the post-war period...
. This was approved by a general referendum of the people of Spain in 1978. The final interpretation of the Constitution, in the case of dispute, is the business of the Constitutional Court of Spain
Constitutional Court of Spain
thumb|300px|The [[Domenico Scarlatti]] Building located in [[Madrid]], seat of the Constitutional Court of Justice of Spain.The Constitutional Court of Spain is the highest judicial body with the power to determine the constitutionality of acts and statutes of the Spanish Government. It is...
.
There are three main institutions known as the Cortes Generales
Cortes Generales
The Cortes Generales is the legislature of Spain. It is a bicameral parliament, composed of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate . The Cortes has power to enact any law and to amend the constitution...
which are legally independent:
- The general assembly of representatives whose controlling faction forms an executive government and proposes legislative changes,
- The assembly of senatorsSpanish SenateThe Senate of Spain is the upper house of Spain's parliament, the . It is made up of 264 members: 208 elected by popular vote, and 56 appointed by the regional legislatures. All senators serve four-year terms, though regional legislatures may recall their appointees at any time.The last election...
consider the wider implications and compatibility of proposed legislation, and - The judicial branch composed of a hierarchy of law courts which ensure that any proposed or imposed executive enforcement complies with Spanish and European law.
Head of State
-
- The Monarchy of Spain holds the constitutional head of state, which has no executive role, other than appointing officials, requiring reports of official activities and representing Spain at formal and ceremonial occasions. The king is also the commander in chief of the Spanish Armed ForcesSpanish Armed ForcesThe Spanish Armed Forces are the military forces of the Kingdom of Spain. The Spanish Armed Forces are a modern military force charged with defending the Kingdom's integrity and sovereignty...
in which capacity he suppressed the 23-F23-F23-F was an attempted coup d'état in Spain that began on 23 February 1981 and ended on the following day. It is also known as El Tejerazo from the name of its most visible figure, Antonio Tejero, who led the failed coup's most notable event: the bursting into the Spanish Congress of Deputies by a...
Spanish coup d'état attempt in February 1981.- The King Juan Carlos IJuan Carlos I of SpainJuan Carlos I |Italy]]) is the reigning King of Spain.On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of General Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated king according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. Spain had no monarch for 38 years in 1969 when Franco named Juan Carlos as the...
has held this position since November 22, 1975. This is an hereditary post, and since 2009 opened to both male and female heirs. - The Heir apparentHeir apparentAn heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
is Prince Felipe, Prince of AsturiasFelipe, Prince of AsturiasFelipe, Prince of Asturias de Borbón y de Grecia; born 30 January 1968), is the third child and only son of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía of Spain....
, and some duties state have been devolved to him. - The Military Chief of StaffChief of StaffThe title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
(Jefe de Estado major) is Air Force General José Julio Rodríguez FernándezJosé Julio Rodríguez FernándezJosé Julio Rodríguez Fernández is a Spanish Air Force general who serves as Chief of Defence Staff of the Spanish Armed Forces...
.
- The King Juan Carlos I
- The Monarchy of Spain holds the constitutional head of state, which has no executive role, other than appointing officials, requiring reports of official activities and representing Spain at formal and ceremonial occasions. The king is also the commander in chief of the Spanish Armed Forces
Heads of Government
-
- President of the GovernmentPrime Minister of SpainThe President of the Government of Spain , sometimes known in English as the Prime Minister of Spain, is the head of Government of Spain. The current office is established under the Constitution of 1978...
: sometimes misleadingly called 'the Spanish President' is the first minister, who is elected by the congress of deputies. The current holder is José Luis Rodríguez ZapateroJosé Luis Rodríguez ZapateroJosé Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party . He was elected for two terms as Prime Minister of Spain, in the 2004 and 2008 general elections. On 2 April 2011 he announced he will not stand for re-election in 2012...
, who was elected 14 March 2004. He (or she) appoints a number of vice-presidents ordered numerically according to rank and responsible for their respective major ministries such as Finance, Foreign affairs, Domestic administration and so on.- Minister of Interior and First Vice President: Alfredo Pérez RubalcabaAlfredo Pérez RubalcabaAlfredo Pérez Rubalcaba is a Spanish politician and a leading figure in the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party . He served in the government of Spain as Minister of Education from 1992 to 1993 and as Minister of the Interior from 2006 to 2011; in addition, he was First Deputy Prime Minister from...
, elected 21 October 2010. - Second Vice PresidentSecond Vice President (Spain)- List of Second Vice Presidents of Spain :*Constituent Legislature **: Enrique Fuentes Quintana** : Fernando Abril Martorell*1st Legislature **: Fernando Abril Martorell...
and Minister of Economy and Finance: Elena SalgadoElena SalgadoElena Salgado Méndez is a Spanish politician currently serving as the First Vice President and Minister of Economy and Finance of Spain, in the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero...
, elected 14 March 2004. - Third Vice President and Minister for Territorial Policy: Manuel Chaves GonzálezManuel Chaves GonzálezManuel Chaves González is a Spanish politician of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party . Since 2009 he has served as the Third Vice President of the Spanish Government and since 2000 as the Chairman of PSOE...
, elected April 2009.
- Minister of Interior and First Vice President: Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba
- President of the Government
- Cabinet
- Council of MinistersCouncil of Ministers of SpainThe Cabinet of Spain is a collegiate body composed of the President of the Government , Vice Presidents when existing and the Ministers, and any other member required by law, and in some cases Secretaries of State...
(Spanish Consejo de Ministros) designated by the president.
- Council of Ministers
Current government
The following is the list of members of the Cabinet of Spain formed after the 2008 general electionSpanish general election, 2008
Legislative elections for the Spanish Cortes Generales were held on March 9, 2008. The elections were for 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies, and the 208 directly elected seats in the upper house, the Senate, determining the Prime Minister of Spain...
.
| Portfolio | Minister |
|---|---|
| President of the Government | José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party . He was elected for two terms as Prime Minister of Spain, in the 2004 and 2008 general elections. On 2 April 2011 he announced he will not stand for re-election in 2012... |
| First Vice President | María Teresa Fernández de la Vega María Teresa Fernández de la Vega María Teresa Fernández de la Vega Sanz, LLD is a Spanish Valencian Socialist politician. From 18 April 2004 to 20 October 2010, she was the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Presidency and Cabinet Spokesperson in the government of Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero... (2008–2010) Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba is a Spanish politician and a leading figure in the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party . He served in the government of Spain as Minister of Education from 1992 to 1993 and as Minister of the Interior from 2006 to 2011; in addition, he was First Deputy Prime Minister from... (2010–2011) |
| Second Vice President Second Vice President (Spain) - List of Second Vice Presidents of Spain :*Constituent Legislature **: Enrique Fuentes Quintana** : Fernando Abril Martorell*1st Legislature **: Fernando Abril Martorell... Minister of Economy and Finance Ministry of Economy and Finance (Spain) The Ministry of Economy and Finance is the Ministry of Economic affairs and Second Vice President of the Government of SpainThis Ministry is in charge of the development, proposal and execution of the economical policy of the government, specially of the State Budgets, the control of Public... |
Pedro Solbes Pedro Solbes Pedro Solbes Mira is a Spanish economist. While independent in the sense of not affiliated to any party, his various ministerial roles in Spain have always been within Socialist Workers' Party cabinets... (2008–2009) Elena Salgado Elena Salgado Elena Salgado Méndez is a Spanish politician currently serving as the First Vice President and Minister of Economy and Finance of Spain, in the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero... (2009–) |
| Third Vice President Minister of Territorial Policy and Public Administration Ministry of Territorial Policy (Spain) The Ministry of Territorial Policy and Public Administrations of the Government of Spain is the ministerial department which manages the policies of the Government regarding relations and cooperation with the Autonomous communities of Spain and with the entities that integrate the Local... |
Manuel Chaves Manuel Chaves Manuel Chaves may refer to:* Manuel Antonio Chaves , figure in U.S.-Navajo and U.S. Civil War history* Manuel Chaves González , Second Vice President of the Spanish Government* Manuel Chaves Nogales, Spanish journalist... |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs (Spain) The Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation is the department of Government of Spain responsible for Spain's foreign relations. The present incumbent of the office is Trinidad Jiménez of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party .... |
Miguel Ángel Moratinos Miguel Ángel Moratinos Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé is a Spanish diplomat and politician, a member of the Socialist Workers' Party and member of Congress where he represents Córdoba.... (2008–2010) Trinidad Jimenez Trinidad Jiménez Trinidad Jiménez García-Herrera is a Spanish Socialist Workers' Party politician and is currently Spain's Foreign Affairs Minister.... (2010–) |
| Minister of Justice Ministry of Justice (Spain) The Ministry of Justice is one of the ministries in the Government of Spain. The ministry has its headquarters in Madrid.This Ministry has the following competences:... |
Mariano Fernandez-Bermejo (2008–2009) Francisco Caamaño Domínguez (2009–) |
| Minister of Defence Ministry of Defence (Spain) The Ministry of Defence is the Spanish government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the Spanish Armed Forces.- Functions :... |
Carme Chacón Carme Chacón Carme Chacón Piqueras is a Spanish politician who is currently serving as Minister of Defence in the cabinet led by Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. She is married and gave birth to her first child, a son named Miquel on 19 May 2008.... |
| Minister of the Interior Ministry of the Interior (Spain) The Ministry of Interior of Spain which historically could be known as Ministerio de la Gobernación, Ministerio del Orden Público, Ministerio del Interior y la Gobernación or Ministerio del Interior y Justicia is the executive branch responsible for policing, national security, and immigration... |
Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba is a Spanish politician and a leading figure in the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party . He served in the government of Spain as Minister of Education from 1992 to 1993 and as Minister of the Interior from 2006 to 2011; in addition, he was First Deputy Prime Minister from... (2008–2011) Antonio Camacho (2011–) |
| Minister of Public Works | Magdalena Álvarez Magdalena Álvarez Magdalena Álvarez Arza Is Spanish Politician, who from 2004 to 2009 served as Minister of Public Works . She was born in San Fernando, in the Province of Cádiz, on 15 February 1952. She is an MP for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party for Málaga Province... (2008–2009) José Blanco (2009–) |
| Minister of Education | Mercedes Cabrera Calvo-Sotelo Mercedes Cabrera Mercedes Cabrera Calvo-Sotelo is a Spanish politician, political scientist, historian, and minister. She is also niece of Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo Bustelo, Former Prime Minister and of Former Foreign Minister Fernando Morán Lopez and grandniece of the physicist Blas Cabrera Felipe.-Biography:She... (2008–2009) Ángel Gabilondo (2009–) |
| Minister of Labor and Immigration | Celestino Corbacho Celestino Corbacho Celestino Corbacho Chaves is a Spanish politician, who is currently serving as Member of Catalan Parliament.... (2008–2010) Valeriano Gomez (2010–) |
| Ministry of the Natural, Rural and Marine Environment Ministry of the Natural, Rural and Marine Environment (Spain) The Ministry of the Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs is the ministerial department of the Government of Spain created under the presidency of Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. This new department includes the tasks of the former Ministry of Environment and the former Ministry of Agriculture and... |
Elena Espinosa Elena Espinosa Elena Espinosa is a Spanish politician in the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. She was the Spanish Minister of the Environment until 20 October 2010 when she was replaced by Rosa Aguilar... (2008–2010) Rosa Aguilar Rosa Aguilar Joaquina Rosa Aguilar Rivero is a Spanish politician. She has been the mayor of Córdoba since 1999 and was shortlisted for the 2008 World Mayor award... (2010–) |
| Minister for the Presidency Ministry for the Presidency (Spain) The Ministry for the Presidency is the ministerial department of the Government of Spain which assures the link between the different Ministries and with the President of the Government- Functions :... |
Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega (2008–2010) Ramon Jauregui (2010–) |
| Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Ministry of Industry (Spain) The responsibilities of the Spanish Ministry of Industry have varied greatly over time, until 2000 grouped industrial competence and energy. Then created the Ministry of Science and Technology that took over most of its powers... |
Miguel Sebastián |
| Minister of Culture | César Antonio Molina (2008–2009) Ángeles González Sinde Ángeles González Sinde Ángeles González-Sinde Reig is a Spanish scriptwriter, film director and the current Culture Minister of Spain.González-Sinde studied Classics at the Complutense University of Madrid and did a Masters in Cinema Scriptwriting at the AFI Conservatory in Los Angeles.She was president of AACCE Ángeles... (2009–) |
| Minister of Health, Social Policy and Equality Ministry of Health (Spain) The Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equality is the ministry of the Government of Spain responsible for proposing and implementing the Government's guidelines on health policy, planning and health care and consumer products as well as on Social Affairs The Ministry of Health, Social Policy... Ministra de Sanidad, Política Social e Igualdad |
Bernat Soria (2008–2009) Trinidad Jiménez Trinidad Jiménez Trinidad Jiménez García-Herrera is a Spanish Socialist Workers' Party politician and is currently Spain's Foreign Affairs Minister.... (2009–2010) Leire Pajín Leire Pajín Leire Pajín Iraola is a Spanish socialist politician and the current Minister of Health, Equality and Social Policy in the cabinet led by Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.... (2010–) |
| Minister of Science and Innovation | Cristina Garmendia Cristina Garmendia Dr. Cristina Garmendia y Mendizábal is a Spanish businesswoman and politician, who is currently serving as Minister of Science and Innovation.... |
| Minister of Housing (abolished) | Beatriz Corredor Beatriz Corredor Beatriz Corredor is a Spanish lawyer and politician, who served as Minister of Housing from April, 14 2008 to October 20 2010.-References:... (2008–2010) |
| Minister of Equality (abolished: added to health portfolio) | Bibiana Aído Bibiana Aído Bibiana Aído Almagro is a Spanish politician who served as Minister for Equality. She became minister for this new department on April 14, 2008, at the beginning of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's second term as Prime Minister of Spain.... (2008–2010) |
Logo
This is the official logo of the Government of Spain: In the left the European hiand Spanish flags, in the center the coat of arms of SpainCoat of arms of Spain
The current coat of arms of Spain, although it has its roots centuries ago, was approved by law in 1981, when the present established replaced the interim version which, in turn, replaced the official arms of Francoist Spain...
and written in black - Gobierno de España (in English: Government of Spain) - and in the right side the building that represents the official house of the President of Spain, La Moncloa and where press conferences are given and the Council of Ministers meets. Below it is an instance of a variating use, combinated for the purposes of the Finance Ministry.