Administrative Divisions of Spain and Catalonia
The Territorial Organization of Spain
The current territorial organization of Spain is based on the 1978 Constitution. Title VIII, Article 137, establishes three different territorial areas:
- The Municipality (municipio)
- The Province (provincia)
- The Autonomous Community (comunidad autónoma)
The Municipality: Basic Local Government
Municipalities are the basic scope of local government and represent the oldest administrative structure. According to the INE census, there are 8,111 municipalities in Spain, with extensions varying greatly based on the historical circumstances under which they were formed.
The government and administration of municipalities are carried out by the councils (ayuntamientos), which possess a range of inherent powers recognized in the Basic Law of Local Government (1985). Any alteration of municipal boundaries—whether by merger with another municipality or segregation of a portion of the territory—must be approved by the government of the corresponding autonomous community.
The Province: Regional Administrative Body
The province is a local entity with legal personality, formed by grouping municipalities. The State considers the province a regional administrative body; therefore, all State actions are organized at the provincial level.
The government and administration of a province belong to the Provincial Council (Diputación Provincial), which consists of a set of provincial deputies elected from among the mayors and councilors in the province, representing their respective municipalities.
The Autonomous Community: Regional Autonomy
The third area of territorial organization is the Autonomous Community. This territorial division first appeared in the 1978 Constitution, which recognized and guaranteed the right to autonomy of the nationalities and regions making up the State.
Catalonia: Boundaries and Cultural Context
Catalonia is a European region situated on the western Mediterranean coast. It has an area of 36,020 km² and features a very complex terrain, including peaks over 3,000 meters, flat areas, and rugged coastlines.
Division of the Catalan Region
The historical Catalan region is divided between the French and Spanish States:
- Northern Catalonia: Part of France since 1659, following the Treaty of the Pyrenees. It lacks autonomy and is organized as the department of the Eastern Pyrenees, integrated within the region of Languedoc-Roussillon (capital: Montpellier).
- The Principality: The autonomous community within Spain.
The Catalan Countries (Països Catalans)
Catalonia is part of a wider cultural area known as the Països Catalans (Catalan Countries). This set of territories sharing the Catalan language and culture includes:
- The Franja region of Aragon
- A large part of Valencia
- The Balearic Islands
- The city of Alghero on the Italian island of Sardinia
Catalonia’s Internal Territorial Organization
The Spanish Constitution recognizes the right of autonomous communities to establish their own internal territorial organization. Utilizing this power, Catalonia organized its territory into counties (comarques), drawing inspiration from the regional organization proposed during the Republican era.
Historical Context of Catalan Divisions
When Catalonia achieved autonomy in 1931, the Government established a Study Commission on the territorial division of Catalonia. This commission proposed dividing Catalonia into 38 counties and 9 regions. Although this division was not officially adopted until 1936, it remained in force only until 1939, when the defeat in the Spanish Civil War abolished Catalonia’s self-government.
Current Territorial Division: Counties and Vegueries
The current territorial division is legally founded in the Law of Territorial Division and Regional Organization of Catalonia. The county (comarca) is defined as a local territorial entity, formed by contiguous municipalities with its own legal personality.
Key Features of the 1987 County Division
The county division established in 1987 differs from the 1936 plan by creating three new counties:
- Pla de l’Estany
- Pla d’Urgell
- Alta Ribagorça
The Aran Valley
An important innovation is the recognition of the unique personality of the Aran Valley (Val d’Aran). This led to the creation of the Conselh Generau d’Aran, an autonomous body with wide-ranging competencies that manages this area of Occitan culture.
Future Divisions: Vegueries
The Statute of Autonomy of 2006 provides for the creation of vegueries. These are defined as the specific territorial areas for the exercise of inter-local cooperation and government. These vegueries (or regions) coincide with the seven functional areas defined by the General Territorial Plan of Catalonia (1995).