Political Systems, Structures, and Ideologies
Political Systems and Structures
The Family and Society
The family is the basic human group expression, while society is a larger social group that encompasses families. Language, the natural landscape, and cultural elements shape identity.
Definitions
- People: Any structured society that shares a land, cultural ties, leaders, or institutions.
- Country: A land where people live or a human community that shares characteristics.
- Nation: A group of people historically established in a territory with a collective personality and a shared identity.
Political Systems
A political system comprises the rules, laws, institutions responsible for drafting them, and ensuring their enforcement. The ruler’s authority derives from sovereignty. Throughout history, sovereignty has been held by oligarchies (rule by an elite group) and tyrannies (oppressive rule by one person).
The State
The state is the set of institutions within a political system that governs a society. There are three types:
- Democratic State: Based on national sovereignty, respecting the knowledge and will of each individual.
- Totalitarian State: Based on the control of sovereignty by an unelected elite or social group.
Territorial Organization of a State
The territorial organization of a state can follow four models:
- Unitary State: A single center of political power with centralized control over territorial constituencies that lack sovereignty and only exercise administrative functions.
- Federal State: Various territories united under a constitution.
- Autonomic State: A middle ground between the unitary and federal models.
- Confederation: A union of sovereign states for achieving common goals.
Heads of State
The highest authority of a state is the head of state. In republics, the head of state is a president. In monarchies, the king is the head of state. There are two types of monarchies:
- Absolute Monarchy: The king is the sole ruler.
- Constitutional Monarchy: Citizens elect their governors and the head of government, but not the head of state.
Social Powers in Democratic States
In democratic states, there are three social powers:
- Legislative: Approves laws and controls the executive power, exercised by parliaments.
- Executive: Organizes the country’s affairs through law enforcement, headed by the Prime Minister.
- Judiciary: Ensures compliance with state laws. Courts apply sanctions to those who violate the law.
Political Ideologies and Electoral Systems
Political Ideology
Political ideology is the set of ideas that guide a person or group’s views on the political organization of society. Political parties can be right-wing, left-wing, or centrist.
Electoral Systems
Common electoral systems include:
- Proportional: The number of elected representatives from each party in a district is proportional to the votes received.
- Majoritarian: Each constituency has a fixed number of seats allocated based on the votes received by each party.
- Open Lists: Voters can choose individual candidates from different parties.
- Closed Lists: Voters must vote for a pre-determined list of candidates from a single party.
Political Organization of Spain
Spain is divided into 50 provinces, 8,600 municipalities, 17 autonomous communities, and 2 autonomous cities.
Spanish Parliament
The Spanish Parliament consists of two chambers:
- Congress: 350 deputies elected through proportional representation.
- Senate: 259 senators, 208 of whom are chosen through open lists, representing the territories.
Judiciary
The judiciary is exercised by the courts. The governing body is the General Council of Judicial Power. Other important bodies are the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court.
Political Organization of Catalonia
Government
Catalonia’s government is defined by its autonomous status. It consists of the Parliament, the Executive Council (Generalitat), and the President.
Parliament
The Catalan Parliament is the legislative body, comprising 135 deputies elected for a 4-year term.
Executive Council
The Executive Council is the executive branch, composed of ministers. It constitutes the government of the Generalitat.
Local Councils
Each municipality has a council that serves as the branch of public administration closest to the citizens. Citizens elect their councilors through a proportional system with closed lists. Councilors elect the mayor.
Judiciary
The highest level of the judiciary in Catalonia is the Supreme Court of Justice of Catalonia, responsible for matters related to the autonomous community’s status.