Franco’s Spain: Structure, Laws, and Control
Constitution of the Cortes
Following World War II, Spain began to favor Western democracies. This law established rules for people’s participation in governance through the creation of the Cortes. The Cortes was a single chamber, called the Prosecutors, composed of representatives from trade unions, families, and municipalities. The number of attorneys was 500, divided into two groups:
- Most were ex officio members, holding positions within the scheme. This included ministers, directors of the National
Spanish Constitutional Monarchy: Crown, Powers, and Judiciary
The Crown in Spain’s Constitutional Monarchy
Article 1.3 of the Spanish Constitution establishes the state’s politics as a parliamentary monarchy. The Crown is the constitutional body of the head of state, currently the King. The King represents the state but not its people. The King reigns but does not govern, holding no executive power. The King’s person is inviolable and not subject to liability.
King’s Powers Conferred by the Constitution:
- Declare war and make peace.
- Sign treaties.
- Convene elections.
Police Models and the Justice System: Impact on Crime Control
Police Models: Traditional, Professional, and Proximity
Traditional Model
Refers to a kind of police force that is closely linked to power. Their main concern is order, not law. It is characterized by:
- A high level of discretion, i.e., they decide when to act without being subject to the law.
- Arrests are made for various reasons, not always to bring the person to justice, but as punishment, to get details, etc.
This policing style prevailed in the Franco era in Spain and is quite similar to the model
Read MoreCitizenship: A Historical Perspective from Ancient Times
Item 11: The Philosophical Construction of Citizenship
Concept of Citizenship
Citizenship is a relationship between an individual and a political community through which this individual is considered a full member of that community. Individuals have rights and duties only by their status as citizens; citizenship is restricted to members of the State. Citizenship is understood as active participation in public life; the citizen is defined as the subject of legal rights. Both aspects of the concept
Read MoreSpain’s Political System: Institutions and Legislative Process
Chapter 6: The Political System of Spain
Major Institutions
2. The Current Constitution
The current Constitution of 1978 echoes the liberal principle of separation of powers, separating organically holders of executive, legislative, and judiciary, and establishing relationships and control mechanisms and subject of some over others. Besides these constitutional bodies, the Constitution provides others like the Ombudsman or the Court of Auditors.
2.1. The Parliament
In the Spanish political tradition,
Read MoreReligion, Law, and Calendar in Ancient Rome
Religion in Ancient Rome
The Pietas
The Romans granted great importance to religion in both private and public life.
Practical Sense
The Romans had an eminently pragmatic sense of religion.
Formalism
The quasi-contractual approach to religion is manifested in a formalistic and scrupulous practice of the rites and formulas: always precise gestures and words.
Conservatism
In religion, as in other facets of their mindset, the Romans were deeply conservative, especially the working classes.
Openness
By practicing
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