Territorial Organization of Spain and Catalonia
Territorial Organization of Spain
Introduction
The current territorial organization of the Spanish state is based on the 1978 Constitution, which established three different territorial areas:
Municipalities
These are the basic scope of local government, currently totaling over 8,000 in Spain. Within them, you can find cities, towns, and scattered houses. The municipal government and administration correspond to the City Council, which is responsible for ensuring security in public places, protecting public health and the environment, as recognized by the Local Government Act (1986).
Provinces
This territorial division was established by Minister Javier de Burgos in 1833, based on a liberal and centralist state model. The current constitution maintained this division. A province is a local entity with its own legal personality, formed by a group of municipalities. It is the scope of territorial administration for state actions such as tax collection, transit organization, education, and health. The government of a province is the County Council, where deputies are elected from among provincial mayors and council members.
Autonomous Communities
These consist of 17 communities and 2 autonomous cities, recognizing and guaranteeing the right to autonomy of the nationalities and regions that make up Spain. Autonomous communities are formed by provinces with shared historical, cultural, and economic characteristics. Each autonomous community has self-governing capacity with legislative and administrative autonomy in areas like planning and agriculture. Self-government institutions include the Parliament and the Government. The Statute of Autonomy outlines the powers assumed by each autonomous community. They can collaborate, but not federate.
Units of Territorial Division
Bodies at the sub-municipal level include Catalan regions and island councils. Administrative corporations can be formed in metropolitan areas, and municipalities can group together for civil servant recruitment.
Territorial Organization of Catalonia
The 1978 Constitution recognizes Catalonia’s right to establish an autonomous organization. The government was structured into counties nationwide. The basis for this division was the Generalitat from the time of the Second Republic, which commissioned a study to create county divisions: “Study Paper on Territorial Division of Catalonia” (by Pau Vila). The study considered economic factors. The paper proposed dividing Catalonia into 38 counties and nine regions in 1936. These divisions were suppressed under Franco’s rule, leading to Catalan opposition and vindication.
The current division is based on the Law of Territorial Division and Organization of Catalonia (1987), which defines the county as a local territorial entity composed of contiguous municipalities with legal personality. It also establishes that each county must have a Regional Council formed by councilors elected from the municipalities within the county, with responsibilities in planning, health, and social services. This territorial organization restored the 38 counties from 1936. In 1988, the county map was modified with the creation of three new counties (El Pla de l’Estany, Pla d’Urgell, and Alt Ribagorça).
In 2004, the Generalitat proposed the creation of seven groups of counties (regions or vegueries). The 2006 Statute defines them as “the inter-municipal territorial area for the exercise of government and local cooperation.” The new division into vegueries may involve modifying certain counties and creating new ones, as well as changes in provincial divisions and constituencies.
Elections and Government Formation
Each province has at least two designated members (Ceuta and Melilla have one each), and the remaining 248 seats are distributed proportionally. The county serves as the electoral district for regional elections. Members are elected proportionally to the votes obtained by each party, applying the D’Hondt method. For the Congress of Deputies, the King appoints the head of government after consulting with the parties, and this appointment is ratified by Congress. The head of government then appoints the ministers.
Role of the Senate
The Senate’s primary role is to review laws passed by Congress. It can modify, veto, or approve them. It also authorizes international treaties. The Senate is composed of a variable number of senators elected through a mixed system: some are elected indirectly by the parliaments of the autonomous communities, and others are elected directly by popular vote.
The Government (Executive Power)
Formed by the head of government and the ministers, it conducts state policy according to the laws and is accountable to Congress.
The Judiciary
Judges resolve conflicts between citizens and punish those who do not comply with the law. The highest judicial body is the Judicial Council, which guarantees the independence of the courts.