Political Organization of States: A Comprehensive Guide
1. The State and Its Powers: Political Organization
Understanding Political Structures and Power Distribution
The State: An independent and sovereign political unit exercising power over a defined territory and its population.
Key Powers of the State:
- Legislative Power: Creates laws applicable to all within the territory, exercised by courts or parliaments.
- Executive Power: Enforces laws, manages domestic and foreign policy, maintains internal order, and defends the territory.
- Judicial Power: Ensures compliance with laws and resolves disputes arising from their interpretation, residing in courts and judges.
2. Forms of Government: Monarchies and Republics
Monarchy vs. Republic:
- Monarchies: The head of state is a king or queen, inheriting the position through succession.
- Republics: The head of state is a president, elected by citizens for a specific term.
Parliamentary and Presidential States:
States can be parliamentary monarchies or republics, with variations in executive power and the relationship between the head of state and parliament.
Democratic and Authoritarian States:
Democratic States: State power and government actions are limited by law, often a constitution, guaranteeing citizen rights and freedoms.
Authoritarian States: State power and government actions have limited or no control, often restricting citizen rights and freedoms.
3. The World Political Map: Transformations and Trends
Key Developments:
- Decolonization: Independence movements in Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
- Disappearance of the Communist Bloc: Dissolution of the USSR, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia.
4. Political and Territorial Organization of Spain
Constitutional Rights and Freedoms:
The Spanish Constitution guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to life, equality, and free enterprise.
Sovereignty and Government Structure:
Sovereignty resides in the Spanish people, forming the foundation of all powers.
Spain is a parliamentary monarchy, with the king as the head of state with limited powers.
Key Institutions:
- Cortes: The legislative body, comprising the Congress of Deputies and the Senate.
- Government: Enforces laws, manages domestic and foreign policy, and defends the state.
- Tribunals of Justice: Exercises judicial power, ensuring compliance with laws.
Territorial Organization:
- Municipalities: Basic territorial units, governed by the Ayuntamiento (municipal council).
- Provinces: Groupings of municipalities, governed by the provincial council.
- Autonomous Communities: Regions with self-governing powers, guided by their Statute of Autonomy.
Addressing Territorial Imbalances:
Spain faces economic and social disparities between regions, addressed through initiatives like the Inter-territorial Compensation Fund.
5. The Political and Territorial Organization of Andalusia
Andalusian Autonomy:
Andalusia is an autonomous community in Spain, comprising eight provinces.
Key Institutions:
- Parliament of Andalusia: Represents the Andalusian people.
- Council of Government: Executes administrative functions.
- Supreme Judicial Tribunal of Andalusia: The highest judicial authority in the region.