Spain’s Restoration: Monarchy, Constitution, and Canovas
The Spanish Restoration: A New Era
His first goal was to firmly establish the monarchy, even above the Constitution. For him, the Monarchy and the Parliament were the two pillars of Spanish history. The Crown needed to recover the prestige lost during the reign of Isabel II. He envisioned a monarchy that shared sovereignty with the Parliament, leveraging extensive expertise and playing a significant role in political life.
Constitutional Framework and Liberal Tendencies
Second, the constitutional framework should accommodate all liberal tendencies. The aim was to create a system that was equally acceptable to the old moderate unionists, progressives, and Democrats. The goal was a constitution that would endure, allowing different parties to govern and ending the seizure of power through force.
The Role of the Army and Parliamentarism
This last aspect was of particular concern to Canovas. The army had to return to the barracks. The role of Alfonso XII, a rey-soldado with military training, was decisive. For Canovas, the ideal model of parliamentarism was Britain’s. It was based on the existence of two major parties accepting turns in power, in order to avoid parliamentary atomization and ensure a stable majority.
A Conservative Regime
The Restoration regime was very conservative, both in the field of politics and, above all, socially and economically. The Crown had been revived by conservative politicians, businessmen, and military officers. They shared common interests and a common vision: the defense of social order and the monarchy as a guarantee of stability.
Middle Class Support
That vision of politics was shared by the middle classes, who associated the years preceding the term with economic crisis. Although these classes did not actively participate in political life, the new regime was widely endorsed.
The Constitution of 1876
In December, elections to the Constituent Cortes were called for universal suffrage. The electoral process was manipulated to secure a large majority for the Government candidates. The Constitution of 1876 is a flexible text, designed to allow stable governance by parties accepting the system. Its inspiration is doctrinaire and conservative.
Rights and Duties
The declaration of rights and duties is broad and includes almost all the gains of 1869.
Powers of the State
Regarding the powers of the State, the Constitution establishes the principle of shared sovereignty, stating that the power of making laws resides in the King and the Cortes. The Crown may veto a bill passed by the legislature.
The Courts
The courts are bicameral, with an upper house consisting of three types of Senators: those in their own right, those by royal appointment, and those elected by the corporations and the largest contributors.
Executive Power
Executive power is vested in the Crown through ministers, who are accountable to the Chambers. The king freely chooses the head of government and is not accountable to the Cortes. The text maintains the independence of the judiciary and the unified code.
Religious Issue
The religious issue is resolved by recognizing the country’s Catholic identity and ensuring the maintenance of worship and clergy.
Key Articles
Some of the most important articles of the Constitution of 1876 stipulated that deputies would be elected and may be reelected indefinitely by the method prescribed by law. Another Spanish right is that all are entitled to freely express their ideas and opinions, peaceful assembly, and individual or collective petitions to the King, the courts, and authorities. And many more.