Spanish Constitutional History: 1812 to Present
Timeline of Key Constitutional Changes
| Constitution | 1812 | Royal Charter | 1837 | 1845 | 1869 | 1876 | 1931 | Fundamental Laws 1936-1966 | 1978 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject of Sovereignty | Nation | King | Nation | King and Courts | Nation (People) | King and Court | Nation (People) | Undetermined: Chief of State | Nation (People) |
| Ideology | Progressive Liberal | Conservative (Moderate) | Progressive | Conservative (Moderate) | Progressive (Democratic) | Conservative Liberal | Progressive (Republican) | Conservative (Dictatorship) | Consensual Neutral |
| Power Relationship | Recognizes the separation of powers | There is no separation of powers | Acknowledges the collaboration of powers | There is no separation of powers | Separation of powers | There is no separation of powers | Collaboration of powers | Power Unit | Collaboration of powers |
| Reform Character | Super-rigid | Flexible | Flexible | Flexible | Rigid | Flexible | Rigid | Super-rigid | Rigid |
| Perpetrator | Constituent Courts | King by decree | Constituent Courts | 1837 Constitution Reform | Constituent Courts | Constituent Courts | Constituent Courts | General Franco | Constituent Courts |
| Duration of Force | 1812-1814, 1820-1823 (5 years) | 1834-1837 (3 years) | 1837-1845 (8 years) | 1845-1854, 1856-1868 (22 years) | 1869-1873 (4 years) | 1876-1923 (47 years) | 1931-1939 (8 years) | 1938-1976 (38 years) | In force since 1978 |
| Legislative Chambers | Unicameral: Cortes | Bicameral: Estates of the Proceres and Estates of the Solicitors | Bicameral: Senate and Congress | Bicameral: Senate and Congress | Bicameral: Senate and Congress | Bicameral: Senate and Congress | Unicameral: Congress of Deputies | Unicameral: Cortes | Bicameral: Senate and Congress |
| Suffrage | Indirect universal male | Appointed and indirectly elected | Censitary | Censitary | Universal male | Censitary (until 1890), Universal male (after 1890) | Universal female suffrage (first time) | There is no free vote | Universal, 18 years and older |
| Religious Question | Confessional. No freedom of religion | It is assumed that confessional (not expressed) | Non-denominational. Maintains the Church | Confessional. No freedom of religion | Non-denominational. Freedom of religion | Confessional. Restricted freedom of worship | Non-denominational. Religious freedom | Confessional. There is no religious freedom | Non-denominational. Religious freedom |
| Rights and Freedoms | Yes, it recognizes them | No | Yes | No | Yes, widely | Yes, but more restricted | Yes | No | Yes |
| Territorial Organization | Centralist | Centralist | Centralist | Centralist | Centralist | Centralist | Autonomist | Centralist | Autonomous State |
| Kings and Rulers | Fernando VII and Regency | Maria Cristina (Regent of Elizabeth II) | Maria Cristina (Regent of Elizabeth II) | Elizabeth II (Narváez) | Regency. Governments of Serrano | Alfonso XII (Canovas and Sagasta) | Second Republic (Alcalá Zamora and Azaña) | General Franco | Juan Carlos I (A. Suarez, Calvo Sotelo, F. Gonzalez, Aznar, and ZP) |
| Political or Economic System | Economic liberalism | Economic liberalism | Economic liberalism | Economic liberalism | Economic liberalism | Early protectionism | Socialization of some sectors | Autarky and liberal capitalism | Social Market Economy |