Types and Organization of States: A Comprehensive Overview
1. The State and Its Powers
1.1 Distribution of Power
The main focus of power distribution and decision-making is the rule of law. There are three main powers:
- Legislative: Develops and passes laws (Parliaments).
- Executive: Enforces laws in domestic and foreign policy (Government).
- Judicial: Judges those who break the law or resolves conflicts (Courts).
To achieve its aims, the state needs a state administration, a set of institutions and agencies directly under the state.
1.2 Types of States
Monarchs
Headed by a king or queen, with succession by inheritance.
Republics
The head of state is a president elected by vote (suffrage).
Parliamentary States
Executive power is shared between the head of state and the prime minister.
Presidential States
A single executive: the president, who acts as both head of state and prime minister.
Democratic States
Effective separation of powers, government accountability to parliament, political pluralism, universal suffrage, and genuine freedom of expression, assembly, and association. The source of power resides in the people.
Authoritarian States
Lacking one or more of the conditions present in democratic states. Generally associated with less developed countries.
Centralized vs. Decentralized States
In centralized states, decisions are taken from the state capital. In decentralized states, power and decision-making are shared with various territorial divisions (e.g., autonomous regions in Spain).
2. Political Map of the World
2.1 Changes in States
Changes in states worldwide are attributable to:
- Changes in boundaries (e.g., decolonization, the disappearance of the communist bloc in Eastern Europe).
- Changes in sovereignty (e.g., globalization, emergence of regional identities, integration into supranational organizations like the European Union).
There are large differences between states based on age, area, population, development level, international importance, etc.
3. Organization of the European Union Policy
3.1 Institutions
- European Council: The supreme political body, setting the main objectives and priorities.
- Council of the European Union: Passes laws, the budget, and foreign policy (shared with Parliament).
- European Commission: Responsible for specific areas, proposes laws, implements the budget.
- Courts: Enforce the law and resolve legal disputes.
- Court of Auditors: Checks budget application.
- European Central Bank: Sets monetary policy and manages the euro.
- European Ombudsman: Protects the rights and freedoms of European citizens.
3.2 Territorial Units (NUTS)
The EU is divided into NUTS (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) for statistical purposes. Major imbalances and differences in wealth and development exist between NUTS regions, with the least developed mostly in eastern Europe and southern Mediterranean countries.
4. Regional Policy and Spain
4.1 Spanish Constitution of 1978
Defines the state, freedoms, rights and duties, popular sovereignty, political and administrative organization, key institutions, the division of power, and economic organization.
4.2 Separation of Powers
- Parliament (Congress and Senate): Exercises legislative power, approves the budget, controls the government, and appoints the prime minister.
- Government: Exercises executive power, headed by a president who chooses ministers.
- Courts: Exercise judicial power, with the Supreme Court in Madrid as the highest court. The Constitutional Court prevails on constitutional matters.
4.3 Territorial Organization
- Municipalities: Basic territorial units with municipal governments.
- Counties: Between municipalities and provinces, without governing bodies.
- Provinces: Governed by Provincial Councils.
- Island Councils (Balearic and Canary Islands): Manage individual islands.
- Autonomous Communities: Established under the 1978 Constitution, with their own statutes of autonomy, parliaments, governing councils, and high courts.
4.4 Regional Imbalances
Differences in economic resources, population, purchasing power, and welfare exist between regions, primarily due to industrialization and specialization in advanced technology services in some areas. This has created developed areas, declining areas, and less developed areas. Efforts to reduce disparities include state and European Union funding and incentives for companies to establish themselves in disadvantaged areas.