Understanding Government Structures and Types
Organizations Related to the UN
UNICEF and UNESCO
The UN established other organizations to achieve specific objectives. Two notable agencies are:
- UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund): Created to protect children and youth.
- UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization): Aims to achieve peace and welfare through culture.
Spanish State and Autonomous Communities
Constitutional Framework
The Spanish Constitution defines Spain as a unitary state that is not centralized. It recognizes the principle of autonomy for each community and delegates part of the state’s sovereignty to them. The Autonomous Communities, through their Statutes of Autonomy (the basic law regulating each community’s operation), assume responsibilities in various areas like agriculture and livestock.
Constitutional Court
The Constitutional Court is responsible for resolving disputes between the State and the Autonomous Communities regarding the distribution of powers.
Autonomous Regions and Cities
The State of Autonomy includes the creation of autonomous regions and two cities with special autonomy: Ceuta and Melilla. To exercise their powers, all regions have their own self-governing bodies or institutions:
- Parliament: Elected by the citizens of the community every 4 years. This institution is responsible for enacting laws, controlling the government, and representing the community’s autonomy.
- President/Chairman: Elected by the Parliament. Represents the community and the Spanish state within the community.
- Government: Responsible for setting and implementing policies.
- Administration: A set of organizations that implement the policies dictated by the government.
The Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia (1979, 2006)
In 1971, the Assembly of Catalonia (a set of Catalan political forces opposed to the Franco regime) requested national recognition of the Catalan people and the right to freely choose their political future. During the democratic transition in the 1970s, a model of self-government was restored with the approval of the Statute of Autonomy in 1979. In 2003, a reform of the Statute was initiated to adapt it to the current context. On June 18, 2006, the new Statute was approved in a referendum by the citizens of Catalonia.
Self-Government Institutions: The Generalitat
The Generalitat is constituted by:
- Parliament: Formed by 135 members, elected by citizens over 18 years old. It is responsible for legislating, approving budgets, and monitoring the government.
- President: Elected by the Parliament, the highest representative of the Spanish state in Catalonia, accountable to the Catalan Parliament. Leads the Executive Council.
- Executive Council: Composed of ministers responsible for executive and administrative functions.
The Generalitat also includes other bodies such as the Advisory Council, the Audit Office, and the Ombudsman.
Effective Powers of the Generalitat of Catalonia
The Statute of Autonomy ensures that the Generalitat has exclusive power in several areas, including the organization of self-government institutions, the development of Catalan law, culture, historical and artistic heritage, and local administration.
Municipalities
Municipalities are the basic territorial unit of Catalonia’s territorial organization. The municipal administration operates throughout the municipality’s territory. The government of a municipality is the responsibility of the council, composed of the mayor and councilors.
Regions
Regions are local territorial entities formed by the grouping of municipalities. They have legal personality and autonomy for their policies. Their administrative and governmental functions are carried out by the County Council, composed of municipal councilors from the municipalities that form the region.
The State
The State is a set of institutions created to organize the life and activities of people living in the same territory, governed by the same laws and under the same power. It is formed by:
- Population: People living within the state’s territory. They have rights and obligations as citizens.
- Territory: The area over which the state has power.
- State Power: The ability to enact laws, enforce laws, and govern.
The Exercise of Power in Democratic States
In current democratic states, leaders are chosen by people over 18 years old. Sovereignty (the exercise of power) resides in the people.
Democratic States
A state is democratic when citizens participate in government tasks. Direct democracy occurs when citizens gather in assemblies or make decisions through referendums. As this is difficult to implement on a large scale, representative democracy is more common, where citizens elect representatives to exercise sovereignty on their behalf. These representatives form the parliament, which approves laws and elects the President, the head of government, and other institutions.
Democratic Elections
Democratic elections should be free, plural (different options are presented to voters), based on universal suffrage (all citizens over a certain age can vote without discrimination), and periodic (held regularly).
Political Parties
Political parties are channels (with different opinions) through which citizens participate in political life. They present their programs and candidates for elections, and citizens elect their representatives through voting.
Division of Powers
In democratic regimes, no single institution holds all the power. The division of powers is as follows:
- Legislative (Parliament): Enacts laws, exercises control over the executive power, approves budgets, and elects the head of government.
- Executive (Government): Regulates and implements laws, sets government priorities and objectives.
- Judiciary (Courts): Ensures judicial independence, punishes violations of laws, and arbitrates disputes.
Different Types of Democratic States
Parliamentary Monarchies
In these states, the highest authority is the monarch, but sovereignty resides in the people. The monarch does not govern directly and must swear allegiance to the Constitution. The position is hereditary and lifelong.
Parliamentary Republics
In these states, the head of state is the President of the Republic, elected by the citizens. The government is led by a Prime Minister or President.
Liberal State
This type of state tries not to interfere in the economy or social relationships.
Social Protection State
This type of state intervenes in some economic and social areas to provide welfare and protection.
Centralist State
In a centralist state, the central government makes decisions affecting all regions or territories.
Decentralized State
In a decentralized state, power is shared with different territories, which are delegated certain powers.
Non-Democratic States
In non-democratic states, power is held by one person or a small group, who rule according to their interests. Types include:
- Absolute Monarchy: The monarch concentrates all power (dictates laws, governs, judges) or appoints people to exercise these functions on their behalf.
- Dictatorship: A regime in which a person, with the support of a political party, ethnic group, or the army, rules with absolute power.