The focus of this class is to demonstrate the basic fundamentals of contemporary Spanish government and politics, particularly the political system beginning with Francoism up to the modern day. This class will also look at both the institutional and cultural aspects of the political system.
Topics to be covered:
I. Francoism and the transition to Democracy
1. The history of the Spanish political system: from the Cádiz Constitution of
1812 to the Franco regime.
2. From the crisis of Francoism to the transition to democracy. Reform options.
Institutional changes: the law for Political Reform of January 1977.
3. The electoral process of the transition: the elections of June 15, 1977.
II. Basic Characteristics of the Spanish Political System
4. The political system of the 1978 Constitution. Process of elaboration and
approval. Fundamental characteristics.
5. The Spanish Parliament. The bicameral structure: the senate and the congress
of representatives. Elections and the electoral system of the senate and the
congress of representatives.
6. The government. The position of the government and the President in the
Spanish political system. Evolution of the government in Spain: formation and
Constitution. Support, demand, and results. The governmental elites in Spain.
7. The legislature: the parliamentary legislature. Principle actions and control
methods. Legislative production.
8. Judicial power. Spaniards and their opinions on justice. The participation of
the people: the popular jury.
9. Public Administration in Spain. Modern problems and projects of regeneration.
10. The actors of political communication in Spain.
11. Modern Spanish politics. The government of the Popular Party.
Basic Bibliography:
Alcántara, Manuel. Politica y Gobierno en España. Valencia, Tirant lo Blanch 1997
Tusell, Javier. Entre dos siglos. Reflexiones sobre la democracia española. Madrid.
Alianza Editorial, 1996.
Other material to be given by professor.
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