Editing Spain (section)

=== Governance ===
====The Crown====
{{quote box| width=250px| border=1px| align=left| bgcolor=#F5F5DC| quote=The independence of the Crown, its political neutrality and its wish to embrace and reconcile the different ideological standpoints enable it to contribute to the stability of our political system, facilitating a balance with the other constitutional and territorial bodies, promoting the orderly functioning of the State and providing a channel for cohesion among Spaniards.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.casareal.es/EN/Paginas/home.aspx|title=HM The King's address to the Cortes Generales on the occasion of his accession|date=19 June 2014|publisher=Casa de Su Majestad El Rey}}</ref>| salign=right| source=[[Felipe VI|King Felipe VI]], 2014}}
The [[Constitution of Spain|Spanish Constitution]] provides for a [[separation of powers]] between five [[branches of government]], which it refers to as "basic State institutions".{{Efn|Those nationwide institutions are the Crown, the Cortes Generales, the Government, the Judiciary, and the Constitutional Tribunal.}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s548|title=Section 86, Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=11 April 2024}}</ref><ref name="Institutions of Spain">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/espana/spanishinstitutions/Paginas/index.aspx|title=Institutions of Spain|publisher=La Moncloa, the Office of the President of the Government|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref> Foremost amongst these institutions is the Crown (''La Corona''), the symbol of the Spanish state and its permanence.<ref name="Constitute Project">{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s318|title=Section 56 (1), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref> Spain's "parliamentary monarchy" is a [[constitutional monarchy|constitutional]] one whereby the reigning [[Monarchy of Spain|king or queen]] is the [[Legal personality|living embodiment]] of the Crown and thus [[head of state]].{{Efn|Most [[List of Spanish monarchs|Spanish monarchs]] have been kings. However, a [[queen regnant]] – while uncommon – is possible due to Spain's adherence to [[male-preference primogeniture]]. [[Leonor, Princess of Asturias]], will be Spain's first queen regnant since [[Isabella II]], who reigned from 1833 to 1868, should she someday succeed her father [[Felipe VI]] as expected.}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s11|title=Section 1 (3), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref><ref name="Constitute Project"/><ref name="Shelley2015">{{cite book|author=Shelley, Fred M.|title=Governments around the World: From Democracies to Theocracies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wui6CAAAQBAJ&pg=PA197|date=2015|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-4408-3813-2|page=197|access-date=2 October 2018|archive-date=12 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230912033901/https://books.google.com/books?id=Wui6CAAAQBAJ&pg=PA197|url-status=live}}</ref> Unlike in some other constitutional monarchies however, namely the likes of [[Monarchy of Belgium|Belgium]], [[Monarchy of Denmark|Denmark]], [[Monarchy of Luxembourg|Luxembourg]], [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|The Netherlands]], [[Monarchy of Norway|Norway]], or indeed the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]], the monarch is not the fount of [[Sovereignty|national sovereignty]] or even the ''nominal'' [[Executive authority|chief executive]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Belgium_2014#s141|title=Article 37, Constitution of the Kingdom of Belgium|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Denmark_1953#s1|title=Article 3, Constitution Act of the Kingdom of Denmark|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Luxembourg_2009#s110|title=Article 33, Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Netherlands_2008#s210|title=Article 42, Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Norway_2016#s7|title=Article 3, Constitution of the Kingdom of Norway|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/the-constitutional-role-and-working-of-the-monarchy-in-the-united |title=The Constitutional Role and Working of the Monarchy in the United Kingdom |author=Robert Blackburn |journal=Jahrbuch des Öffentlichen Rechts der Gegenwart |series=Neue Folge |year=2022 |volume=70 |pages=181–201 |editor=O. Lepsius |editor2=A. Nußberger |editor3=C. Schönberger |editor4=C. Waldhoff |editor5=C. Walter |name-list-style=amp |publisher=Mohr Siebeck |doi=10.1628/joer-2022-0009 |s2cid=257830288 |publication-date=2 June 2022 |access-date=19 June 2023 |archive-date=19 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619174428/https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/the-constitutional-role-and-working-of-the-monarchy-in-the-united |url-status=live }}</ref> Rather, the Crown, as an institution, "...arbitrates and moderates the regular functioning of the institutions..." of the Spanish state.<ref name="Constitute Project"/> As such, the monarch [[Arbitration|resolves disputes]] between the disparate branches, mediates [[Constitutional crisis|constitutional crises]], and prevents [[Abuse of power|abuses of power]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sodré |first=Nelson Werneck |title=Panorama do Segundo Império |edition=2 |location=Rio de Janeiro |publisher=Graphia |year=2004|pages=91 |language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Torres |first=João Camilo de Oliveira |url=https://bd.camara.leg.br/bd/bitstream/handle/bdcamara/36281/democracia_coroada_camilo.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=A democracia coroada |edition= |location=Brasília |publisher=Câmara dos Deputados |year=2017|pages=105–106 |isbn=978-85-402-0667-0 |language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Sousa |first=Galvão |title=História do Direito Político Brasileiro |edition=2 |location=São Paulo |publisher=Saraiva |year=1962|pages=125–126 |language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Faoro |first=Raymundo |title=Os Donos do Poder |location= |publisher=Globo |year=2001 |url=http://www.usp.br/cje/anexos/pierre/FAORORaymundoOsDonosdoPoder.pdf|pages=343–344 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804114059/http://www.usp.br/cje/anexos/pierre/FAORORaymundoOsDonosdoPoder.pdf |archive-date=4 August 2016 |language=pt}}</ref>

In these respects, the Crown constitutes a fifth [[Moderating power (Empire of Brazil)|moderating branch]] that does not make [[public policy]] or administer [[public services]], functions which rightfully rest with Spain's duly elected legislatures and governments at both the national and regional level. Instead, the Crown personifies the democratic Spanish state, sanctions legitimate authority, ensures the legality of means, and guarantees the execution of the public will.<ref>{{cite speech|last=McCaughey|first=J. Davis|title=The Crown at State Level|event=Hugo Wolfsohn Memorial Lecture|date=1993 |location=Melbourne, Victoria, Australia|publisher=La Trobe University|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/veiled-sceptre/rejection-of-advice-to-act-illegally-or-unconstitutionally/86BBD8142954446646630418C1291A12|access-date=15 April 2024|language=Australian English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|editor=Arthur Bousfield & Gary Toffoli|title=Royal Observations: Canadians and Royalty|publisher=Dundurn Press|location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada|year=1991}}</ref> Put another way, the monarch fosters national unity at home, represents Spaniards abroad (especially with regard to [[Organization of Ibero-American States|nations of their historical community]]), facilitates the orderly operation and continuity of the [[machinery of government|Spanish government]], defends [[representative democracy]], and upholds the [[rule of law]].<ref name="Institutions of Spain"/> In other words, the Crown is the guardian of the Spanish constitution and of the rights and freedoms of all Spaniards.<ref name="Walther L. Bernecker 65–84">{{Cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/260997|title=Monarchy and Democracy: The Political Role of King Juan Carlos in the Spanish Transicion|author=Walther L. Bernecker|journal=Journal of Contemporary History|volume=33|issue=1|date=January 1998|pages=65–84|doi=10.1177/003200949803300104 |jstor=260997 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>{{Efn|Former king [[Juan Carlos I]]'s intervention and foiling of the [[1981 Spanish coup attempt]] is but one example of the Crown exercising its influence as the moderating branch to defend democracy and uphold the rule of law.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2019/0604/The-Spanish-king-who-set-then-saved-democracy|title=The Spanish king who set, then saved, democracy
|author=The Monitor's Editorial Board|magazine=Christian Science Monitor
|publisher=Christian Science Monitor|publication-date=4 June 2019|access-date=17 August 2024}}</ref>}} This stabilising role is in keeping with the monarch's [[Oath of office|solemn oath]] upon [[Enthronement#Spain|accession]] "...to faithfully carry out [my] duties, to obey the Constitution and the laws and ensure that they are obeyed, and to respect the rights of citizens and the Self-governing Communities."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s354|title=Section 61 (1), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>

A number of constitutional powers, duties, rights, responsibilities, and functions are assigned to the monarch in his or her capacity as head of state. However, the Crown enjoys [[inviolability]] in the performance of these [[Royal prerogative#Spain|prerogatives]] and [[Sovereign immunity|cannot be prosecuted]] in the very courts which administer justice in its name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s318|title=Section 56 (3), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref> For this reason, every official act done by the monarch requires the [[countersignature]] of the [[Prime Minister of Spain|prime minister]] or, when appropriate, the [[president of the Congress of Deputies]] to have the force of law. The countersigning procedure or ''refrendo'' in turn transfers political and legal liability for the royal prerogative to the attesting parties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s388|title=Section 64, Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref> This provision does not apply to the [[Royal Household of Spain|Royal Household]], over which the monarch enjoys absolute control and supervision, or to membership in the [[Order of the Golden Fleece]], which is a [[dynastic order]] in the personal gift of the [[Spanish royal family|House of Bourbon-Anjou]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s393|title=Section 65, Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>

The royal prerogatives may be classified by whether they are ministerial functions or reserve powers. Ministerial functions are those royal prerogatives that are, pursuant to the [[constitutional convention (political custom)|convention]] established by [[Juan Carlos I]], performed by the monarch after soliciting the [[Advice (constitutional law)|advice]] of the Government, the Congress of Deputies, the Senate, the General Council of the Judiciary, or the Constitutional Tribunal, as the case may be. On the other hand, the [[reserve powers]] of the Crown are those royal prerogatives which are exercised in the monarch's personal discretion.<ref name="Walther L. Bernecker 65–84"/> Most of the Crown's royal prerogatives are ministerial in practice, meaning the monarch has no discretion in their execution and primarily performs them as a matter of state ceremonial. Nevertheless, when performing said ministerial functions, the monarch has the right to be consulted before acting on advice, the right to encourage a particular course of policy or action, and the right to warn the responsible constitutional authorities against the same. Those ministerial functions are as follows:
#[[Royal assent|Sanction]] and [[Promulgation|promulgate]] bills duly passed by the Cortes Generales, making them [[Law of Spain|laws]]. The Spanish Constitution mandates the monarch grant royal assent to each bill within fifteen days of its passage; he or she does not have a right to [[veto]] legislation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s359|title=Section 62 (a), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s576|title=Section 91, Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>
#[[Writ of summons|Summon]] the Cortes Generales into [[Legislative session|session]] following a general election, [[Dissolution of parliament|dissolve]] the same upon the expiration of its four-year term, and [[Proclamation|proclaim]] the [[Elections in Spain|election]] of the next Cortes. These functions are performed in accordance with the strictures of the Spanish Constitution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s359|title=Section 62 (b), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s414|title=Section 68 (4), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s428|title=Section 69 (6), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s715|title=Section 116 (5), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s1191|title=Section 168, Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>
#Appoint and dismiss [[Spanish government departments|ministers of state]] on the advice of the prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s359|title=Section 62 (e), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>
#Appoint the president of the [[Supreme Court of Spain|Supreme Court]] on the advice of the General Council of the Judiciary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s763|title=Section 123 (2), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>
#Appoint the president of the [[Constitutional Court of Spain|Constitutional Tribunal]] from among its members, on the advice of the full bench, for a term of three years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s1148|title=Section 160, Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>
#Appoint the [[Spanish Attorney General|Fiscal General]], who leads the [[Prosecution Ministry]], on the advice of the Government. Before tendering advice, the Government is required to consult the General Council of the Judiciary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s768|title=Section 124 (4), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>
#Appoint the [[President (Autonomous Community of Spain)|presidents]] of the [[Autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous communities]] as elected by their respective parliaments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s1082|title=Section 152 (1), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>
#Issue [[decrees]] approved in the Council of Ministers, confer [[General State Administration|civil service]] and [[Commissioned officer|military appointments]], and award [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Spain|honours]] and [[Spanish nobility|distinctions]] in the gift of the state. These functions are performed on the advice of the prime minister or another minister designated thereby.{{Efn|The Spanish state honours system comprises the [[Order of Charles III]], the [[Order of Isabella the Catholic]], the [[Order of Civil Merit]], the [[Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise]], the [[Order of Saint Raymond of Peñafort]], and the [[Order of Constitutional Merit]], among other orders, decorations and medals. The prime minister is [[ex officio]] chancellor of the Order of Charles III. On the other hand, the ministers of [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Spain)|foreign affairs]], [[Ministry of Education (Spain)|education]], and [[Ministry of Justice (Spain)|justice]] are the corresponding chancellors for the orders of Isabella the Catholic and of Civil Merit, the Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise, and the orders of Saint Raymond of Peñafort and of Constitutional Merit, respectively.}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s359|title=Section 62 (f), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>
#Exercise [[Commander-in-chief|supreme command and control]] over the [[Spanish Armed Forces|Armed Forces]], on the advice of the prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s359|title=Section 62 (h), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>
#[[Declaration of war|Declare war]] and [[Peace treaty|make peace]] on the advice of the prime minister and with the prior authorization of the Cortes Generales.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s381|title=Section 63 (3), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>
#[[Ratification|Ratify]] [[treaties]], on the advice of the prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s381|title=Section 63 (2), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>
#Accredit Spanish [[ambassadors]] and [[Envoy (title)|ministers]] to foreign states and [[Agrement|receive]] the [[Letters of credence|credentials]] of [[Foreign relations of Spain|foreign]] [[Diplomatic rank|diplomats]] to Spain, on the advice of the prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s381|title=Section 63 (1), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>
#Exercise the [[Pardon|right of clemency]], but without the authority to grant [[Amnesty|general pardons]], on the advice of the prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s359|title=Section 62 (i), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>
#Patronise the Royal Academies.{{Efn|They being the [[Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando]], the [[Real Academia de Ciencias Morales y Políticas]], the [[Royal Academy of Engineering of Spain]], the [[Real Academia de la Historia]], the [[Royal Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation]], the [[Royal Academy of Pharmacy]], the [[Royal Spanish Academy]], and the [[Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences]]}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s359|title=Section 62 (j), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>

The aforesaid limitations do not apply to the exercise of the Crown's reserve powers, which may be invoked by the monarch when [[Doctrine of necessity|necessary]] to maintain the continuity and stability of state institutions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.casareal.es/EN/corona/Paginas/la-corona-hoy_papel-jefe.aspx|title=Functions of the Head of State|publisher=Royal Household of Spain|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref> For example, the monarch has the right to be kept informed on affairs of state through regular [[Audience (meeting)|audience]]s with the Government. For this purpose, the monarch may preside at any time over meetings of the Council of Ministers, but only when requested by the prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s1082|title=Section 62 (g), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref> Moreover, the monarch may prematurely dissolve the Congress of Deputies, the Senate, or both houses of the Cortes in their entirety before the expiration of their four-year term and, in consequence thereof, concurrently call for [[snap election]]s. The monarch exercises this prerogative on the request of the prime minister, after the matter has been discussed by the Council of Ministers. The monarch may choose to accept or refuse the request.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s708|title=Section 115, Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref> The monarch may also order national referendums on the request of the prime minister, but only with the prior authorisation of the Cortes Generales. Again, the monarch may choose to accept or refuse the prime minister's request.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s578|title=Section 92, Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>

The Crown's reserve powers further extend into [[Judicial interpretation|constitutional interpretation]] and the [[administration of justice]]. The monarch appoints the 20 members of the [[General Council of the Judiciary]]. Of these counselors, twelve are nominated by the supreme, appellate and trial courts, four are nominated by the Congress of Deputies by a majority of three-fifths of its members, and four are nominated by the Senate with the same majority. The monarch may choose to accept or refuse any nomination.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s756|title=Section 122 (3), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref> In a similar vein, the monarch appoints the twelve magistrates of the [[Constitutional Court of Spain|Constitutional Tribunal]]. Of these magistrates, four magistrates are nominated by the Congress of Deputies by a majority of three-fifths of its members, four magistrates are nominated by the Senate with the same majority, two magistrates are nominated by the Government, and two magistrates are nominated by the General Council of the Judiciary. The monarch may choose to accept or refuse any nomination.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s1136|title=Section 159 (1), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>

However, it is the monarch's reserve powers concerning [[Government formation]] that are perhaps the most frequently exercised. The monarch nominates a candidate for [[Prime Minister of Spain|prime minister]] and, as the case may be, appoints or removes him or her from office based on the prime minister's ability to maintain the [[Motions of no confidence in Spain|confidence]] of the [[Congress of Deputies]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s359|title=Section 62 (d), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref> If the Congress of Deputies fails to give its confidence to a new Government within two months, and is thus incapable of governing as a result of parliamentary gridlock, the monarch may dissolve the Cortes Generales and call for fresh elections. The monarch makes use of these reserve powers in his own deliberative judgment after consulting the president of the Congress of Deputies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s625|title=Section 99, Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>

====Cortes Generales====
[[File:Solemne apertura de la XIV Legislatura 04.jpg|thumb|The hemicycle of the [[Congress of Deputies]]]]
[[Legislative branch|Legislative authority]] vests in the {{Lang|es|[[Cortes Generales]]}} ({{langx|en|Spanish Parliament|lit=General Courts}}), a democratically elected [[bicameral parliament]] that serves as the supreme representative body of the Spanish people. Aside from the Crown, it is the only basic State institution that enjoys inviolability.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s400|title=Section 66, Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=11 April 2024}}</ref> It comprises the [[Congress of Deputies]] (''Congreso de los Diputados''), a [[lower house]] with 350 deputies, and the [[Spanish Senate|Senate]] (''Senado''), an [[upper house]] with 259 senators.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s414|title=Section 68, Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=11 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s428|title=Section 69, Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=11 April 2024}}</ref>  Deputies are elected by [[election|popular vote]] on [[closed list]]s via [[proportional representation]] to serve four-year terms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.congreso.es/en/cem/func|title=Functions|publisher=Congress of Deputies of Spain|access-date=11 April 2024}}</ref> On the other hand, 208 senators are directly elected by popular vote using a [[limited voting]] method, with the remaining 51 senators appointed by the [[List of Spanish regional legislatures|regional legislatures]] to also serve four-year terms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senado.es/web/conocersenado/temasclave/composicionsenadoelecciones/index.html|title=Composition of the Senate|publisher=Senate of Spain|access-date=11 April 2024}}</ref>

====Government====
[[Executive branch|Executive authority]] rests with the [[Government of Spain|Government]] (''Gobierno de España''), which is [[Cabinet collective responsibility|collectively responsible]] to the Congress of Deputies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s614|title=Section 97, Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=11 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s677|title=Part V. Relations Between the Government and the Cortes Generales, Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=11 April 2024}}</ref> It consists of the [[Prime Minister of Spain|prime minister]], one or more [[Deputy Prime Minister of Spain|deputy prime ministers]], and the various [[Spanish government departments|ministers of state]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s616|title=Section 98 (1), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=11 April 2024}}</ref> These characters together constitute the [[Council of Ministers of Spain|Council of Ministers]] which, as Spain's [[Central government|central executive authority]], conducts the business of the Government and administers the [[General State Administration|civil service]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s614|title=Section 97, Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref> The Government remains in office so long as it can maintain the [[Motions of no confidence in Spain|confidence]] of the Congress of Deputies.

The prime minister, as [[head of government]], enjoys primacy over the other ministers by virtue of his or her ability to [[Advice (constitutional law)|advise]] the monarch as to their appointment and dismissal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s636|title=Section 100, Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=11 April 2024}}</ref> Moreover, the prime minister has plenary authority conferred by the Spanish Constitution to direct and coordinate the Government's policies and administrative actions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s616|title=Section 98 (2), Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=11 April 2024}}</ref> The Spanish monarch [[Prime Minister of Spain#Royal nomination and congressional confirmation|nominates]] the prime minister after consulting representatives from the different parliamentary groups and in turn formally appoints him or her to office upon a vote of investiture in the Congress of Deputies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011#s625|title=Section 99, Spanish Constitution|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=11 April 2024}}</ref>