Government

The constitution of 1978 defines Spain as a parliamentary monarchy. The head of state is the king, who is also supreme commander of the armed forces. The monarchy is hereditary. The king names the prime minister (head of government), who is the head of the ruling party in the Cortes (parliament). The prime minister is assisted by a cabinet of ministers appointed by the king on recommendation of the prime minister.

The Cortes is a two-house parliament. The Congress of Deputies, the lower house, has 350 members; the Senate, the upper house, 257 members. Members of each are elected to four-year terms. Deputies are elected in numbers in proportion to the population of each of Spain's 50 provinces. Four senators are elected from each province on the Iberian Peninsula, regardless of population, and a lesser number from outlying areas, such as the Canary Islands. Both houses can initiate legislation.

The judiciary is headed by the Supreme Tribunal, which supervises military, ecclesiastical, and civil courts.

Spain's provinces are grouped into 19 autonomous communities, which have limited powers of self-government. Each regional government has legislative, executive, and judicial branches.