Government of Spain
Spain is a constitutional monarchy whose government is defined by the Constitution of Spain. This was approved by a general referendum of the people of Spain in 1978. The final interpretation of the Constitution, in the case of dispute, is the business of the Constitutional Court of Spain.
There are three main institutions known as the Cortes Generales, which are legally independent:
The Congress of Deputies, a general assembly of representatives whose controlling faction forms an executive government and proposes legislative changes,
The assembly of senators consider the wider implications and compatibility of proposed legislation,
The judicial branch composed of a hierarchy of law courts which ensure that any proposed or imposed executive enforcement complies with Spanish and European law.
Head of State
The Monarchy of Spain holds the constitutional head of state, which has no executive role, other than appointing officials, requiring reports of official activities and representing Spain at formal and ceremonial occasions. The king is also the commander in chief of the Spanish Armed Forces in which capacity he suppressed the 23-F Spanish coup d'état attempt in February 1981.