Government of Spain

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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 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, and
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.

[edit] 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.
  - The King Juan Carlos I has held this position since November 22, 1975. This is an hereditary post, and since 2009 opened to both male and female heirs.
  - The Heir apparent is Prince Felipe, Prince of Asturias, and some duties state have been devolved to him.
  - The Military Chief of Staff (Jefe de Estado major) is Air Force General José Julio Rodríguez Fernández.

[edit] Heads of Government

- President of the Government: sometimes misleadingly called 'the Spanish President' is the first minister, who is elected by the congress of deputies. The current holder is Mariano Rajoy Brey, who was elected 21 December 2011. He (or she) appoints a number of vice-presidents ordered numerically according to rank and responsible for their respective major ministries such as Finance, Foreign affairs, Domestic administration and so on.
  - Minister for the Presidency and First Vice President: María Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría Antón, appointed 21 December 2011.
Cabinet
- Council of Ministers (Spanish Consejo de Ministros) designated by the president.

[edit] Current government

The following is the list of members of the Cabinet of Spain formed after the 2011 general election.

Government of Spain (10th Legislature)^[1]
Portfolio	Minister
President of the Government	Mariano Rajoy Brey
First Vice President Minister for the Presidency	María Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría Antón
Minister of Economy and Competitiveness	Luis de Guindos Jurado
Minister of Finance and Public Administration	Cristóbal Montoro Romero
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation	José García-Margallo y Marfil
Minister of Justice	Alberto Ruíz Gallardón
Minister of Defence	Pedro Morenés Eulate
Minister of the Interior	Jorge Fernández Díaz.
Minister of Public Works	Ana Pastor Julián
Minister of Education, Culture and Sport	José Ignacio Wert Ortega
Minister of Labor and Social Security	María Fátima Bañez García
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Environment	Miguel Arias Cañete
Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism	José Manuel Soria
Minister of Health, Social Policy and Equality	Ana Mato Adrover

[edit] Logo

This is the official logo of the Government of Spain: In the left the European and Spanish flags, in the center the coat of arms of Spain and written in black - Gobierno de España (in English: Government of Spain) - and in the right side the building that represents the official house of the Prime Minister of Spain, La Moncloa and where press conferences are given and the Council of Ministers meets. Below it is an instance of a variating use, combinated for the purposes of the Finance Ministry.