In the 8th century, a sovereignty pact was established in Navarre between the people and the sovereign, entitled 'Charter', which lasted through the centuries. In the 19th century, at the end of the first Carlist War, Navarre lost its status as a Kingdom and a series of institutions were abolished, but it kept its legislation and through the Local Council, it gained considerable administrative and financial autonomy. In 1973 the so-called New Charter or Compilation of the Local Civil Law of Navarre was promulgated.

When democracy was restored in Spain within the new State of self-governing regions, two trends became evident: to join the Basque Country or to maintain a separate identity. On August 16th 1982, the Law on the Restoration and Enhancement of the Local Charter Regime of Navarre came into force, setting up Navarre as an Autonomous Community.

Navarre was set up as an Autonomous Community under Organic Law 13/1982, August 10th (B.O.E. 16-8-82).