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Autonomous Communities.

The structuring of the Spanish State into Autonomous Communities is one of the most important points of the Constitution. Article 2 states that the right to autonomy of the nationalities and regions of which it is composed is recognized and guaranteed. This provision is based on the premise of the indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation, the common fatherland of all Spaniards.

The test of the Constitution sets out the powers which the Autonomous Communities may assume and those which are vested solely in the State.

The political and administrative division of Spain has taken shape in seventeen Autonomous Communities, in addition to Ceuta and Melilla, whose Autonomy Statutes are being worked out.

The promulgation of the Spanish Constitution of 1978, in which the right to autonomy of the nationalities and regions that make up the Spanish nation is enshrined, implied a 180 degree change with respect to the previous regime, which was based on traditional centralist arrangements. This provided a response to a problem which has arisen repeatedly in the history of Spain as a result of the various different identities on which the unity of the Spanish Nation has been built.

After the ratification of the Constitution, and as a result of the implementation of the principles contained in Title VIII the process of setting up the 17 autonomous communities has been completed,in the course of just under three years, and their Statutes approved. They have also been provided with their own organ of government and representative institutions.

The 17 autonomous communities are:

  1. BASQUE COUNTRY
  2. CATALONIA
  3. GALICIA
  4. ANDALUCIA
  5. PRINCIPALITY OF ASTURIAS
  6. CANTABRIA
  7. LA RIOJA
  8. REGION OF MURCIA
  9. COMMUNITY OF VALENCIA
  10. ARAGON
  11. CASTILE-LA MANCHA
  12. THE CANARY ISLANDS
  13. NAVARRE
  14. EXTREMADURA
  15. COMMUNITY OF THE BALEARIC ISLANDS
  16. COMMUNITY OF MADRID
  17. COMMUNITY OF CASTILE AND LEON
  18. THE CITIES OF CEUTA AND MELILLA

Please, ask for any of these Autonomous Communities if you want to know more details about their history and autonomy process.

Thank-you.

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