The Executive.

The Executive.

The political form of the Spanish State is that of a Parliamentary Monarchy. Article 97 of the Constitution states that:

The Government directs domestic and foreign policy, civil and military administration and the defence of the State. It exercises executive and statutory authority in accordance with the Constitution and the law.

The Government is headed by a prime minister, who is appointed by the King, following his investiture by the Congress of Deputies. He directs the action of the Government and co-ordinates the functions of the other members of the Cabinet, without prejudice to powers and direct responsibility of the latter in the discharge of their duties. The other members of the Government (the vice-president, if there is one, and the ministers) cannot exercise any representative function other than those of their parliamentary mandate. All the members of the Government are appointed and removed from office by the King on the proposal of the prime minister. The Government is collectively responsible for its political actions to the Congress of Deputies. The main instrument which the parliamentary forces have at their disposal to exercise control over the Government is known as the censure motion or constructive vote of censure which the Constitution provides for and regulates in Articles 113 and 114. The prime minister is empowered to propose the dissolution of the Legislative Chambers, althought he may not do so while a censure motion against the Cabinet over which he presides is in progress. The Government must leave office after a general election, in the event of a loss of parliamentary confidence as provided for in the Constitution, or on the resignation or death of the prime minister.

Acknowledgments