Administrative Structure of the Canary Islands: A Breakdown

Practical Information: Territorial Organization in Spain

In Spain, following the 1978 Constitution, the State is organized territorially into three administrative levels: municipalities, provinces, and autonomous regions. In the Canary Islands, a fourth level exists: the Island Councils (corresponding to the peninsular provincial level). Therefore, in addition to local, provincial, and regional authorities, the Canary Islands include a fourth territorial scope managed by the respective councils.

Level 1: Municipal Administration

After the Cortes of Cádiz, lordships were abolished on the islands of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, and El Hierro, as well as the former councils of the Crown islands, which were replaced by today's town halls.

Level 2: Provincial Administration

Initially, there was a single province with its capital established in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This produced a change in Canarian political institutions: the organization shifted from an island-based council system to the creation of councils in different islands, and the sole province of the Canary Islands established a newly created regional governing body: the Provincial Council.

Level 3: Insular Administration

While confrontation dominated the political life of the archipelago in the early twentieth century, the outer islands claimed the relocation of island councils or town councils to defend their autonomy from the hegemony of Tenerife and Gran Canaria. In July 1912, the Island Councils (Cabildos Insulares) were created. Their range of management and office is the island.

• The town councils partly assumed the powers of the Provincial Council.
• They are constituted as the governing body and insular administration.
• Each island elects representatives, known as directors, by universal and secret suffrage.

Level 4: Regional Administration

In the Canaries, the autonomic government (the Board) was formed in April 1978 under its first president, Alfonso Soriano. Its fundamental objective was the drafting of the Statute of Autonomy.

The autonomous communities in the Canary Islands assumed jurisdiction over:

• Economy and Environment
• Education and Health
• Labor and Employment
• Social Services

The Statute was approved on August 10, 1982. Renovated in 1996, it defined the Canary Islands as a nationality covering seven islands and six islets. The capital is shared between the cities of Santa Cruz and Las Palmas.

Autonomous Institutions

• Parliament of the Canary Islands: Based in Santa Cruz, it is the representative body elected every four years.
• Autonomous Government: Based and shared between the two capitals.
• Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Canarias: Headquartered in Las Palmas.