Autonomous Community Institutions and Powers Structure

Institutions Underpinning Self-Organization

The institutions that underpin self-organization include:

• Legislative Assembly
• Governing Council (President, Vice Presidents, Directors)
• Higher Regional Court (Sala de lo Civil, Criminal, Social)

Main Functions of the Legislatures

The primary functions of the legislatures are:

• To exercise the legislative power.
• To control the action of the Governing Council.
• To choose the President of the community from among its members.
• To approve autonomic budgets.
• To present constitutional motions against state law.
• To designate the Senators of the Autonomy.
• To choose the community's Ombudsman.

Materials and Powers Explained

It is important to distinguish between Materials and Powers:

MATERIALS: These are the policy areas on which powers are exercised.

POWERS: This refers to the legislative and executive authority exercised on a subject.

• Legislative Power: The authority to enact laws and regulations, and to develop State regulations.
• Executive Power: The authority for applying legal norms and developing the action of government.

Competence Differences: Exclusive, Shared, and Concurrent

The differences between exclusive, shared, and concurrent competencies are:

Exclusive Competence

Legislative and executive competencies that relate entirely to the State or the Autonomous Communities.

Shared Competence

These arise when the State and the Autonomous Communities share a common area but assume different, non-interfering responsibilities within that area.

Concurrent Competence

These arise when the State and the Communities share the same subject, allowing for all kinds of complementary skills on that basis.