Foundations of Society and Governance

Understanding Social Classes

Social classes are not just fundamental social structures; they are also the result of social stratification. They are sets of individuals with similar power, incomes, and occupations at different levels in a stratified society. This means that social classes are defined by their varying wealth, participation in the economy, social status, and power within a given society. It does not involve strict, deliberate classification, as no one intentionally points to a class with established purposes. Rather, it refers to a set of people with a similar economic situation.

Levels of Public Administration

In all modern countries, the size of the administration is considerable. In our country, administration is divided into three levels:

• Central: Includes the government, the national parliament, and senior organs of justice administration.
• Autonomic: Formed by the governments and administrations of the autonomous communities.
• Local: Formed by local corporations.

The importance of the State lies in its being the most powerful and general form of social organization, accumulating power within its territorial limits.

The Role of Civil Society

The social space where all partnerships of a company, with the exception of those dependent on the state or a confessional church, unfold is called civil society. The importance and development of civil society are indicative of the plurality of a modern society. In civil society, the higher the overall development and plurality, the more significant it becomes. This includes economic associations, such as an automobile company, and may also encompass political, cultural, religious, or sports organizations.

The State and Its Powers

The State is the set of public institutions that govern the nation. Historically, it arose about 5,500 years ago with the first appearance of civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Far East. The modern State governs through three powers:

• Executive: Application of laws and regulations.
• Legislative: Enacting legislation in parliament.
• Judicial: Determining whether law enforcement is adequate or not.

These three powers may operate singly and independently (as in modern democracies) or in a unified manner (as in totalitarian systems). In sufficiently complex societies, the State's authority extends over the powers of Public Administration, which is the set of public enforcement agencies that perform the tasks of the State.