Franco's Regime: Organic Democracy in Spain

Franco's Rejection of Democracy and the Rise of Organic Democracy

Franco rejected the democratic system, based on popular will, suffrage, and the separation of powers. For the construction of the new state, he was inspired by the Italian corporatist state, which organized popular participation from three basic units: the family, the town, and the union. These represented the natural elements of society, according to the regime, unlike political parties, which are the instrument of citizen participation in democratic systems.

The System of Organic Democracy

The system was named organic democracy, a name with which the regime wanted to give a certain legitimacy, but it clearly differentiated itself from representative democracy. Popular representation in state institutions was regulated by the Constitutive Act of the Parliament, which defined the fundamental law courts as the "upper body of people's participation in the work of the Spanish State." All its representatives were designated by power, and among them were ministers, members of the National Council of the Movement, and of the organization. There were also attorneys who were there because of their position.

Corporate Representation and the Role of the Courts

It was a corporate representation by thirds. Since the law came, there were *procurators* for the family, who were elected through voting by the heads of family. These Francoist Courts were not democratically elected and lacked genuine legislative power because the government was the agency that could decide which bills to pass in the Parliament, which it approved directly. It was just a branch of collaboration with the head of state, because Franco controlled the legislature and had the right to veto laws.

Regional Power and the Role of Civil and Military Governors

At the regional level, the government's power was transmitted through the old institution of civil governors in each province. Each province also had a military governor, and the military structure of the Captains General, which had been suppressed during the Republic, was re-established.

Vertical Unions and the Control of Labor

Another power of the state was the vertical unions. The Law of Association Unity, inspired by the corporate model of fascist Italy, established that employers and employees would be integrated into a single union by branches of production. The state exercised iron control over the working class, and working conditions were dictated without any possibility of collective bargaining. Striking was illegal. This resulted in large corporate profits.