Fundamental Laws of the Franco Regime in Spain

Repressive Legislation (1939–1941)

• Act of Political Responsibilities (1939): Legalized the political repression of the vanquished in the war.
• Act for the Suppression of Freemasonry and Communism (1940): Allowed for the pursuit of any form of political dissent.
• Act on State Security (1941): Reinforced the provisions of earlier repressive laws.
• Press Act (1939): Maintained strict censorship on all publications in Spain until its repeal in 1966.

Political Organization of the New State

The political structure of the regime was defined by the following fundamental laws:

• Labour Charter (March 9, 1938): Established hypothetical worker rights and the obligations of the company and the State regarding production. It emphasized a traditional Catholic character while proclaiming the state's totalitarian nature. It introduced a vertical, unique union structure reserved for FET y de las JONS militants.
• Act of Incorporation of the Courts (July 17, 1942): Enacted due to international pressure, this law created the Francoist Cortes as an organ for participation and law development. Sanctioning power remained with the Chief of State. It established a single chamber of "procuradores" (prosecutors) consisting of loyal members, defining the system as "organic democracy."
• Charter of the Spanish (July 17, 1945): Following World War II, the regime attempted to readjust by adopting this document as a hypothetical bill of rights. While it stated rights, it imposed strict limitations, prohibiting any attack on the fundamental principles of the state or the "social unity and national spirit."
• Act on National Referendum (October 24, 1945): Intended to provide an appearance of citizen representation, this law allowed for direct consultation of citizens over 21 years of age when the significance of laws or public interest demanded it.
• Act of Succession to the Head of State (July 27, 1947): Declared Spain a "social and representative state" constituted as a kingdom. It created a Privy Council and a Regency Council. It granted the Caudillo the power to appoint a successor and included an indeterminate promise of monarchical restoration, requiring the successor to abide by the Fundamental Laws.
• Act on Fundamental Principles of the National Movement (May 17, 1958): Enacted directly by Franco in the courts, this law reaffirmed the regime's core ideological principles.