Spain's Territorial Organization and Balearic Islands Governance

Spain's Territorial Organization

Spain is organized by provinces and autonomous communities. Since 1978, the country has adopted autonomous forms of self-government, moving from a historically centralized model to a decentralized one.

Evolution of Spain's Territorial Model

Historically, Spain operated with a single centralized center of activity from the 17th century until 1978. Since 1978, it has transitioned to multiple decentralized centers of political decision, establishing state autonomy.

The Spanish Constitution of 1978, specifically Article 138, emphasizes the need for economic balance between the Spanish territories.

State and Autonomous Community Competencies

The State (central government in Madrid) retains exclusive competencies in crucial areas, including:

• International relations
• Monetary system
• Defense and armed forces
• Penal legislation

Autonomous Communities, on the other hand, have competencies in areas such as:

• Agriculture
• Livestock
• Urban planning
• Social assistance

The Constitutional Court is responsible for resolving conflicts between the State and autonomous communities.

Local Government Structures

Municipalities

Municipalities are the basic territorial units, governed through local government, which quickly addresses local issues. Municipal administration operates where the council has jurisdiction. The council is composed of councilors and a mayor, who are democratically elected.

Provinces

Provinces are sets of municipalities. Their key functions include:

• Serving constituents
• Acting as a territorial division for the peripheral Administration
• Cooperating with municipalities

Provincial government is managed by the Provincial Council.

The Balearic Islands: An Autonomous Community

The Balearic Islands became an autonomous community upon the approval of its Statute of Autonomy, which regulates its competencies. These include, but are not limited to:

• Planning and housing
• Public works
• Tourism, sport, and leisure
• Self-government institutions
• Culture, historical, and artistic heritage
• Local government
• Urban development
• Industry
• Social welfare
• Youth affairs

Balearic Islands Institutions

The main institutions of the Balearic Islands Autonomous Community are:

• Parliament: Responsible for studying and passing laws, and approving and controlling the government budget.
• Government: Proposes laws and enforces them. The President, elected by Parliament and appointed by the King, coordinates the government and appointed directors.
• Island Councils (Consells Insulars): Unique to the Balearic Islands, these bodies provide technical assistance to municipalities within their respective islands.

Internal Territorial Organization of the Balearic Archipelago

The Balearic archipelago is made up of several islands:

• Mallorca (53 municipalities)
• Menorca (8 municipalities)
• Ibiza (5 municipalities)
• Formentera (1 municipality)
• Cabrera
• Dragonera

The Balearic Islands have the capacity to organize their territory into mancomunidades (commonwealths) and comarcas (counties).

Mancomunidades (Commonwealths)

Mancomunidades are associations of municipalities for the joint management of services that exceed individual municipal capacity or require investments beyond what individual municipalities can undertake. There are seven such commonwealths in Mallorca and Ibiza:

• Pla de Mallorca (14 municipalities)
• Es Raiguer (10 municipalities)
• North of Mallorca (6 municipalities)
• South-Central Mallorca (4 municipalities)
• Tramuntana (3 municipalities)
• South Mallorca (2 municipalities)
• Mancomunidad de Servicios de la Isla de Ibiza (Ibiza Island Services Commonwealth)

Comarcas (Counties)

Comarcas are local entities that group nearby towns sharing landscape, climate, and traditions. There are approximately thirty such counties across the Balearic Islands.