Spanish Constitutional History: 1845 Constitution and Manzanares Manifesto

The Constitution of 1845

This legal text contains selected articles concerning the Constitution of 1845, enacted during the reign of Isabella II, who ascended to the throne at age 13. Following the departure of González Bravo, Narváez assumed control of the government and held elections for the Cortes in 1844, resulting in a moderate victory with the objective of reforming the 1837 Constitution.

Isabella II sanctioned the new constitution to surpass the 1837 version. This moderate document established a centralized and uniform model of conservative liberalism, characterized by:

• Shared Sovereignty: Power divided between the King and the Cortes (legislature).
• Executive Authority: The King held the power to appoint and dismiss administration members.
• Bicameralism: A Senate with life-term members alongside the Congress, with the King retaining the power to dissolve the Cortes.
• Judicial Changes: The suppression of the National Militia and the reorganization of the courts.
• Religious and Civil Rights: Established Catholic unity, census-based suffrage, and equal rights, albeit with significant limitations.

The Manzanares Manifesto

The Manzanares Manifesto is a political proclamation in which O'Donnell expressed a desire to modify the existing state of affairs without abolishing the monarchy. Edited by Cánovas del Castillo, it was written following the Battle of Vicálvaro, marking the end of the conservative era of Isabella II's reign and the beginning of the Bienio Progresista (Progressive Biennium).

The Moderate Decade entered a crisis due to internal divisions, political corruption, and distrust of the Queen, leading to the uprising of 1854. The manifesto sought to maintain the monarchy while curbing the influence of the Queen's entourage. Key progressive reforms proposed included:

• Extension of suffrage and improved electoral laws.
• Freedom of the press and military career advancement.
• Strengthening the Congress within the bicameral system.
• Municipal and provincial autonomy.
• Tax reductions and the restoration of the National Militia.

These objectives were intended to be implemented through a draft constitution in 1856, which was ultimately halted by confrontations between progressives and unionists.