Spanish Constitutions & 19th Century Political History

Constitution of 1837

Sovereignty: Shared between the King and the Courts, although in theory it recognized sovereignty.

Division of Powers: The Crown maintained greater powers than in the Constitution of 1812: legislative initiative, veto, and appointment of senators.

Recognition of Rights: Individual rights and freedom of the press as a guarantee of freedom of expression.

Courts and Suffrage: Bicameral: The Senate was formed by large landowners, half appointed by the monarch and the other half elected by census suffrage. The Congress of Deputies was composed of members elected by direct suffrage and a broader census than the provisions of the Royal Statute.

Constitution of 1845

Sovereignty: Shared between the King and the Courts.

Division of Powers: Strengthening the authority of the monarch but without responsibility. The Executive: Ministry. Legislature: Courts and King.

Recognition of Rights: Confessional state (Catholicism as the official religion) and the restriction of freedom of the press.

Courts and Suffrage: Bicameral: The Senate, consisting of a limited number of life members appointed by the King (High nobility in its most similar form to the British House of Lords). The Congress of Deputies was elected by a very restricted census (only 1% of the population).

Constitution of 1869

National Sovereignty and Universal Suffrage: All men over 25 years of age. The Senate was elected by indirect suffrage.

Strict Division of Powers: Legislative power was exercised by two chambers (Congress and Senate). The executive branch corresponded to the monarch, although the government exercised it. The judicial branch was exercised by judges.

Broad Declaration of Individual Rights: Freedom of religious worship, freedom of education, right to assembly, association, and inviolability of the home. Some of them were not recognized in previous constitutions.

Revolution of 1868: Causes

• Economic: Financial, industrial, and subsistence crisis (low salaries, high prices).
• Political: Wear and tear of the moderate government and the organization of the opposition (Pact of Ostend) (progressives, democrats, unionists).

The First Republic (1873-1874)

Proclamation of the Republic: Federal Republic, Constitution of 1873 (not enacted), Conservative opposition. Governments of Figueras, Pi y Margall, Salmerón, and Castelar. Coup d'état of General Pavía: Dissolution of the Courts, Government of Serrano (prepares the return of the Bourbons), Pronunciamiento of Martínez Campos.

Key Terms

• Concordat: Agreement between the Vatican state and other states for governing relations between the two branches.
• Consumer Goods: Municipal properties that were used by farmers in exchange for an income.
• Commons: Royal properties that belong to the neighborhood or community council and are used by them directly and free of charge.
• Moyano Law: General Law of Public Instruction that established the teaching and levels that lasted until 1970.
• Federalism: Refers to a decentralized state, divided into areas associated with power itself in a common government with certain powers for the entire state.
• Consumption: Taxes on food and other necessities that were levied on the entry of stocks.
• Cantonalism: A political system that aims to divide the state into almost independent cantons.