Administrative divisions Spain

the spanish state integrated 17 autonomous communities , 2 autonomous cities, both groups being highest or first-order administrative division in country. autonomous communities integrated provinces, of there 50 in total, , in turn, provinces integrated municipalities. in catalonia, 2 additional divisions exist, comarques (sing. comarca) , vegueries (sing. vegueria) both of have administrative powers; comarques being aggregations of municipalities, , vegueries being aggregations of comarques. concept of comarca exists in autonomous communities, however, unlike catalonia, these merely historical or geographical subdivisions.

autonomous communities

spain s autonomous communities first level administrative divisions of country. created after current constitution came effect (in 1978) in recognition of right self-government of nationalities , regions of spain . autonomous communities integrated adjacent provinces common historical, cultural, , economical traits. territorial organisation, based on devolution, literally known in spain state of autonomies .

the basic institutional law of each autonomous community statute of autonomy. statutes of autonomy establish name of community according historical , contemporary identity, limits of territories, name , organisation of institutions of government , rights enjoy according constitution.

the governments of autonomous communities must based on division of powers comprising:

a legislative assembly members must elected universal suffrage according system of proportional representation , in areas integrate territory represented;
a government council, executive , administrative functions headed president, elected legislative assembly , nominated king of spain;
a supreme court, under supreme court of spain, heads judiciary in autonomous community.

catalonia, galicia , basque country, identified nationalities, granted self-government through rapid process. andalusia took denomination in first statute of autonomy, though followed longer process stipulated in constitution rest of country. progressively, other communities in revisions statutes of autonomy have taken denomination in accordance historical , modern identities, such valencian community, canary islands, balearic islands, , aragon.

the autonomous communities have wide legislative , executive autonomy, own parliaments , regional governments. distribution of powers may different every community, laid out in statutes of autonomy, since devolution intended asymmetrical. 2 communities—the basque country , navarre—have full fiscal autonomy. aside of fiscal autonomy, nationalities—andalusia, basque country, catalonia, , galicia—were devolved more powers rest of communities, among them ability of regional president dissolve parliament , call elections @ time. in addition, basque country, catalonia , navarre have police corps of own: ertzaintza, mossos d esquadra , policía foral respectively. other communities have more limited forces or none @ all, policía autónoma andaluza in andalusia or bescam in madrid.

nonetheless, recent amendments existing statutes of autonomy or promulgation of new statutes altogether, have reduced asymmetry between powers granted nationalities , rest of regions.

finally, along 17 autonomous communities, 2 autonomous cities part of state of autonomies , first-order territorial divisions: ceuta , melilla. these 2 exclaves located in northern african coast.

provinces , municipalities

autonomous communities subdivided provinces, served territorial building blocks. in turn, provinces integrated municipalities. existence of both provinces , municipalities guaranteed , protected constitution, not statutes of autonomy themselves. municipalities granted autonomy manage internal affairs, , provinces territorial divisions designed carry out activities of state.

the current provincial division structure based—with minor changes—on 1833 territorial division javier de burgos, , in all, spanish territory divided 50 provinces. communities of asturias, cantabria, la rioja, balearic islands, madrid, murcia , navarre communities integrated single province, coextensive community itself. in these cases, administrative institutions of province replaced governmental institutions of community.