General Information about Spain Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

General Information about Spain - Research Paper Example Civil War erupted in 1936 and Franco ascended to power in 1939 who followed a pro-Axis policy during the Second World War. Spain was isolated by the Allies after WWII and finally signed Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States September 26, 1953, and joined the UN in 1955. In November 1975, Franco died and was replaced by his heir Prince Juan Carlos de Borbon y Borbon who assumed the title of king and chief of state. He replaced Franco’s Prime Minister with Adolfo Suarez in July 1976 who held an election on June 15, 1977 (the last election was in 1936) and instituted the democratic constitution (Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, 2011) Spain has an area of 504,750 sq. km. (194,884 sq. mi.), which includes the Balearic and Canary Islands. Its capital is Madrid with a population of 3.3 million people. It's lands composed of high plateaus, lowlands, and mountainous regions. The form of government is Constitutional Monarchy with Juan Carlos I proclaimed as King on November 22, 1975. The President of the Executive branch is nominated by the kind subject to the approval of Congress. The Legislative branch has a bicameral Cortes: â€Å"a 350-seat Congress of Deputies (elected by the Dhondt system of proportional representation) and a Senate. Four senators are elected in each of 47 peninsular provinces, 16 are elected from the three island provinces, and Ceuta and Melilla elect two each; this accounts for 208 senators. The parliaments of the 17 autonomous regions also elect one senator as well as one additional senator for every 1 million inhabitants within their territory (about 20 senators).  Judicial--Constitutional Tribunal has jurisdiction over constitutional issues. Supreme Tribunal heads system comprising territorial, provincial, regional, and municipal courts† (Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, 2011).  Ã‚