Spain 2006. HiT summary

Spain is a parliamentary monarchy. The 1978 Constitution followed a long period of dictatorship, after which the country underwent a major transformation of the State and its political structure. Territorially, the political organization of the Spanish State is made up of a central state and 17 highly decentralized regions (Comunidades Autónomas, autonomous communities) with their respective governments and parliaments. Every four years each autonomous community elects a regional parliament, which in turn elects the president by majority. There are 50 provinces and almost 8000 municipalities in Spain. Spanish territory includes Ceuta and Melilla, two cities in the north of Africa with autonomous status.