Unit 6 social science 6th level

1. UNIT 6- SPAIN AND THE EU Social Science 6th
SPAIN'S POLITICAL SYSTEM
The Constitution of 1978 established a parliamentary monarchy in Spain.
This means that the king is head of state but that power resides with
the people. They exercise this power when they vote for their chosen
representatives.
The Constitution also created the main institutions of the state, their
composition and their function.
The Spanish state guarantees that all of citizens have a series of basic
social rights. Everyone pays taxes, which the state uses to finance
services. The most important ones are:
• The social security system, which includes the healthcare service,
pensions for retired people and finalcial help for unemployed
people.
• Free and compulsory education for all children up until the age of
16.
• Social services that help disabled people, protect children and
support people who suffer from social exclusion.
SOCIAL MODERNISATION
The characteristics of Spanish society today include:
-An ageing population
-New family models
-Changing roles for women
-New technologies
-Social diversification
-Economic tertiarisation
EUROPEAN UNION
The European Union (EU) is an economic and political community
consisting of 27 European countries. EU citizens can travel, live and
work freely in any of the member states.