The document summarizes some key constitutional peculiarities and political parties in Spain. It notes that Spain's constitution pushes for social and economic rights and defines the country as a social market economy. It also discusses Spain's territorial organization as autonomous communities and the shifting dominance of centrist, leftist, and right-wing parties over time. It then provides more detail on the three main national parties - the center-left PSOE, the conservative PP, and the left coalition IU. It concludes by outlining some important regionalist parties like the PNV in the Basque country and CIU in Catalonia.

1. Constitutional Peculiarities & Political Parties in Spain Jaime Miguel Nieman González

2. Constitutional Peculiarities Rights of Citizens, Economic and Social provisions pushed forward by left wing. Examples: Spain is a Social Market economy Workers have access to means of production Subordination of wealth for general interest

3. Territorial Organization of the State -most original , most debated and left ambiguous. Spain defends the indissoluble unity of the Spanish state, common homeland and indivisible to all Spaniards and recognizes and guarantees the right of autonomy of the nationalists and regions that integrate it and solidarity between them. “ Autonomous Communities” attempts to deal with regionalisms.

4. Structure of Voting 1977-1982 Centrist Parties 1982-1993 Leftist parties 1993-98 Balance between Leftist and Rightist ( Counter balanced by Regionalist parties ) 1998-2004 Right wing dominance 2004-Present Balance between Leftist and Rightist

6. The Big Three I. Partido Socialista de Obreros Españoles(PSOE) -oldest party founded in 1879 -until 1920 only left wing party -In exile between 1939-1977 - PSOE controls absolute majority between 1982-89 -1990´s Corruption and GAL -Since 2004 ruling in coalition with regionalist parties

7. II. Partido Popular (PP) -initially founded as Alianza Popular in 1977 -2 nd most important party in Democratic Transition -Very conservative and right wing -Wins 1996 elections but must rule with regionalist parties -Loses elections in 2004 elections after Madrid train bombings

8. III. Izquierda Unida (IU) -third largest political force in terms of members and votes. -originally made of of 7 parties-largest component is PCE. - receives dissidents from PSOE -Republican , Ecologist, Communist

9. Regionalist Parties Partido Nacionalista Vasco (PNV) -established in 1895 -conservative and right wing -dominated Basque politics from 1980 2008 -Splits into Various groups ETA---Herri Batasuna(HB) Eusko Alkartasuna(EA) -These forces make up 50% of votes in the B Basque country - Important coalitions with PP and PSOE recently

10. Esquerra Republicana de Cataluña (ERC) -center left -Nationalist and Republican -Very important presence during 1930´s -minor impact nationally Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) -independent but technically linked to PSOE -advocates Federation for Spain -topped general elections since 1975

11. Convergència e Uniò (CIU) -Fusion of two parties Democraic Union of Cataluña and Convergencia Democratica de Cataluña -Center right, Christian Dem. , Nationalist -Pujolism -tops PSC´s performance since 1980 -top voted party currently