Spain is a democratic state divided into municipalities, provinces, and 17 autonomous communities. As a member of the European Union, Spain is an economic and political association of 27 European countries. Each autonomous community in Spain divides further into provinces, with Spain containing a total of 50 provinces. In turn, each province contains multiple municipalities. Spain has a parliamentary constitutional monarchy form of national government that separates power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Autonomous communities and cities also have their own regional governments that include a parliament or assembly, government, and court of justice.