Glosary of Glosary of Elections termsElections terms

The Parliamentary The Parliamentary MonarchyMonarchy

The Constitution The Constitution provides for provides for separation between separation between legislative, legislative, executive and executive and judiciary and gives judiciary and gives institutional backing institutional backing to the King as Head to the King as Head of State and of State and supreme head of the supreme head of the Armed Forces. Armed Forces.

The Parliamentary The Parliamentary MonarchyMonarchy

Sovereign power Sovereign power is held by a two-is held by a two-chamber chamber Parliament, Parliament, called the Cortes, called the Cortes, whose members whose members are elected by all are elected by all of the citizens of the citizens who are 18 or who are 18 or over, for a over, for a maximun term of maximun term of four years.four years.

The Parliamentary The Parliamentary MonarchyMonarchy

The people's representatives are elected by The people's representatives are elected by voting from closed lists drawn up by the voting from closed lists drawn up by the political parties or election coalitions, the political parties or election coalitions, the number of deputies and senators elected for number of deputies and senators elected for each party being in proportion to the each party being in proportion to the number of votes that each list has received. number of votes that each list has received. The proportion is weighted in favour of the The proportion is weighted in favour of the lists that receive most votes according to lists that receive most votes according to the so-called d'Hondt rule which allocates a the so-called d'Hondt rule which allocates a larger share of the seats in Parliament to larger share of the seats in Parliament to the lists that carry more votes in small the lists that carry more votes in small constituencies. constituencies.

Electoral vocaburalyElectoral vocaburaly ABSTENCIÓN (abstention)ABSTENCIÓN (abstention)

In Spain, unlike others In Spain, unlike others countries, the vote is a right not countries, the vote is a right not a duty. The abstentionism ask a duty. The abstentionism ask for the non-participation to for the non-participation to finish with the model that make finish with the model that make the citizen a pure passive the citizen a pure passive elector who is only asked one elector who is only asked one time every four years.time every four years.

ACCESIBILIDAD ACCESIBILIDAD (accessibility)(accessibility)

In this elections, and for In this elections, and for the first time in Spanish the first time in Spanish democracy, the visual democracy, the visual handicapped persons handicapped persons that had applied for it that had applied for it will have the possibility will have the possibility to shift for o.s.with the to shift for o.s.with the help of Braille help of Braille information.information.

CAMPAÑA CAMPAÑA (campaign)(campaign)

The electoral The electoral campaign began on campaign began on February 22nd. Since February 22nd. Since that day and untill that day and untill next March 7th, the next March 7th, the political parties can political parties can ask openly the vote. ask openly the vote. The day before the The day before the elections is called elections is called “Día de reflexión” “Día de reflexión” (reflection day).(reflection day).

CENSO ELECTORAL CENSO ELECTORAL (electoral roll)(electoral roll)

It is made with the It is made with the municipal census. municipal census. It’s a database with It’s a database with all person who have all person who have the right to vote. the right to vote. The next March 9th The next March 9th there will be more there will be more voters than never: voters than never: 34,5 million people, 34,5 million people, almost 1% more almost 1% more than in 2004 than in 2004 elections.elections.

CONGRESO DE LOS DIPUTADOS CONGRESO DE LOS DIPUTADOS (Congress)(Congress)The The Congreso de los DiputadosCongreso de los Diputados, the lower , the lower house in the Spanish Parliament, has 350 house in the Spanish Parliament, has 350 seats. Members (seats. Members (diputadosdiputados) are elected by ) are elected by proportional representation for a maximun proportional representation for a maximun term of four years. The house itself term of four years. The house itself chooses the prime minister (chooses the prime minister (Presidente del Presidente del GobiernoGobierno) by majority vote and he/she is ) by majority vote and he/she is invited by the King to form the invited by the King to form the government. Next March 9th, 350 deputies government. Next March 9th, 350 deputies will be elected for the Low Chamber. They will be elected for the Low Chamber. They will not be elected in a direct way, but by will not be elected in a direct way, but by means of the politic parties. The electoral means of the politic parties. The electoral lists are close, so that citizens can choose lists are close, so that citizens can choose the party but not the person. The new the party but not the person. The new chamber will be constituted on April 1st.chamber will be constituted on April 1st.

CORTES GENERALESCORTES GENERALESThe Spanish parliament consists of a The Spanish parliament consists of a lower house, the lower house, the Congreso de los Congreso de los Diputados Diputados and an upper house, the and an upper house, the SenadoSenado. Members of the lower house . Members of the lower house are called are called diputadosdiputados and menbers of and menbers of the the SenadoSenado are are senadoressenadores..

It’s the way to It’s the way to articulate the articulate the Congress. 15 seats are Congress. 15 seats are required to create it. It required to create it. It can also been formed can also been formed with 5 deputies (from with 5 deputies (from one party or more) if it one party or more) if it have been reached the have been reached the 15% of the votes in a 15% of the votes in a unique electoral district unique electoral district o the 5% in the State.o the 5% in the State.

GRUPO PARLAMENTARIO GRUPO PARLAMENTARIO (Parlamentary group)(Parlamentary group)

INSTITUCIONES INSTITUCIONES (Institutions)(Institutions)

The 9/3 the future of others institutions is The 9/3 the future of others institutions is also voted, in a indirect way. These also voted, in a indirect way. These institutions of the State depend on the institutions of the State depend on the distribution in the Congress: Tribunal distribution in the Congress: Tribunal Constitucional (Constitution Court), Constitucional (Constitution Court), Consejo General del Poder Judicial Consejo General del Poder Judicial (Governing body of the Spanish judiciary), (Governing body of the Spanish judiciary), the “defensor del pueblo” (parliamentary the “defensor del pueblo” (parliamentary commissioner or ombudsman), Consejo del commissioner or ombudsman), Consejo del Tribunal de Cuentas (Tributary Court) and Tribunal de Cuentas (Tributary Court) and Consejo de RTVE (Radiotelevisión Consejo de RTVE (Radiotelevisión española Council).española Council).

JUNTA ELECTORAL (Electoral JUNTA ELECTORAL (Electoral Junta)Junta)

There is one Electoral Junta in There is one Electoral Junta in each electoral district, and another each electoral district, and another one in a superior status, the Junta one in a superior status, the Junta Central, that is the upper means Central, that is the upper means for the electoral Administration. for the electoral Administration. It’s an independent organization It’s an independent organization that works to guarantee the that works to guarantee the transparency and objetivity in the transparency and objetivity in the electoral process, as well as the electoral process, as well as the equality of all parties.equality of all parties.

JORNADA ELECTORAL JORNADA ELECTORAL (Electoral day)(Electoral day)

The poll starts the 9/3 at 9.00 and The poll starts the 9/3 at 9.00 and ends at 20.00, although whose are ends at 20.00, although whose are inside the electoral colleges can inside the electoral colleges can vote.vote.

LEY D’HONT (D'Hondt LEY D’HONT (D'Hondt rule)rule)

It is the system to assign the seats It is the system to assign the seats in Parliament in a proportional in Parliament in a proportional way to the votes and the number way to the votes and the number of deputies in each electoral of deputies in each electoral district. This rule overvalues the district. This rule overvalues the majorities parties to the majorities parties to the detriment of minorities’ ones.detriment of minorities’ ones.

LEY D’HONT (D'Hondt LEY D’HONT (D'Hondt rule)rule)

PARIDAD (Parity) PARIDAD (Parity)

Although it was Although it was first developed in first developed in the municipal the municipal elections, the elections, the parity lists are parity lists are regulated by law regulated by law in the general in the general elections of 9/3: elections of 9/3: each party must each party must have a minimun have a minimun of 40% of one of 40% of one sex.sex.

PARTIDOS (Political PARTIDOS (Political Parties)Parties)

At the date of At the date of November 30th November 30th there were a there were a total of 3021 total of 3021 parties in Spain. parties in Spain. Not all of them Not all of them will participate will participate in the 9/3 in the 9/3 elections.elections.

PRESIDENTE (President)PRESIDENTE (President) In contrast to other In contrast to other

countries (such France or countries (such France or USA), the Spanish model it USA), the Spanish model it is not a presidential is not a presidential system. The 9/3 elections system. The 9/3 elections are legislative polls, in are legislative polls, in which member of the which member of the Parliament are elected. Parliament are elected. According to the seats According to the seats distribution and the distribution and the possible pacts between possible pacts between parties, the King order to parties, the King order to one party the formation of one party the formation of the new government with the new government with one President of the one President of the government.government.

PUBLICIDAD (Publicity)PUBLICIDAD (Publicity)

There are spaces and funds to There are spaces and funds to guarantee the access of all parties to guarantee the access of all parties to the electoral publicity, and there is the electoral publicity, and there is also a regulation about the limit of also a regulation about the limit of the costs, 0,37 euros per citizen the costs, 0,37 euros per citizen (0,32 euros in 2004).(0,32 euros in 2004).

SENADO (Upper Chamber)SENADO (Upper Chamber) The Senado is the Upper Chamber of the The Senado is the Upper Chamber of the

Spanish Parliament. Approximately 80% Spanish Parliament. Approximately 80% of its 264 members acquire their seats in of its 264 members acquire their seats in the general elections while the remaining the general elections while the remaining 20% are nominated by each of the 20% are nominated by each of the Autonomous Regions. Like the Autonomous Regions. Like the Congreso Congreso de los Diputadosde los Diputados, the term of office for , the term of office for the the SenadoSenado in no longer than four years. in no longer than four years. In contrast to the In contrast to the CongresoCongreso, the lists for , the lists for the the SenadoSenado are open ones; that is, the are open ones; that is, the voters can choose directly the persons voters can choose directly the persons even if they belong to different parties.even if they belong to different parties.

TRIBUNAL TRIBUNAL CONSTITUCIONALCONSTITUCIONAL

The role of the Spanish The role of the Spanish Tribunal Tribunal ConstitucionalConstitucional is to see that the is to see that the 1978 Constitution is adhered to by 1978 Constitution is adhered to by the organs of government. It has the organs of government. It has jurisdiction in conflicts of power jurisdiction in conflicts of power between the Spanish State and the between the Spanish State and the Comunidades AutónomasComunidades Autónomas and and between the Autonomous between the Autonomous Communities themselves, and it Communities themselves, and it also has power to safeguard the also has power to safeguard the basic rights of citizens. It consists basic rights of citizens. It consists of 12 members, 4 nominated by of 12 members, 4 nominated by Congress and by Senate, 2 by the Congress and by Senate, 2 by the Government and 2 by the Government and 2 by the governing body of the Spanish governing body of the Spanish judiciary, the judiciary, the Consejo General del Consejo General del Poder JudicialPoder Judicial. .

VOTO (Vote)VOTO (Vote)

The vote is The vote is universaluniversal (that (that is, all people over 18 in is, all people over 18 in full use of theirs civilian full use of theirs civilian and political rights can and political rights can vote), vote), librelibre (nobody is (nobody is obliged to vote), obliged to vote), directodirecto (representatives are (representatives are elected by the votes) and elected by the votes) and secretosecreto..

VOTO EN BLANCO (Blank VOTO EN BLANCO (Blank vote)vote)

It’s a valid vote It’s a valid vote taken into account. taken into account. With the white voto With the white voto citizens show their citizens show their indiference, or indiference, or even opposition, to even opposition, to the parties and the parties and their programs.their programs.

VOTO NULO (Invalid vote)VOTO NULO (Invalid vote) Wrong or non-valid vote. It has not Wrong or non-valid vote. It has not

effect in the accounting process.effect in the accounting process.