New Parline: the IPU’s Open Data Platform (beta)
Your one-stop-shop for information about national parliaments

Spain

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Senate

This is a bicameral parliament. Switch to theCongress of Deputies
Political system Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
Bicameral
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IPU membership Current membership status
Yes
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Law-making

Data on parliament’s law-making role and activities

Legislative activity

Number of laws adopted by parliament, per year
Not available
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Notes For some parliaments, data can not be presented on an annual basis, for example because parliamentary sessions run from April to March of the following year. In such cases, the period to which the data corresponds is specified here.
Annual totals include both ordinary and organic laws, as well as legislative decrees.
Other than by parliament or the Executive, laws may be initiated by the Assemblies of the Autonomous Communities by a request to their Government to adopt or send a bill to the Congress Committee. They may send up to three delegates to the parliament to defend the said bill. Laws (with the exception of specific organic laws, tax or international law) may also be initiated by the exercise of popular initiative with a minimum of 500,000 accredited signatures.
Total number of laws adopted by Parliament in the previous legislature
Not available
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Dates of the previous legislature
Not available
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Outcome when the two chambers cannot agree on a piece of draft legislation For bicameral parliaments: Outcome when the two chambers cannot agree on a piece of draft legislationNot applicable; The legislation cannot be adopted unless both chambers agree; The decision of the lower chamber will take effect after a certain deadline; The decision of the upper chamber will take effect after a certain deadline; Other (please specify) For bicameral parliaments: Outcome when the two chambers cannot agree on a piece of draft legislation
Other (please specify)
Notes
The Lower Chamber must ratify or pronounce on the amendments or corrections of the Senate, accepting them or not by a simple majority.
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution, art. 90

Executive-legislative relations

Legislation adopted by parliament requires the assent of the Head of State In some countries, the Constitution foresees that legislation adopted by parliament must be signed into law by the Head of State. If so, the Head of State may, for example, have the power to veto the legislation, return it to parliament, or submit it to another body such as a constitutional court.
Yes
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution, art. 62 and 91
Consequences when the Head of State declines to give assent to legislation Consequences when the Head of State declines to give assent to legislation: Not applicable; No further action is taken. The legislation is rejected; The legislation is returned to Parliament for re-examination; The legislation is referred to the Constitutional/Supreme Court;The legislation is put to a referendum; Other (please specify)
Not applicable
Not applicable. The Head of State cannot decline to give assent to legislation adopted by parliament
Yes
Final decision when parliament and the Head of State do not agree Final decision when parliament and the Head of State do not agree: Not applicable; Parliament; Head of State; Constitutional/Supreme Court; Other (please specify)
Not applicable
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Existence of a procedure to introduce emergency legislation
Not available
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Not applicable. There is no procedure to introduce emergency legislation.
No