HOW CITIZENS PARTICIPATE: PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY

All citizens have the right to peaceful assembly, that is, to form peaceful groups to defend their interests.
These groups include:

• Political parties.
• Neighbourhood associations.
• Trade unions.
• Consumer protection groups.

Citizens also have the right to attend peaceful demonstrations.

Picture from yourdemocracy.net

HOW CITIZENS PARTICIPATE: PARTICIPATING IN POLITICS

All citizens have the right to participate in matters of general interest.
We participate when we vote in elections.
Voting must be universal, secret and free.

Picture from wikipedia, by Rama

HOW CITIZENS PARTICIPATE: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

• The right to demonstrate and to practise our religious and political beliefs.
• The right to express and share our ideas freely.

We have the obligation to respect the freedom of expression of others.

HOW CITIZENS PARTICIPATE: EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW

In a democratic state, all people are equal before the law.
this means that all laws and obligations are applied equally to all men and women.
The right to equality means that we have the obligation not to discriminate against anybody because of their sex, race, religion or beliefs.

HOW CITIZENS PARTICIPATE: LIVING IN SOCIETY

Society is a group of people who live in the same community.
Codes of conduct help make living in society easier.
A code of conduct is a list of rights and obligations, based on respect for others.
For each right, we have an obligation.

HOW THE STATE IS ORGANISED: THE STATUTES OF AUTONOMY

The Statutes of Autonomy are the most important laws of the Autonomous Communities.
The main resposibilities of the Autonomous Community parliament are:

• Making the laws.
• Approving the budgets.
• Making sure the government fulfills its duties.
• Electing the president of the government of the Autonomous Community from among its members.

HOW THE STATE IS ORGANISED: ELECTIONS

Citizens 18 years old and over can vote in elections.
The political party with the majority of votes forms the government.
The other parties make up the opposition.

• Municipal elections. Citizens vote for their local councillors.
• Autonomous Community elections. Citizens vote for the members of parliament of their Autonomous Community.
• General Elections. Citizens vote for the candidates of a political party. Those who win seats in the Lower House of Parliament elect the President of the Government of Spain.
• European Parliament elections. Members of the European Parliament are elected.

HOW THE STATE IS ORGANISED: POLITICAL PARTIES

A political party is a group of citizens with similar ideas about how to govern.
Political parties stand for election to obtain the most votes in order to govern.

Political parties draw up an election manifesto to explain their ideas.

They designate candidates to hold government positions.

They organise an electoral campaign to promote their party's ideas.

Political parties in Spain in 2011.

Election Manifesto

HOW THE STATE IS ORGANISED: THE SPANISH CONSTITUTION

The Constitution is the most important law in Spain.
It was approved by the Spanish people in 1978.
In a referendum.
A referendum is when all citizens vote on an important subject.
The Constitution recognises the rights and obligations of the Spanish people.
The Constitution also establishes the national institutions: the Lower House of Parliament, the Upper House of Parliament and the Courts of Justice.

First page of the Spanish Constitution, from Wikipedia.

Spanish Referendum in 1978

Lower House of Parliament in Spain.

Upper House of Parliament in Spain.

Constitutional Court of Justice in Spain.

HOW THE STATE IS ORGANISED: SPAIN IS A DEMOCRATIC STATE

In a democratic state, all citizens have the same rights and obligations.
Everyone can freely elect the candidates of their choice to represent them in the national institutions.

REMEMBER

GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Governments are elected to make decisions on behalf of the people, and to provide services such as hospitals, schools and airports.

THE LOCAL COUNCIL
All municipalities have a town hall where the local council works.
The mayor and the councillors make up the local council.
They organise the public services that everyone needs.

Here you can click to remember what we studied last year about the Local Council.
Neighbourhood & Local Council,
What do Local Councils do?
Local Councils.