1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:09,880 Good morning, guys. I'm Tamara, and I'm going to tell you a little about Spain's political system. 2 00:00:10,539 --> 00:00:14,000 As you know, Spain is a democracy. 3 00:00:14,679 --> 00:00:22,559 This means that citizens can vote for the political party or group of politicians they would like to govern the country. 4 00:00:22,559 --> 00:00:30,839 Many democracies are based on a constitution, a document containing basic laws or principles for a country. 5 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:39,439 The Spanish constitution guarantees fundamental rights and includes our responsibilities as citizens. 6 00:00:40,820 --> 00:00:44,219 Can you think of any example of rights and responsibilities? 7 00:00:44,219 --> 00:00:54,840 Yes, education and health are rights and taking care of the environment and be kind to animals 8 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:59,259 are some of our responsibilities. 9 00:00:59,259 --> 00:01:02,920 Another right that we have is to vote. 10 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,219 Elections are a fundamental part of a democracy. 11 00:01:06,219 --> 00:01:10,680 They allow people to choose who will represent them in government. 12 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:20,519 Spain, every citizen over the age of 18 can vote. Once the date of an election is decided, 13 00:01:20,519 --> 00:01:27,239 political parties choose their candidates and organize an election campaign. The percentage 14 00:01:27,239 --> 00:01:37,739 of people who vote is called turnout, and it can vary. When you get older, don't forget to vote. 15 00:01:37,739 --> 00:01:46,060 it's a right but it's also a responsibility. Do you know that the 16 00:01:46,060 --> 00:01:52,500 Constitution establishes the separation of powers? Different powers are exercised 17 00:01:52,500 --> 00:02:01,500 by three different parts or branches of government. Can you think of why the 18 00:02:01,500 --> 00:02:06,959 legislative branch can be divided in the Parliament? It makes the laws 19 00:02:06,959 --> 00:02:12,520 approves the government's budget and monitors the government's activity, and it is divided 20 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:18,620 into two chambers. The Congress, where proposed laws are introduced, debated, and passed, 21 00:02:18,759 --> 00:02:24,219 and the Senate, which approves, amends, or rejects laws passed by the Congress. 22 00:02:30,629 --> 00:02:39,009 The judicial power is exercised by the judiciary. This is made up of judges and magistrates who 23 00:02:39,009 --> 00:02:45,569 administer justice in courts and tribunals. The judiciary is responsible for interpreting laws, 24 00:02:45,930 --> 00:02:57,090 deciding when a law has been broken and imposing punishment. The constitution ensures that judges 25 00:02:57,090 --> 00:03:14,330 are impartial and also independent. What about the executive branch? The executive power is exercised 26 00:03:14,330 --> 00:03:21,409 by the national government, which implements the law and is responsible for domestic and 27 00:03:21,409 --> 00:03:28,310 foreign policy, also for civil and military administration and defense. 28 00:03:29,310 --> 00:03:34,330 The government consists of the prime minister and ministers. 29 00:03:35,069 --> 00:03:38,310 The prime minister is the head of the government. 30 00:03:39,310 --> 00:03:43,289 Do you know who is the prime minister of Spain nowadays? 31 00:03:44,330 --> 00:03:52,909 I'm sure you've seen him on the TV recently because of the COVID situation. 32 00:03:52,909 --> 00:03:55,710 It is Pedro Sánchez. 33 00:03:55,710 --> 00:04:00,210 When countries organize, they have three ways to form a government. 34 00:04:00,210 --> 00:04:07,250 First, an absolute majority, is when a party has more deputies than all the other parties 35 00:04:07,250 --> 00:04:08,250 added together. 36 00:04:08,250 --> 00:04:15,310 Second, a coalition government, is when two or more parties formally agree to form a government 37 00:04:15,310 --> 00:04:16,310 together. 38 00:04:16,310 --> 00:04:22,430 And third, a minority government, is when a party forms a government without an absolute 39 00:04:22,430 --> 00:04:23,430 majority. 40 00:04:23,430 --> 00:04:27,649 They need the informal support of other parties to post laws. 41 00:04:27,649 --> 00:04:29,050 I hope you enjoy it! 42 00:04:29,050 --> 00:04:30,009 Bye bye!