UNIT 9 (SOCIAL SCIENCE 4º)

UNIT 9

THE ORGANISATION OF SPAIN

·         PROVINCES

A province is a group of communities related by geography and history. In Spain there are 50 provinces.

·         AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITIES

An autonomous community is a group of provinces, related by geography, history and language. Each autonomous community has a capital and a goverment.

In Spain there are 17 autonomous communities and two autonomous cities: Ceuta and Melilla.

The government of the  Spanish State is elected every four years in the general elections. Citizens elect the memebers of the Parliament. The Parliament is formed from:

-                     The Congress (makes the laws)

-                     The Senate (approves or rejects the laws)

The Congress elects the President of the goverment and he elects his ministers. The King appoints them.

·         SPAIN AND THE EUROPEAN UNION

Spain is in Europe and in the European Union. The organs of government of the European Union are: the European Parliament, the European Commision, Te Council of Europe and the European Courts of justice.

The advantages of being a memeber of the EU are:

-          There no borders between countries.

-          There is a common currency, the Euro.

-          The Union promotes economic equality between its members.

CITIZENS: RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

·         We are citizens with rights

We have the right to:

-          Elect the members of the goverment.

-          Use public services.

-          An education (study).

-          Work.

-          Be protected by laws.

-          Have a place to live.

·         We are citizens with obligations

-          Respect publi welfare.

-          Contribute to maintaining public services (by paying taxes).

-          Collaborate in wellbeing and security.

-          Respect differences (political, cultural and religious)