In some countries, such as Spain, the State is divided into autonomous communities. The provinces with similar historical, cultural and economic characteristics form an autonomous community. Some of them (the Basque Autonomous Community, Catalonia, etc.) had very special political characteristics in the past.
These autonomous territories can have their own basic law. In the Spanish State this law is called the Statute of Autonomy. The rules of each autonomous community are set out in the corresponding Statute, and this Statute of Autonomy is the collection of laws or legislation that governs the region.
Administratively, the Spanish State consists of seventeen autonomous communities, plus two city councils (Ceuta and Melilla) that enjoy a special status.
All autonomous communities have the right to govern themselves through powers (education, health, etc.) granted by the State. These powers are set out in the Constitution and correspond to each community according to its political and historical characteristics.
Responsibility for the powers given by the State correspond to the autonomous community government, and for this there is funding.
Each autonomous community has its own institutions:
- Legislative power:
It has one chamber only and makes new laws in the matters in which it has powers. This assembly is chosen by the voters in the autonomous community through universal suffrage once every four years. Some senators are also chosen to sit in the State Senate.
- Executive power:
The Governing Council is the government of the autonomous community. The Government of the Basque Autonomous Community in the Basque Autonomous Community, and the Government of Navarre in the Chartered Community of Navarre. The Governing Councils only govern according to the powers given by the Spanish State. The legislators in the autonomous community assembly choose the person who will be the President from among their members. He or she then appoints the members of his/her governing council.
- Judicial power:
Each autonomous community has a High Court.