Local Autonomy in Federal Systems: A Comparison Between
... Indeed, both countries are democratic federated state that came to exist to protect local or regional culture. As Proudhon (1921) would say, this federation were born to protect local diversity in unity. However, both countries also show differences. Switzerland as a cooperative federalist country a ...
... Indeed, both countries are democratic federated state that came to exist to protect local or regional culture. As Proudhon (1921) would say, this federation were born to protect local diversity in unity. However, both countries also show differences. Switzerland as a cooperative federalist country a ...
Autonomous communities of Spain
In Spain, an autonomous community (Spanish: comunidad autónoma, Basque: autonomia erkidego, Catalan: comunitat autònoma, Galician: comunidade autónoma) is a first-level political and administrative division, created in accordance with the Spanish constitution of 1978, with the aim of guaranteeing limited autonomy of the nationalities and regions that comprise the Spanish nation.Since sovereignty resides in the nation as a whole—and is represented in the state-wide or central institutions of government—and not in the communities, Spain is not a federation but a highly decentralized unitary state that has asymmetrically devolved power to the communities, which in turn exercise their right to self-government within the limits set forth in the constitution and their autonomous statutes.There are 17 autonomous communities and two autonomous cities that are collectively known as ""autonomies"". The two autonomous cities have the right to become autonomous communities, but neither has yet utilized this right. This unique framework of territorial administration is known as the ""State of Autonomies"".The autonomous communities are governed according to the constitution and their own organic laws known as Statutes of Autonomy, which contain all the competences that they assume. Since devolution was intended to be asymmetrical in nature, the scope of competences vary for each community, but all have the same parliamentary structure.