A referendum on the new constitution or organic law was held in

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

on 14 December 1966, with all Spaniards over age 21 being allowed to participate. The question asked was "Do you approve of the Organic Law of the State Bill?" (). It was approved by 98% of valid votes on a turnout of 89%.

Dieter Nohlen Dieter Nohlen (born 6 November 1939) is a German academic and political scientist. He currently holds the position of Emeritus Professor of Political Science in the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences of the University of Heidelberg. An ex ...

& Philip Stöver (2010) ''Elections in Europe: A data handbook'', p1823 The Organic Law took effect as of 1 January 1967 and remained in place until the constitution of 1978 was enacted by a referendum the same year, following Franco's death and the resumption of parliamentary government through a fully and directly elected assembly.

The law

The new constitution, the Organic Law of the State (), stipulated a slight restraint on General

Francisco Franco Francisco Franco Bahamonde (born Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco Bahamonde; 4 December 1892 – 20 November 1975) was a Spanish general and dictator who led the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalist forces i ...

autocratic Autocracy is a form of government in which absolute power is held by the head of state and Head of government, government, known as an autocrat. It includes some forms of monarchy and all forms of dictatorship, while it is contrasted with demo ...

powers as the

Head of State A head of state is the public persona of a sovereign state.#Foakes, Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representative of its international persona." The name given to the office of head of sta ...

, limiting such powers to the formulation of general state policy, representing Spain in foreign relations as well as to ratifying treaties and exercising supreme command of the

Armed Forces A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a ...

and serving as the head of the

Movimiento Nacional The Movimiento Nacional () was a governing institution of Spain established by General Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War in 1937. During Francoist Spain#Francoism, Francoist rule in Spain, it purported to be the only channel of parti ...

the coalition of political, economic and military sectors supporting the dictatorship and the right to legislate by decree. The proposed Organic Law also designated an office of " Chief of Government" that would manage the day-to-day operations of the government and be responsible to the Cortes for a government program alongside the Government, as well as carrying out the general policy of the State formulated by the Head of State. Such an office would be separate and independent from that of Head of Statein practice, both would be held concurrently by Franco himself until 1973serving terms of five years, nominated by the Council of the Realm and approved by the Head of State. After a Law of Succession was approved in a 1947 referendum, the Headship of State would be replaced by that of

King of Spain The monarchy of Spain or Spanish monarchy () is the constitutional form of government of Spain. It consists of a Hereditary monarchy, hereditary monarch who reigns as the head of state, being the highest office of the country. The Spanish ...

with the same authorities and functions after Franco's death. The choice of heir belonged to the Head of State alone, to be confirmed in the Cortes Españolas by a two-thirds majority and subsequently passed on through inheritance. The Organic Law also included that the Council of the Realm be reduced from 17 members to 13 (ten elected by the Cortes, seven appointed by the Chief of State), and the Cortes from 611 deputies to 403 (108 directly-elected, 25 appointed by the Head of State, with the rest elected by corporate bodies), and confirmed

freedom of religion Freedom of religion or religious liberty, also known as freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice ...

for

Spanish Jews Spanish and Portuguese Jews, also called Western Sephardim, Iberian Jews, or Peninsular Jews, are a distinctive sub-group of Sephardic Jews who are largely descended from Jews who lived as New Christians in the Iberian Peninsula during the fe ...

and

Protestants Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

. The Cortes was also given greater legislative powers by the Law.

Results

References

{{Spanish elections

Organic Referendums in Spain

referendum A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a Direct democracy, direct vote by the Constituency, electorate (rather than their Representative democracy, representatives) on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either bin ...

The law

Results

See also

References