Organic Law of the State

THE ORGANIC LAW OF THE STATE
of 10th January, 1967

Over the past three decades, the State which came into existence on 18th July, 1936, has performed a gigantic task of reconstruction in every order of national life. Fundamental legislation has kept pace with the major necessities of the country, achieving, thanks to its gradual promulgation, the firm establishment of institutions, while at the same time preserving them from confusing rectifications, which would have been the inevitable consequence of premature decisions.

The laws so far promulgated cover the greater part of the questions dictated by an institutional system of administration. The Law on the Principles of the Movement provide the directives governing Spanish policy and serve as a permanent guide and an unalterable code for all legislative and governmental action. The Fuero de los Españoles (Statute Law of the Spanish People) and the Labour Law define the duties and rights of Spaniards and protect the exercise of such duties and rights. The Law of Referendum submits to the consideration and direct decision of the people, the draft laws which circumstances or public interest demand. The Law of the Cortes establishes the composition and prerogatives of the highest organ for the participation of the Spanish people in the affairs of the State. And the Law of Succession contains the declaration that Spain is a political unit, constituted as a Kingdom, and creates the Council of the Realm, which must assist the Head of State in all matters and resolutions coming under his exclusive competence.

Nevertheless, the juridical vitality and the political vigour of the Regime, its ability to cope with present problems and the prospects offered by the extended period of its existence, permit and advocate the expansion and improvement of a fundamental legislation. The time has come to close the chapter on the institutionalization of the national State; to delimit the ordinary attributes of the supreme magistrature of the State upon the fulfilment of the provisions of the Law of Succession; to determine the composition of the Government, the procedure for the nomination and retirement of its member, its responsibility and what it regards as improper; to establish the organization and functions of the National Council; to give a fundamental character to the structure of the Judicature, the Armed Forces and Public Administration; to regulate the relations between the Headship of State, the Cortes, the Government and the Council of the Realm; to determine the manner of designation, the term of office and the retirement of the Speaker of the Cortes and the Presiding Officers of the highest Tribunals and consultative bodies; and to open a juridical channel for the impugnment of any legislative or governmental act that may be detrimental to the system of Fundamental Laws.

These are the ends of the present Law, which will perfect and place the institutions of the Regime in a harmonious system, and ensure in an effective manner for the future the fidelity of the highest organs of the State to the Principles of the National Movement.

In virtue whereof, and in exercise of the legislative faculty conferred on me by the Laws of 30th January, 1938, and 8th August, 1939, pursuant to the agreement of the Spanish Cortes adopted in plenary session of 22nd November, 1966, and with the legal and direct expression of the Spanish people, manifested by the approval of 85.50 per cent of the electorate, which represent 95.86 per cent of voters, in the national Referendum held on 14th December, 1966, I resolve:

TITLE I – THE NATIONAL STATE

Article One

I. The Spanish State, constituted as a kingdom, is the supreme institution of the national community.

II. The State is responsible for the exercise of sovereignty through the agencies that implement its functions.

Article Two

I. National sovereignty is one and indivisible, and is not subject to delegation or cession.

II. The institutional system of the Spanish State is based on the principles of unity of power and co-ordination of functions.

Article Three

The fundamental ends of the State are: the defence of unity, among the peoples and domains of Spain; the maintenance of the integrity, independence and security of the Nation; the safeguarding of the spiritual and material patrimony of the Spanish people; the protection of the rights of the individual, of the family and of society; and the promotion of a just social order in which all private interests are subordinated to the common good. These ends are inspirated by, and are absolutely faithful to, the Principles of the National Movement, promulgated by the fundamental Law of 17th May, 1958, which are, by reason of their very nature, permanent and unalterable.

Article Four

The National Movement, the communion of the Spanish people in the Principles cited in the preceding Article, informs, the political system, open to all Spaniards, and, for the better service of the country, promotes political life on the basis of an orderly concurrence of criteria.

Article Five

The national flag is composed of three horizontal stripes — red, yellow and red — the yellow stripe being double the width of the red.

TITLE II – THE HEAD OF STATE

Article Six

The Head of State is the supreme representative of the Nation; personifies national sovereignty; exercises supreme political and administrative power; is vested with the National Leadership of the Movement and ensures the strictest observance of its Principles and other Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom, as well as the continuity of he State and of the National Movement; guarantees and ensures the regular functioning of the high organs of the State and the proper co-ordination between such organs; sanctions and promulgates laws and provides for their execution; exercises the supreme command of the Army, Navy and Air Force; safeguards the maintenance of public order at home and the security of the State abroad; lends his name to the administration of justice; exercises the prerogative of pardon; confers, in accordance with the law, appointments, public office and honours; accredits and receives diplomatic representatives; and performs whatever acts are required of him by the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom.

Article Seven

The Head of State is particularly required to:

a) Convoke the Cortes in accordance with the law, as also to preside at the opening session of each legislative term and, with the agreement of the Government, to deliver the inaugural address and other messages.

b) Prorogue for the necessary period, at the instance of the Cortes or of the Government and with the agreement of the Council of the Realm, a legislative term when some grave cause may impede the normal replacement of the Deputies.

c) Submit to national referendum the Bills referred to in paragraph two of Article ten of the Law of Succession and Article one of the Law of Referendum.

d) Appoint and relieve of their functions the President of the Government, the Speaker of the Cortes and other holders of high office, in the manner prescribed by law.

e) Convoke and preside over the Council of Ministers and the National Defense Junta when he attends their meetings.

f) Preside, should he think it advisable, over the debates of the Council of the Realm and of the National Council, provided that those of the former do not refer to his person or to the heirs to the Crown. In no case will voting take place in the presence of the Head of State.

g) Seek the advice and guidance of the Council of the Realm.

h) Request reports of the National Council.

Article Eight

I. The person of the Head of State is inviolable. All Spaniards shall owe him respect and obeisance.

II. All resolutions made by the Head of State in the exercise of his authority must be approved, according to the circumstances, by the President of the Government or the Minister concerned, by the Speaker of the Cortes or by the President of the Council of the Realm, any disposition that does not comply with this formality being invalid.

III. The persons approving the acts of the Head of State shall be responsible therefor.

Article Nine

The Head of State shall require a Law or, where applicable, the agreement or authorization of the Cortes, in the following cases:

a) To ratify international treaties or agreements which affect the full sovereignty or the integrity of Spanish territory.

b) To declare war and agree to peace.

c) To put into effect the acts referred to in Article Twelve of the Law of Succession and those that may be defined in other precepts of the Fundamental Laws of the Realm.

Article Ten

The Head of State shall be assisted by the Council of the Realm:

a) To propose to the Cortes those acts which, according to the provisions of the preceding article, require a law, the agreement or the authorization of the Cortes.

b) To return to the Cortes for further study a law drawn up by the Cortes.

c) To prorogue a legislative term for grave reason and for the required period.

d) To take exceptional measures when external security, the independence of the Nation, the integrity of its territory or the institutional system of the Kingdom are exposed to serious and imminent threat, giving a documented account to the Cortes.

e) To submit to national referendum Bills (draft laws) of major importance when such a referendum is not mandatory.

f) To take the other decisions for which a Fundamental Law may establish this requisite.

Article Eleven

During the absence of the Head of State from the national territory, or in case of ill health, his functions shall be assumed by the heir to the Crown, should there be one and should he be over thirty years of age, or in default thereof, by the Regency Council. In any case, the President of the Government shall give an account to the Cortes.

Article Twelve

The guardianship of the royal persons not of age included in the succession, or of the incapacitated King shall be approved by the Cortes at the proposal of the Council of the Realm. The designation must devolve upon a person of Spanish nationality professing the Catholic religion, and is incompatible with the exercise of the Regency, the Presidency of the Government or the Presidency of the Cortes.

TITLE III – THE GOVERNMENT OF THE NATION

Article Thirteen

I. The Head of State directs the government of the Kingdom through the Council of Ministers.

II. The Council of Ministers, composed of the President of the Government, the Vice-President or Vice-Presidents, should they exist, and the Ministers, is the organ that determines national policy, ensures the application of the laws, exercises its power to make regulations and constantly assists the Head of State in political and administrative matters.

III. The decisions of the Government shall always have the approval of the President of the Government or of the Minister concerned.

Article Fourteen

I. The President of the Government must be a Spaniard and shall be appointed by the Head of State from among three candidates proposed by the Council of the Realm.

II. His term of office shall be for five years. Fifteen days prior to the expiry of this term, the Council of the Realm shall submit the proposal mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

III. The office of President of the Government shall carry the restrictions and incompatibilities prescribed by law.

IV. It is incumbent on the President of the Government to represent the Government of the Nation, to direct general policy and to ensure the co-ordination of all the organs of government and administration.

V. The President of the Government, in the name of the Head of State, exercises the National Leadership of the Movement, assisted by the National Council and the Secretary-General.

Article Fifteen

The President of the Government shall retire from office:

a) Upon expiry of his term of office.

b) At his own request, once his resignation has been accepted by the Head of State, having been made known to the Council of the Realm.

c) Upon the decision of the Head of State, in agreement with the Council of the Realm.

d) Upon the proposal of the Council of the Realm, because of incapacity recognized by two-thirds of its members.

Article Sixteen

I. In the event of the death of the President of the Government, or in the event of any of the possibilities under sub-paragraph b), c) and d) of the preceding article, his function shall be assumed by the Vice-President or Vice Presidents, in the order established, or, should there be no Vice-President, by the Minister appointed by the Head of State.

II. Within a period of ten days, a new President shall be nominated in the manner established in Article fourteen.

Article Seventeen

I. The other members of the Government shall be Spaniards and their nomination and retirement shall be effected by the Head of State at the proposal of the President of the Government.

II. Their posts shall carry the restrictions and incompatibilities prescribed by law.

Article Eighteen

The members of the Government shall retire from office:

a) On the retirement of the President of the Government.

b) At the instance of the President of the Government, with the approval of the Head of State.

c) At their own request, when their resignation has been accepted by the Head of State, at the proposal of the President of the Government.

Article Nineteen

Before taking office, the President and the other members of the Government, shall swear an oath of allegiance to the Head of State, in his presence, to the Principles of the National Movement and other Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom, and shall undertake to keep their deliberation secret.

Article Twenty

I. The President and other members of the Government are jointly responsible for the decisions taken by the Council of Ministers. Each of them shall be accountable for the acts executed by him or authorized by him in his Department.

II. The penal liability of the President and of the other members of the Government, and the civil liability for acts related to the exercise of their functions, shall be subject to the Supreme Court of Justice, in plenary session.

TITLE IV – THE NATIONAL COUNCIL

Article Twenty-one

As the collegiate representative of the Movement, the National Council has the following functions.

a) To strengthen the bonds of unity among the people and domains of Spain.

b) To defend the integrity of the Principles of the National Movement and to ensure that the transformation and development of the economic, social and cultural structure are adapted to the demands of social justice.

c) To safeguard the development and exercise of the rights and liberties recognized by the fundamental laws and to stimulate the real and efficacious participation of the natural entities and of public opinion in political affairs.

d) To contribute to the training of Spanish youth in allegiance to the Principles of the National Movement and to bring new generations into the collective enterprise.

e) To channel, within the Principles of the Movement, a contrast of opinion on political action.

f) To safeguard the permanence and standards of the National Movement itself.

Article Twenty-two

The National Council shall be composed of the following Members:

a) One Member elected for each province, in the manner established by the appropriate organic Law.

b) Forty Members appointed by the Caudillo from among persons who have rendered services of proven worth; upon the fulfilment of succession provisions, these forty Members shall be made permanent until the age of seventy-five, and such vacancies as may arise subsequently shall be filled by election from among three candidates proposed by this group of Members to the Plenary Session of the Council.

c) Twelve Members representing the basic structures of the national community:

— Four elected from among their members by the Deputies of the Cortes representing the family.

— Four elected from among their members by the Deputies of the Cortes representing the local Corporations.

— Four elected from among their members by the Deputies of the Cortes representing the Trade Union Organization.

d) Six Members appointed by the President of the Council from among persons rendering services relevant to the functions enumerated in the preceding article.

e) The Secretary-General, who shall exercise the functions of Vice-President.

Article Twenty-three

In order to carry out the functions outlined in Article Twenty-one, the National Council shall have the following duties:

a) Promoting the adjustment of the laws and general dispositions to the Principles of the National Movement and other Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom, exercising for this purpose the appeal of contrafuero (infringement of charter) prescribed under Title X of this Law.

b) Recommending to the Government whatever measures it may consider appropriate for the greater effectiveness of the Principles of the Movement and other Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom and at any events, being apprised before submission to the Cortes, of any Bill or amendment to a Fundamental Law.

c) Bringing to the notice of the Government such reports or memoranda it may consider convenient, and executing the assignments entrusted to it by the Government, having the power, in such cases, to examine the antecedents it may consider necessary.

Article Twenty-four

The National Council shall function in plenary session and through a Standing Committee, in accordance with the requirements of its organic Law.

Article Twenty-five

The President of the Government, in his capacity as National Leader of the Movement by delegation of the Head of State, shall exercise the Presidency of the National Council and of its Standing Committee, with the assistance of the Secretary-General, to whom he may delegate such functions as he sees fit.

Article Twenty-six

The Secretary-General shall be appointed by the Head of State, at the proposal of the President of the Government. The office of Secretary-General shall carry the restrictions and incompatibilities prescribed by law.

Article Twenty-seven

I. The President of the National Council shall retire from office when he ceases to be President of the Government.

II. The Secretary-General shall retire from office:

a) Upon the retirement of the President of the Government.

b) At the instance of the President of the Government, with the approval of the Head of State.

c) At his own request, when his resignation has been accepted by the Head of State at the proposal of the President of the Government.

III. The Members of the National Council shall retire from office:

a) At the end of their term of office for groups a) and c); upon reaching the age of seventy-five for group b); and at the decision of the President of the Council for group d).

b) At their own request, when their resignation has been accepted by the Head of State at the proposal of the President of the Council.

c) Because of incapacity recognized by the Council.

d) For such other reason as may cause their retirement as Deputies of the Cortes.

Article Twenty-eight

An organic Law shall establish the norms governing the National Council.

TITLE V – THE JUDICIARY

Article Twenty-nine

The Judiciary shall enjoy complete independence. Justice shall be administered in the name of the Head of State, in accordance with the law, by Judges and Magistrates who shall be independent, immovable and responsible, as prescribed by law.

Article Thirty

Every Spaniard shall have free access to the Courts of Justice. Adjudication shall be free for those lacking economic means.

Article Thirty-one

The jurisdictional function, judgment and the execution of judgment, in civil, penal, litigious-administrative, labour and other cases established by law, fall within the exclusive competence of the Courts of Justice and Tribunals determined in the Organic Law of the Judiciary, according to their various terms of reference.

Article Thirty-two

I. Military jurisdiction shall be governed by the laws and dispositions that regulate it exclusively.

II. Ecclesiastical jurisdiction shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Concordat with the Holy See.

Article Thirty-three

The superintendence of the Judiciary is incumbent on the President of the Supreme Court, who shall be appointed from among Spanish jurists of recognized prestige.

Article Thirty-four

Judges and Magistrates may not be dismissed, suspended, transferred or pensioned off except for the causes and with the guarantees prescribed by law.

Article Thirty-five

I. The Office of the Attorney-General, the organ of communication between the Government and the Courts, has the mission of promoting the action of the Judiciary in defence of the public interest protected by law, and to procure before the Courts and Tribunals the maintenance of juridical order and the satisfaction of social interest.

II. The functions entrusted to the Office of the Attorney-General shall be exercised through its organs, in keeping with the principles of unity and hierarchical dependence.

Article Thirty-six

Public, as well as private, authorities and organs are obliged to give the Courts and Tribunals the help necessary for the exercise of the jurisdictional function.

TITLE VI – THE ARMED FORCES

Article Thirty-seven

The Armed Forces of the Nation, consisting of the Army, the Navy and Air Force, and the Forces of Public Order, guarantee the unity and independence of the country, the integrity of her territory, national security and the defence of the institutional system.

Article Thirty-eight

A National Defence Junta, composed of the President of the Government, the Ministers of the Military Departments, the Chief of the Supreme Staff and the Chiefs-of-Staff of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, shall propose to the Government the general lines to be taken in respect of security and national defence. This National Defence Junta may include such Ministers or high-ranking officials, whose presence may be advisable because of the nature of the problems under consideration.

Article Thirty-nine

A Supreme Staff, dependent on the President of the Government, shall be the technical organ of National Defence, with the mission of co-ordinating the action of the Staffs of the three branches of the Armed Forces.

TITLE VII – THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE STATE

Article Forty

I. The Administration, consisting of hierarchically arranged organs, assumes the implementation of the ends of the State for the prompt and efficacious satisfaction of the general interest.

II. The higher organs of the Administration, their respective competence and the bases for the duties of their functionaries shall be determined by law.

III. The Administration shall be advised by the consultative organs established by law.

IV. The Council of States is the supreme consultative body of the Administration, and its competence and function shall be determined by law.

V. The National Economic Council is the consultative, advisory and technical organ in matters of importance that affect the national economy.

Article Forty-one

I. The Administration may not issue dispositions contrary to the laws, nor regulate, save by the express authorization of the law those matters which come under the exclusive competence of the Cortes.

II. Any administrative dispositions infringing the rules set forth in the preceding paragraph shall be null and void.

Article Forty-two

I. The resolutions and agreements passed by the Administration shall be done in accordance with the norms regulating administrative procedure.

II. Against the acts and resolutions that finalize administrative procedure, those actions and appeals may be brought before the competent authority as the law allows.

III. The responsibility of the Administration, its authorities, functionaries and agents may be demanded for the reasons and in the manner determined by law.

Article Forty-three

All public authorities and functionaries owe allegiance to the Principles of the National Movement and other Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom and shall take, prior to assuming office, the appropriate oath.

Article Forty-four

The Court of Exchequer of the Kingdom is responsible, with complete independence, for the auditing and verification of the accounts relevant to action taken in the exercise of Budgetary and Fiscal Laws, as well as the accounts of all official organs receiving aid or subsidies out of the General Budget of the State and of its autonomous bodies, and for the execution of the other functions stipulated in its organic Law.

TITLE VIII – LOCAL ADMINISTRATION

Article Forty-five

I. The Municipalities are natural entities and constitute the basic structures of the national community, being grouped territorially in provinces.

II. The Province is a district determined by the grouping of Municipalities, besides being a territorial division of the State Administration. Territorial divisions distinct from the Province may also be established.

Article Forty-six

I. The Municipalities and the Provinces have a juridical status and are fully capable of carrying out their particular functions as established by law, without prejudice to their co-operative functions in the service of the State.

II. The municipal and provincial Corporations, the representative and administrative organs of the Municipality and the Province, respectively, shall be elected by vote through the representative channels specified in Article ten of the Fuero de los Españoles.

Article Forty-seven

The State promotes the development of municipal and provincial life, protects and favours the patrimony of the local Corporations and ensures the economic means necessary for the fulfilment of their ends.

Article Forty-eight

The system of local Administration and of its Corporations, in accordance with the provisions of the preceding articles and the guarantees demanded by the common good in this respect, shall be determined by law.

TITLE IX – RELATIONS BETWEEN THE SUPREME ORGANS OF THE STATE

Article Forty-nine

The Spanish Cortes shall be immediately informed of the appointment of a new Government and of the replacement of any of its members.

Article Fifty

Apart from its participation in legislative affairs, the Cortes has the following duties in relation to the Head of State:

a) Receiving from the Head of State and from the heir to the Crown, upon the latter's reaching the age of thirty, an oath of allegiance to the Principles of the Movement and other Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom.

b) Resolving, in accordance with the Law of Succession, all questions that may arise in respect of the succession in the Headship of State.

c) Authorizing the Head of State to carry out those acts which, by Fundamental Law, require the intervention of the Cortes.

d) Executing the other functions entrusted to them by the Fundamental Laws.

Article Fifty-one

The Government may submit to the sanction of the Head of State dispositions with the force of law, with the express authorization of the Cortes.

Article Fifty-two

Except in the case covered by the preceding article and those appearing in sub-paragraph d) of Article Ten of this Law, and in Article 13 of the Law of the Cortes, the Government may not issue dispositions which, according to Articles Ten and Twelve of the Law of the Cortes, must take the form of laws.

Article Fifty-three

The President of the Government and the Ministers shall inform the Cortes of the activities of the Government and of its respective Departments and, if necessary, must answer all requests, questions and summonses made according to regulations.

Article Fifty-four

I. The Government is responsible for drawing up the draft Law (Bill) on the General Budget of the State, and the Cortes must approve, amend or reject it. If the Budget Law is not approved before the first day of the following fiscal year, the budget of the previous year shall be considered to be automatically prorogued until the new budget is approved.

II. Once the General Budget of the State has been approved, only the Government may present Bills requiring an increase in public expenditure or a decrease in revenue, and any proposed law, or amendments to a Bill or proposed law involving an increase in expenditure or a decrease in revenue, shall require the approval of the Government before they are put through the normal channels.

III. The Government shall submit to the Cortes, for their approval, the General Accounts of the State, once they have been audited and verified by the Court of Exchequer of the Kingdom.

Article Fifty-five

The Court of Exchequer of the Kingdom, in the exercise of its function as Controller, must give the Government and the Cortes, in the form of memoranda and reports, its opinion on the manner in which the Budget Laws and other fiscal laws have been executed, in accordance with the provisions of the Law in this respect, and on those cases which, by virtue of their exceptional importance, it may consider it necessary to exercise this faculty.

Article Fifty-six

Only the Head of State may seek the advice of the Council of the Realm.

Article Fifty-seven

It is the duty of the Head of State to settle, in accordance with the laws, any questions of competence between the Administration and the Judges of ordinary and special Courts, and those arising between the Court of Exchequer and the Administration, or between the Court of Exchequer and the other ordinary and special Courts of justice.

Article Fifty-eight

I. The Presidents of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Council of State, the Court of Exchequer of the Kingdom, and the National Economic Council shall be appointed by the Head of State from among three candidates proposed by the Council of the Realm.

II. Their term of office shall be for six years, and their posts shall be subject to the restrictions and incompatibilities imposed by law.

III. They shall retire:

a) Upon the expiry of their term of office.

b) At their own request, once their resignation has been accepted by the Head of State, having been considered by the Council of the Realm.

c) At the decision of the Head of State, in agreement with the Council of the Realm.

d) At the proposal of the Council of the Realm, for incapacity recognized by two-thirds of its Members.

TITLE X – THE APPEAL OF CONTRAFUERO

Article Fifty-nine

I. Contrafuero is any legislative act or general disposition of the Government that may attack the Principles of the National Movement or the other Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom.

II. As a guarantee of the principles and norms infringed by contrafuero, the right of appeal before the Head of State has been established.

Article Sixty

The appeal of contrafuero may be lodged by:

a) The National Council, in all cases, by resolution adopted by two-thirds of its Members.

b) The Standing Committee of the Cortes for Government disposition of a general nature, by resolution adopted by a two-thirds majority.

Article Sixty-one

I. The appeal of contrafuero must be placed before the Council of the Realm within two months of the publication in the "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (Official Gazette of the State) of the law or disposition of a general nature motivating the appeal.

II. The President of the Council of the Realm shall immediately notify the Head of State of the presentation of the appeal of contrafuero, and shall bring it to the attention of the Standing Committee of the Cortes or of the President of the Government, as the case may be, so that, if necessary, they may appoint a representative to defend the validity of the law or disposition (of a general nature) concerned before the Council of the Realm.

III. The Council of the Realm, upon deciding that the motives are well-founded, may propose to the Head of State the suspension, during the process of appeal, of the law or disposition (of a general nature) concerned or, if applicable, of the precept or precepts of such a law or disposition that may be affected by the appeal.

Article Sixty-two

I. The Council of the Realm shall seek a ruling on the question posed by the appeal of contrafuero from a Committee of Inquiry presided by the President of a Division of the Supreme Court of Justice and composed of: one Member of the National Council, one Permanent Counsellor of the State, one Magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice and one Deputy of the Cortes, appointed by the Standing Committee of the respective institutions and, in the case of the Supreme Court, by its Government Division. Said ruling shall be brought to the Council of the Realm, with details of the individual votes, if any.

II. The Council of the Realm, presided for this purpose by the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, shall propose to the Head of State the resolution taken.

Article Sixty-three

Should the Standing Committee of the Cortes recognize an infringement of the Principles of the Movement, or of the other Fundamental Laws, in a Bill or proposed law on which a ruling has been given by the appropriate Committee of the Cortes, it shall express its opinion, in detail and in writing, within eight days following the publication of the ruling in the "Boletín Oficial", to the President of the Cortes, who shall pass it on to the Committee responsible for the ruling, so that it may re-examine the Bill or proposed law in question. Meanwhile, its inclusion on the agenda of the Assembly shall be suspended or, if necessary, it shall be removed.

Article Sixty-four

The resolution that annuls, as a contrafuero, the legislative act or disposition (of a general nature) of the Government, the object of the appeal, shall require the immediate publication in the "Boletín Oficial del Estado" of the nullity granted, with the latitude proper to the case defined.

Article Sixty-five

I. The Head of State, before submitting to referendum a Bill or proposed law drawn up by the Cortes, shall ask the National Council to declare, within fifteen days, whether in its judgment there exists any motive that might bring about an appeal of contrafuero.

II. If the National Council thinks that such a motive exists, it shall proceed to act in the manner outlined in Article sixty-one. Otherwise, or in the case of an appeal being rejected, the law may be submitted to referendum, and after its promulgation, it may not be the object of an appeal of contrafuero.

Article Sixty-six

A special Law shall establish the conditions, the form and the terms of procedure for promoting and substantiating an appeal of contrafuero.

TRANSITORY DISPOSITIONS

First

I. When the provisions of the Law of Succession have been fulfilled, the person called to exercise the Headship of State, as King or Regent, shall assume the functions and duties assigned to the Head of State in the present Law.

II. The attributions granted to the Head of State by the Laws of 30th January, 1938, and 8th August, 1939, as well as the prerogatives bestowed upon him by Articles Six and Thirteen of the Law of Succession, shall subsist and remain in force until the eventuality referred to in the preceding paragraph comes to pass.

III. The National Leadership of the Movement is vested for life in the person of Francisco Franco, Caudillo of Spain. Upon the fulfilment of the provisions of the succession, it shall pass to the Head of State and, by his delegation, to the President of the Government.

Second

Upon the constitution of the next legislative term of the Cortes, there shall come into force the amendments introduced by the third additional disposition of the present Law ("Boletín Oficial del Estado" no. 9, of 11th January, 1967), in Articles two, six and paragraph 5 of Article seven of the Law of the Cortes, and immediately thereafter the amendments made in the Council of the Realm, according to the new text of Article Four of the Law of Succession in the Headship of State established in the Fourth Additional Disposition.

Third

With the exceptions made in the preceding transitory disposition, the present Law shall come into force on the day following its promulgation.

Fourth

Within a period of four months as from the promulgation of the present Law, there shall be published the revised text of the Fundamental Laws, which shall contain the amendments referred to in the additional dispositions of the present Law, after their sanction by the Council of the Realm and their debate by the Council of Ministers.

Fifth

The Government, within as brief a period as possible, shall present to the Cortes the Bills, and will issue the dispositions, leading to the execution of the present Law.

FINAL DISPOSITIONS

First

As of the date this Law comes into force, all dispositions contrary to its precepts shall be derogated.

Second

The present Law is a Fundamental Law, as defined in Article Ten of the Law of Succession in the headship of State.