e: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Spain is divided into two time zones, including the Canary
Islands

Administrative divisions:
17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular -
comunidad autonoma)and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas,
singular - ciudad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Baleares
(Balearic Islands), Ceuta*, Canarias (Canary Islands), Cantabria,
Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Comunidad Valenciana,
Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Melilla*, Murcia, Navarra,
Pais Vasco (Basque Country)
note: the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla plus three small
islands of Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez
de la Gomera, administered directly by the Spanish central
government, are all located along the coast of Morocco and are
collectively referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas de
Soberania)

Independence:
the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent
kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th
century AD and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian
redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately,
culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed
the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered
the forging of present-day Spain

National holiday:
National Day, 12 October

Constitution:
6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978

Legal system:
civil law system, with regional applications; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975); Heir
Apparent Prince FELIPE, son of the monarch, born 30 January 1968
head of government: President of the Government (Prime Minister
equivalent) Jose Luis RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO (since 17 April 2004);
First Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister (and Minister of the
Presidency) Maria Teresa FERNANDEZ DE LA VEGA (since 18 April 2004)
and Second Vice President (and Minister of Economy and Finance)
Pedro SOLBES (since 18 April 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president
note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme
consultative organ of the g