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- Identity: the
building blocks of
2. Literature
and philosophy
3. Art and
architecture
4. Performing
arts
5. Cinema
and fashion
6. Media and
communications
7. Food and drink 8. Living culture:
the details of
Are the Spanish law abiding?
So, can we talk of a ‘Spanish’ approach to the law?
Are they a diligent, law-abiding bunch or have they all
got one eye on your wallet? Generalisations are, of
course, a mistake, particularly here, where many
identify more with their region than their nation. And
yet a strange mix of compliance and disobedience is
discernible. Laws on parking, smoking and noise all
appear to be flouted on a daily basis, but beyond such
trivialities, and despite the problems of corruption,
the Spanish seem to have a self-regulatory instinct, a
respect for order no doubt born of the Franco years
but also in tune with an older, more austere and simpler
mode of essentially rural life. Even today, once you
get outside the cities, crime rates plummet to virtual
non-existence.
Behind the bar: Spanish courts
The Spanish court system is governed by the Consejo
General del Poder Judicial, conceived by the Spanish
constitution of 1978 in an effort to keep the
government’s fingers out of the judiciary.There are
numerous courts under its control, varying according to
the type of law (criminal or civil), the gravity of crime
and geographical area covered.They filter down from
the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo),which only
takes on high priority cases. Although based in Madrid
its jurisdiction runs throughout Spain.The High Court
(Audiencia Nacional),which again only tackles major
crime – terrorism, organised crime and the like –
comprises a second tier.The Regional High Courts
(Tribunal Superior de Justicia de las Comunidades
Autónomas) are the highest level of justice within each
autonomous community and are the courts most likely
Thank you for smoking
Spain introduced a
smoking ban on January
1 st2006 covering
workplaces, large bars
and restaurants (which
are now compelled to
provide smoking areas).
Smoking is still allowed
in most small bars, while
larger watering holes
have apparently flouted
the new law without
repercussion. The
government has even
introduced a bill re-
allowing smoking at
weddings, christenings
and the works bar.
Trial by jury only became
a part of the Spanish
judicial system in 1995.
