FUNCTIONS OF THE HEAD OF STATE
Pursuant to the Constitution, the King is a symbol of the unity of the State, and as such, it is incumbent upon him to participate in important State acts:
- Sanctioning and promulgating the laws (Article 62 a).
- Issuing the decrees approved in the Council of Ministers (Article 62 f).
- Appointing the President and the other Members of the Government (Articles 99.3 and 100).
- Appointing the President and the Members of the Constitutional Court (Articles 159 and 160).
- Appointing the President of the Supreme Court (Article 123.2).
- Appointing the President of the Executive Councils of the Autonomous Communities (Article 152.1).
It is also incumbent upon the King to:
- Confer civil and military positions, as well as award honours and distinctions (Article 62 f).
- Exercise supreme command of the Armed Forces (Article 62 h).
- Exercise the right of clemency (Article 62 i).
- Exercise the High Patronage of the Royal Academies (Article 62 j).
As a symbol of the permanence of the State, the Crown of Spain is hereditary (Article 57).
The King arbitrates and moderates the regular functioning of the institutions, and as such, it is incumbent upon him to:
- Summon and dissolve the Cortes and to call for elections (Article 62 b).
- Call for a referendum (Article 62 c).
- Propose a candidate for President of the Government (Article 62 d).
- Be informed of the affairs of State and, for this purpose, preside over the meetings of the Council of Ministers (Article 62 g).
The King is the highest representative of the Spanish State in international relations, and as such, it is incumbent upon him to:
- Accredit ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives, express the State’s assent to international commitments through treaties, and declare war and make peace (Article 63).
Pursuant to the provisions of the corresponding laws, it is incumbent upon the King to appoint the following authorities:
- President of the Court of Auditors (Article 29 of Organic Law 2/1982, of 12 May, on the Court of Auditors).
- Public Prosecutor General (Article 29.1 of Act 50/1981, of 30 December, regulating the Organic Statute of the Public Prosecution Service).
- Governor of the Bank of Spain (Article 24.1 of Act 13/1994, of 1 June, on the Autonomy of the Bank of Spain).
The following take an oath or make a promise before the King:
- President and Members of the Government.
- Members of the Constitutional Court (Article 21 of Organic Law 2/1979, of 3 October, on the Constitutional Court).
- President and Members of the General Council of the Judiciary (Articles 123.4 and 115 of Organic Law 6/1985, of 1 July, on the Judiciary).
- President of the Court of Auditors (Article 21.6 of Act 7/1988, of 5 April, on the Functioning of the Court of Auditors).
- Public Prosecutor General (Article 29.3 of Act 50/1981, of 30 December, regulating the Organic Statute of the Public Prosecution Service.
- Governor of the Bank of Spain.