Spain is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The Monarch, currently King Felipe VI, serves as the Head of State, holding largely ceremonial and symbolic duties, while representing the country internationally. The executive branch is led by the President of the Government (Prime Minister), who is usually the leader of the majority party or coalition in the legislature.
The legislative branch, the *Cortes Generales*, is a bicameral parliament consisting of the Congress of Deputies (lower house) and the Senate (upper house). While Spain is structurally a unitary state, it is highly decentralized, functioning similarly to a federation. It is divided into 17 Autonomous Communities and 2 Autonomous Cities (Ceuta and Melilla). These communities enjoy varying but significant degrees of self-government, including control over healthcare, education, and regional infrastructure, with some, like the Basque Country and Navarre, holding exclusive rights over their own tax collection.
