When was Spain's Constitution of 1978 approved?

The Constitution of 1978

La Constitución de 1978

6 December 1978. On 6 December 1978 Spaniards approved a new constitution in a referendum, with almost 88 per cent of the votes cast, and it came into force on 29 December.

Where: Spain

What happened

On 6 December 1978 Spaniards approved a new constitution in a referendum, with almost 88 per cent of the votes cast, and it came into force on 29 December. Drafted by seven deputies from right to left, it made Spain a parliamentary monarchy, guaranteed rights and freedoms, and opened the way to the State of the Autonomies: by 1983 Spain had seventeen self-governing regions. It made Castilian the official language of the state and allowed the other languages of Spain to be co-official in their regions. 6 December is a public holiday, Constitution Day.

Say it

La Constitución de 1978 reconoce las lenguas de España.

The 1978 Constitution recognises the languages of Spain.

Why it matters

For the first time Spaniards voted their own constitution, and for the first time a Spanish constitution protected Catalan, Basque and Galician alongside Castilian. The 'Estado de las Autonomías' it created is the frame of every Spanish political argument today.

Read about it

• El franquismo y la Transición — Franco's regime and the Transition
• La monarquía a debate — The monarchy question

Culture

• The languages of Spain

Connected

• The Constitution of Cádiz (19 March 1812)
• The Constitution of Cádiz (19 March 1812)
• The Second Republic (14 April 1931)
• Franco dies and the Transition begins (20 November 1975–15 June 1977)
• Franco dies and the Transition begins (20 November 1975–15 June 1977)
• The return to democracy (1977–1990)
• Spain's other languages become co-official (6 December 1978)
• The coup attempt of 23-F (23–24 February 1981)
• The coup attempt of 23-F (23–24 February 1981)
• Spain joins the European Community (1 January 1986)
• Spain joins the European Community (1 January 1986)
• The Instituto Cervantes is created (March 1991)

• Before: Franco dies and the Transition begins
• After: Spain's other languages become co-official

Sources

1. 6 de diciembre del 78, el pueblo ha hablado: Sí a la Constitución — Congreso de los Diputados (blog)
2. Biografía de S.M. el Rey Don Juan Carlos — Casa de S.M. el Rey