Cortes republicanas

The Cortes republicanas were the parliamentary institution of the Second Spanish Republic from 1931 until the Republic's defeat in the Spanish Civil War. Officially referred to simply as the Cortes and also described as the Congreso de los Diputados, they operated as a unicameral legislature rather than as a two-chamber parliament. Their most consequential initial role was constituent: the assembly elected in 1931 was charged with replacing the constitutional framework of the monarchy with a republican constitution. The constituent Cortes opened on 14 July 1931 following the first general elections held under the Republic. Its membership was dominated by republican and socialist forces, although the composition changed considerably across the Republic's three parliamentary elections. Julián Besteiro, a socialist politician, served as the chamber's first president, initially on an interim basis and then definitively from 28 July 1931. One of the assembly's defining debates concerned women's suffrage. On 1 October 1931, the chamber approved the constitutional provision establishing women's right to vote by 161 votes to 121. The Constitution was adopted on 9 December 1931, receiving 368 votes with no votes recorded against; many right-wing deputies were absent from the sitting. The 1931 constitutional settlement also provided for a Permanent Deputation, intended to exercise certain parliamentary functions when the full chamber was not sitting. Electoral rules were subsequently adjusted. In July 1933, the Cortes approved an electoral law that strengthened the advantage given to the largest electoral forces, building on rules introduced provisionally before the 1931 election. The new system contributed to a major change in parliamentary balance after the 1933 election. The right-wing Confederación Española de Derechas Autónomas, or CEDA, became the largest parliamentary group, and the Cortes that opened on 8 December 1933 provisionally elected the Radical politician Santiago Alba as president. The chamber also revised its internal regulations in November 1934. The 1936 election again transformed the assembly. The left-wing Popular Front obtained a parliamentary majority, and Diego Martínez Barrio, a prominent republican, became president of the Cortes. The legislature then operated under the growing pressures of political polarization, social conflict, and military rebellion. During the Civil War, parliamentary activity could no longer be maintained normally in Madrid. The Cortes became itinerant, meeting in Valencia during 1937, including at Valencia City Hall and the Lonja de la Seda, and in Catalonia during 1938, including at the monastery of Montserrat and in Sant Cugat del Vallès. The last sitting on Spanish soil took place on 1 February 1939 at the castle of San Fernando in Figueres, near the end of the Republican war effort. The meeting closed at 12:45 p.m. After Francisco Franco's victory and the establishment of his dictatorship across Spain in 1939, the republican parliamentary institution survived in an exile form. Its members met outside Spain several times, with the last such meeting taking place in 1945. The Cortes republicanas therefore belong to the constitutional and institutional history of the Second Spanish Republic rather than to the later Francoist Cortes Españolas or the contemporary Cortes Generales.

The Cortes republicanas emerged from the political transition that followed the municipal elections of April 1931 and the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic. The provisional republican authorities altered the electoral framework inherited from the Restoration monarchy and organized elections for a constituent assembly. Rather than creating a bicameral parliament, the Republic established a single chamber generally known as the Cortes or Congreso de los Diputados. The constituent assembly opened on 14 July 1931. Its political center of gravity lay among republican and socialist parties, which gave the chamber a reformist majority during the constitution-making period. Julián Besteiro was selected as president, first provisionally and then definitively on 28 July. The chamber's early work addressed the structure of the republic, civil and political rights, the relationship between state and religion, regional autonomy, and the electoral order. The debate over women's suffrage was particularly significant. On 1 October 1931, deputies approved the constitutional provision granting women the right to vote by 161 votes to 121. The Constitution itself was approved on 9 December by 368 votes, with no votes against in the recorded vote, although numerous right-wing deputies were absent. The constitutional framework recognized the Permanent Deputation, a smaller parliamentary body that could perform specified functions while the full chamber was in recess. The electoral system also evolved during the life of the Republic. The provisional legislation used for the 1931 election organized most representation through provincial constituencies, while allowing certain large provincial capitals and several special territories to constitute separate constituencies. The electoral law approved in July 1933 increased the population threshold for a provincial capital to receive separate constituency status and reinforced the system's majoritarian effects. Córdoba and Granada consequently ceased to be independent capital constituencies, while Cartagena was incorporated into the Murcia constituency for the 1933 and 1936 elections. The 1933 general election produced a marked shift to the right. The CEDA became the largest parliamentary group, and the new chamber opened on 8 December 1933. Santiago Alba was provisionally chosen as president. In November 1934, the Cortes amended its internal rules, reflecting the continuing effort to organize parliamentary procedure amid intense political conflict. The change in parliamentary composition did not eliminate instability. The Republic remained divided among competing republican, socialist, conservative, regionalist, and revolutionary currents, while governments struggled to maintain authority. The February 1936 election returned a left-wing Popular Front majority. Diego Martínez Barrio became president of the Cortes. The chamber's work soon unfolded against the background of escalating confrontation and the military uprising that developed into the Spanish Civil War. The normal Madrid-based parliamentary routine became impossible as the war front advanced. In 1937, the Cortes met in Valencia, using locations that included Valencia City Hall and the Lonja de la Seda. In 1938, sessions were held in Catalonia, including at the monastery of Montserrat and in Sant Cugat del Vallès. These relocations illustrated both the Republic's attempt to preserve constitutional institutions and the practical constraints imposed by wartime conditions. On 1 February 1939, the Cortes held its last session within Spain at the castle of San Fernando in Figueres. The sitting ended at 12:45 p.m. The Republican military defeat and Franco's establishment of a dictatorship brought the institution's effective domestic existence to an end. Nevertheless, republican deputies and political authorities continued to maintain parliamentary claims in exile. The Cortes met outside Spain on several occasions after 1939, and the final exile meeting took place in 1945. Its legacy is distinct from that of the Francoist Cortes Españolas and from the post-1978 Cortes Generales: it represents the legislative and constituent institution of the Second Spanish Republic.

• 1945

  Last recorded meeting in exile

  [1]Cortes republicanasen.wikipedia.org

  The republican parliamentary institution continued to meet in exile after Franco's victory, with its last recorded session held in 1945.

• 1939

  Final sitting in Spain

  [1]Cortes republicanasen.wikipedia.org

  The last session on Spanish soil took place at San Fernando Castle in Figueres on 1 February.

• 1938

  Sessions held in Catalonia

  [1]Cortes republicanasen.wikipedia.org

  The Cortes met at the monastery of Montserrat and in Sant Cugat during the later phase of the Civil War.

• 1937

  Sessions move to Valencia

  [1]Cortes republicanasen.wikipedia.org

  Civil War conditions made the legislature itinerant, with sessions held in Valencia at venues including the city hall and the Lonja de la Seda.

• 1936

  Popular Front gains a parliamentary majority

  [1]Cortes republicanasen.wikipedia.org

  The 1936 election returned a left-wing Popular Front majority, after which Diego Martínez Barrio was elected president of the Cortes.

• 1934

  Internal parliamentary rules revised

  [1]Cortes republicanasen.wikipedia.org

  The chamber approved changes to its rules of procedure in November.

• 1933

  New electoral law enacted

  [1]Cortes republicanasen.wikipedia.org

  A July electoral law intensified the majoritarian features of the system and altered the treatment of provincial-capital constituencies.

• 1933

  Right-wing parliamentary realignment

  [1]Cortes republicanasen.wikipedia.org

  The 1933 election made the CEDA the largest parliamentary group, and the new Cortes opened on 8 December with Santiago Alba as provisional president.

• 1931

  Constituent elections and opening of the Cortes

  [1]Cortes republicanasen.wikipedia.org

  The first republican parliamentary elections produced the assembly that opened on 14 July and undertook the drafting of a new republican constitution.

• 1931

  Julián Besteiro becomes president

  [1]Cortes republicanasen.wikipedia.org

  The socialist deputy Julián Besteiro was elected president of the chamber on 28 July after initially serving on an interim basis.

• 1931

  Women's suffrage approved

  [1]Cortes republicanasen.wikipedia.org

  The chamber approved the constitutional article establishing women's suffrage by 161 votes to 121 on 1 October.

• 1931

  Constitution of the Second Republic adopted

  [1]Cortes republicanasen.wikipedia.org

  The Cortes approved the republican Constitution on 9 December, with 368 votes in favor and none against in the recorded vote.

A republican, unicameral national legislature and constituent assembly. Its defining institutional functions were constitution-making, legislative deliberation, representation through provincial and major-city constituencies, and parliamentary continuity through its Permanent Deputation.

• 1934

  Parliamentary rules amendedOther

  Background

  The chamber revised its internal operating framework during a period of severe political polarization.

  Action taken

  The Cortes approved changes to its regulations in November.

  Aftermath

  The amendment updated the procedures governing parliamentary work, although the institution remained subject to wider political and military instability.

  Source

• 1933

  Revision of electoral lawOther

  Background

  The provisional electoral framework used for the first republican election was replaced by legislation with stronger majoritarian effects.

  Action taken

  The Cortes approved a July 1933 electoral law and modified the threshold for provincial capitals to operate as separate constituencies.

  Aftermath

  The revised system contributed to a substantial change in parliamentary composition after the 1933 election.

  Source

• 1931

  Approval of women's suffrageOther

  Background

  The constituent Cortes was deciding the political rights to be protected by the new republican Constitution.

  Action taken

  On 1 October, deputies approved the constitutional provision recognizing women's right to vote by 161 votes to 121.

  Aftermath

  Women's suffrage became part of the constitutional order of the Second Spanish Republic.

  Source

• 1931

  Adoption of the 1931 ConstitutionOther

  Background

  The assembly had been elected to create the constitutional framework of the new republic.

  Action taken

  The Cortes approved the Constitution on 9 December with 368 votes in favor and none against in the recorded vote.

  Aftermath

  The Constitution defined the Republic's institutions, rights framework, electoral arrangements, and Permanent Deputation.

  Source

1. 1Cortes republicanasen.wikipedia.org