Generalitat de Catalunya

Catalonia is an autonomous community and exercises its self-government in accordance with the Constitution and with the Statute of Autonomy, which is its basic institutional law.

The Generalitat is the institutional system around which Catalonia's self-government is politically organised and consists of Parliament, the Presidency of the Generalitat and the Government.

• The Parliament is the seat for the political debate, exercises legislative power, approves the budget of the Generalitat and controls and promotes political and government action. Consists of a minimum of one hundred and a maximum of one hundred and fifty members, elected for a period of four years by universal, free, equal, direct and secret suffrage.
  
  
• The president is the highest representative of the Generalitat and directs the action of the Government. The President also embodies the ordinary representation of the State in Catalonia.
  
  
• The Government is the superior collegiate body that directs political action and the Administration of the Generalitat.
  
  

Apart from these three basic institutions, three other bodies are also comprised in the Generalitat: the Síndic de Greuges (guarantor of the rights and liberties of citizens), the Sindicatura de Comptes (control of the economic accounts of Catalan public institutions) and the Council for Statutory Guarantees (ensures that the regulations of the Generalitat comply with the Statute and the Constitution).


The special legal system of Aran recognises this territory autonomy in organising and managing its public affairs. The institution of government of Aran is the Conselh Generau, which consists of the Síndic, the Plen des Conselhèrs e Conselhères Generaus and the Comission d'Auditors de Compdes. The Síndic is the highest and ordinary representation of the Generalitat in Aran.