Spanish organic law referendum, 1966
Encyclopedia
A referendum on the new Spanish constitution or "organic law" was held in 1966, with all Spaniards over age 21 being allowed to participate. The new constitution stipulated a slight restraint on General Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...

's autocratic powers, designated an office of "Chief of Government
Prime Minister of Spain
The President of the Government of Spain , sometimes known in English as the Prime Minister of Spain, is the head of Government of Spain. The current office is established under the Constitution of 1978...

" independent from that of Head of State (although both were held concurrently by Franco until 1973), serving terms of five years, nominated by the Council of the Realm and approved by the Chief of State, an office which after Franco's death would be replaced by that of King of Spain with the same authorities and functions. The choice of heir belonged to the Head of State alone, to be confirmed in the Cortes Generales
Cortes Generales
The Cortes Generales is the legislature of Spain. It is a bicameral parliament, composed of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate . The Cortes has power to enact any law and to amend the constitution...

 by a two-thirds majority and subsequently passed on through inheritance.

The Organic law as well stipulated the Council of the Realm to be reduced from 17 members to 13 (ten elected by the Cortes, seven appointed by the Chief of State), and of the Cortes from 611 deputies to 403 (108 directly elected, 25 appointed by the Head of State, with the rest elected by corporate organs). It also confirmed freedom of religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...

 for Spanish Jews and Protestants.
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