Law on the Principles of the National Movement

LAW ON THE PRINCIPLES OF THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT of 17th May, 1958

I, FRANCISCO FRANCO BAHAMONDE, CAUDILLO OF SPAIN.

Mindful of my responsibility before God and before History and in the presence of the Cortes of the Kingdom, promulgate the following Principles of the National Movement, as communion of Spaniards dedicated to the ideals that gave birth to the Crusade:

I
Spain is a unit of destiny on a universal plane. Service to the unit, to the greatness and liberty of the country is the sacred duty and the collective task of every Spaniard.

II
The Spanish nation regards as a badge or honour its respect for the Law of God, according to the doctrine of the Holy Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Church, the one true and inesperable faith of the national conscience, which inspires the legislation of the country.

III
Spain, the root of a great family of peoples, whose ties of brotherhood are indissoluble, aspires to the restoration of justice and peace among nations.

IV
The unity between the peoples and the domains of Spain is intangible. The integrity of the country and its independence are the supreme exigencies of the national community. The Armed Forces of Spain, the guarantee of her security and the expression of the heroic virtues of her people, must possess the strength necessary for the better service of the country.

V
The national community is founded on man, the bearer of eternal values, and on the family, the basis of society; but individual and collective interests must be always subordinate to the common good of the Nation, constituted by generations past, present and future. The Law upholds in equal measure the rights of every Spaniard.

VI
The natural entities of social life: the Family, the Municipality and the Trade Union, are the basic structures of the national community. The various institutions and corporations which meet the needs of society in general must be protected, so that they may participate efficaciously in achieving the ends of the national community.

VII
The Spanish people, united by Law and order, cognizant of the postulates of authority, liberty and service, constitute the National State. Their political system is, within the immutable principles of the National Movement and the provisions of the Law of Succession and the other Fundamental Laws, a traditional, Catholic, social and representative Monarchy.

VIII
The representative character of the political system is the basic principle of our public institutions. The participation of the people in the legislative and other functions of general interest shall be implemented through the family, the municipality, the Trade Union and other organically representative bodies recognized by law for this purpose. Any political organization whatever outside this representative system shall be deemed illegal.

Every Spaniard has the right of access to public office according to his merit and capacity.

IX
Every Spaniard has the right to: impartial adjudication, which shall be free for those lacking economic means; a general and vocational education, which shall never be denied for lack of material means; the benefits of social security and assistance, and an equitable share of the national income and fiscal levies. The Christian ideal of social justice, reflected in the Labour Law, shall inspire the politics and the laws of the nation.

X
Work is regarded as the fount of hierarchy, duty and honour for the Spanish people, and private property, in all its forms, as a right conditional on its social function. Private initiative, the foundation of economic activity, must be stimulated, channeled and, if necessary, subsidized by the State.

XI
Commercial enterprise, the association of men and means geared to production, constitutes a community of interests and a unity of purpose. The relations between the members of the commercial firm must be based on justice and on mutual loyalty, and economic values shall be subordinate to those of a human and social order.

XII
The State shall endeavour, by all the means at its disposal, to perfect the physical and moral health of the people, and to ensure for them the highest standards of working conditions; to stimulate the economic progress of the Nation with improvements in agriculture, the expansion of irrigation projects and agrarian reform; to direct the most equitable employment and distribution of public credit; to safeguard and promote the prospecting and exploitation of the mineral resources of the country; to intensify the process of industrialization; to support scientific research; and to protect maritime activities, according to the needs of the entire maritime population and the executive department of the Navy.

In virtue of which, I resolve:

Article One
The Principles contained in the present decree, the synthesis of those inspiring the Fundamental Laws legalized by the Nation on the sixth day of July nineteen hundred and forty-seven, are, by their very nature, permanent and unalterable.

Article Two
All organs and authorities shall be bound to the strictest observance of these Principles. The oath required for investiture with public office shall refer to the text of these Fundamental Principles.

Article Three
All laws and dispositions of whatever nature that injure or defame the Principles proclaimed in the present Fundamental Law of the Realm shall be null and void.