Spanish Royal Statute of 1834 facts for kids

The Royal Statute of 1834 (called Estatuto Real in Spanish) was a very important law in Spain. It was put in place by Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies, who was the Queen Regent at the time. A Queen Regent rules when the true King or Queen is too young. Maria Christina was ruling for her young daughter, Queen Isabella II of Spain. This new law started on April 10, 1834.

What Was the Royal Statute of 1834?

The Royal Statute was a special document that changed how Spain was governed. It was not a full Constitution, which is a set of rules that gives power to the people. Instead, this Statute kept most of the power with the Monarch (the King or Queen). The Monarch could decide how much power they wanted to share. This was similar to a law in France from 1814.

How the Government Changed

The Statute created a new kind of government body called the Cortes. This was like a Parliament or a congress. It had two parts, just like the government in the United Kingdom.

• Upper Chamber: This part was called the House of Peers. Its members were not elected by the people. Instead, the Queen Regent chose them. These members were usually from rich or noble families.
• Lower Chamber: This part was called the House of Deputies. Its members were elected, which means people voted for them. This part was similar to the House of Commons in the UK.

Who Could Vote?

Even though there was an elected part of the government, not many people could vote. Out of about 12 million people in Spain, only a little more than 16,000 citizens were allowed to vote. This meant that only a very small number of wealthy men had a say in the government.

When the Statute Was Used

The Cortes met three times under the rules of the Royal Statute:

• 1834–35
• 1835–36
• 1836

See also

In Spanish: Estatuto Real de 1834 para niños