Introduction: Examining Political Rhetoric in Spanish Constitutional Debates -- Chapter one: A Survey of Constitutional Debates in Spain’s Nineteenth Century -- Chapter two: The Historical Framework of Spain’s Twentieth-Century Constituent Moments -- Chapter three: Understanding Democracy in the Constituent Debates of 1931 and 1977–78 -- Chapter four: Competing Meanings of the New Democratic State -- Chapter five: Constitutional State Powers -- Chapter six: The Decentralization of Spain as a Political Nation -- Conclusion.

This book examines the conceptual contributions of constituent representatives in Spain during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The Spanish Parliament has been the stage for the political modernisation of the country. Constitutional debates have historically led to the gradual acknowledgement and broadening – usually unevenly – of citizens’ rights. At the same time, constitutional debates have created opportunities to design institutions and settle legal mechanisms to enforce rights and distribute state resources. The book identifies and analyses rhetorical and conceptual innovations produced in such debates from a historical perspective. Francisco J. Bellido is Postdoctoral Researcher at NOVA University Lisbon, Portugal.