Political Reform Act
| Political Reform Act | |
|---|---|
| Cortes Españolas | |
| |
| Enacted by | 10th Cortes Españolas |
| Enacted | 18 November 1976 |
| Royal assent | 4 January 1977 |
| Effective | 5 January 1977 |
| Repealed | 29 December 1978 |
| Repealed by | |
| Spanish Constitution of 1978 | |
| Status: Repealed | |
The Political Reform Act (Law 1/1977, of 4 January) was the Spanish law that re-established democracy and allowed the elimination of the governmental structures of the dictatorship of Francisco Franco through a legal process. It is one of the key events in the Spanish Transition.
The Act was passed on 18 November 1976, by the Cortes Españolas and then overwhelmingly approved by referendum one month later. It was the last of the Fundamental Laws of the dictatorship.
Six months later, Spain celebrated its first democratic elections since 1936. After a further six months, a new Spanish Constitution was given royal assent. Two days later, the Political Reform Act was repealed when the Constitution came into force.