THE FIRST SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE CONSTITUTIONALISM (A COMPARATIVE APPROACH)

This essay tries to show the resemblances, differences and influences between the facts, ideas and constitutional articles of the first Spanish and Portuguese constitutionalism. I study the constitutional model both of the Spanish Constitution of 1812 and the Portuguese Constitution of 1822. These Constitutions used the political philosophy of the French Revolution as a model. Using it, the "doceanistas" Spanish liberals, and the "vintistas" Portuguese liberals tried to build a Assambleary Monarchy close to that of the French constitutionalism between 1789 and 1792. In such Monarchy there would be a unicameral Parliament, which would be elected through a wide suffrage. The Legislature would also be the main department of the brand new State, and it would be superior to the King, who was absent both in Spain between 1808 and 1814, and in Portugal, between 1807 and 1821.