CCSE questions on Parliament and Government
Practice questions on Parliament and Government for the CCSE. This topic belongs to task 1 (Government, law and civic participation).
In the separation of powers there are the executive power, the legislative power and a third one. Which is it?
- AEl poder judicialThe judicial power
- BEl poder financieroThe financial power
- CEl poder militarThe military power
Show answer and explanation
✓ El poder judicial
The third power of the State is the judicial power, made up of judges and magistrates, who apply the laws and settle conflicts. The other two are the legislative (Cortes Generales, the Spanish parliament, which make the laws) and the executive (the Government, which applies them and directs policy). The Constitution separates them so that none has all the power. Trick: the legislative makes the law, the executive carries it out and the judicial judges.
Who led the first Government of the democratic period in Spain?
- AFelipe GonzálezFelipe González
- BLeopoldo Calvo-SoteloLeopoldo Calvo-Sotelo
- CAdolfo SuárezAdolfo Suárez
Show answer and explanation
✓ Adolfo Suárez
Adolfo Suárez was the first Prime Minister of democracy, after Franco's dictatorship. He led the Transición (the transition) and won the general elections of 1977, the first free ones in decades, with his party, the Unión de Centro Democrático. Felipe González came to the premiership later, in 1982, and Calvo-Sotelo was between the two. To remember it: the first of democracy was Suárez. Madrid's airport carries his name.
What is the name of the chamber of the Cortes that represents the territories?
- AEl Consejo de EstadoThe Consejo de Estado
- BEl SenadoThe Senado
- CLa Diputación PermanenteThe Diputación Permanente
Show answer and explanation
✓ El Senado
The Senado is the chamber of territorial representation of the Cortes Generales (the Spanish parliament): its members represent the provinces, islands and comunidades autónomas. The other chamber is the Congreso de los Diputados, which represents all the citizens and has more weight in voting laws and in choosing the Prime Minister. Together they form the Cortes Generales. Trick: Senado equals territories, Congreso equals people.
23 practice questions on this topic
- In the separation of powers there are the executive power, the legislative power and a third one. Which is it?
- Who led the first Government of the democratic period in Spain?
- What is the name of the chamber of the Cortes that represents the territories?
- Which institution directs the military administration of the country?
- Whom do the Cortes Generales represent?
- Which power of the State do the Congreso and the Senado form together?
- Where does the Prime Minister work and live?
- Who are part of the Government of Spain, besides the Prime Minister?
- Who holds the legislative power in Spain?
- What is the official name of the group formed by the Congreso and the Senado?
- Which position holds the third place in the State's order of protocol, after the king and the head of the Government?
- Which body decides the direction of Spain's foreign and domestic policy?
- Which institution gives the final approval to the State budget every year?
- The Cortes Generales are made up of the Senado and another chamber. Which one?
- Which power of the State makes the laws?
- Which of these people has been head of the Spanish Government?
- Where is the vote held to appoint the Prime Minister?
- To whom does the executive power belong?
- How many chambers make up the Spanish Parliament?
- How many women have been head of the Government of Spain so far?
- What is the highest body of the executive power called?
- How many deputies make up the lower chamber of the Cortes?
- Who decides, by vote, who will be Prime Minister?
Other topics in task 1
Free official material
The Instituto Cervantes publishes a manual and an app with the official questions. We write new questions on the same facts, with explanations: use them together.
Frequently asked questions
How many CCSE questions are about Parliament and Government?
Parliament and Government is part of task 1 (Government, law and civic participation), which has 10 of the 25 questions in the exam. Here are 23 original practice questions on this topic.
Are these the official CCSE questions?
No. They are original questions that test the same facts as the Instituto Cervantes' official 2026 manual, with our own explanations. The official manual can be downloaded free from the Instituto Cervantes website.
How do I practise this topic?
Read each question, pick an option and check the explanation. When you feel confident, take a timed 25-question mock test and see which task you miss most.