TheStatute of Autonomy of Catalonia (Catalan:Estatut d'Autonomia de Catalunya; alsoStatute of Sau,Estatut de Sau, after the location where the statute was first made) is aconstitutional law defining thenationality ofCatalonia as anautonomous community within theKingdom of Spain. It was promulgated on 18 September 1979. It is one of seventeen suchstatutes granted, in various forms and capabilities, to the different autonomous communities of Spain since theSpanish transition to democracy of the 1970s.

On 18 June 2006 areferendum approved the adoption of anew statute that expanded the authority of the Catalan government which had been passed by the Spanish Parliament. It became effective on 9 August 2006, replacing the Statute of 1979.

Catalonia first obtained a Statute of Autonomy in 1932, during theSecond Spanish Republic. This law was abolished in 1938 by GeneralFrancisco Franco at the beginning of the military occupation of Catalonia by his army during theSpanish Civil War, largely because Catalonia had been stronghold of opposition to the Nationalist forces, and during his rule Catalan culture, language, and self-rule were harshly suppressed.

TheGeneralitat de Catalunya is the institution in which the self-government of Catalonia is politically organised. It consists of the Parliament, the President of the Generalitat and the Executive Council or Government of Catalonia.

Catalonia has gradually achieved a greater degree of autonomy since 1979. The Generalitat holds exclusive jurisdiction in various matters of culture, environment, communications, transportation, commerce, public safety and local governments, but in education and health, the Catalan government shares jurisdiction with the Spanish government. Catalonia has its own police force, theMossos d'Esquadra (literally 'squad lads'), which is currently in the process of taking over most of the role within Catalonia of theGuardia Civil andPolicía Nacional, which are under the authority of the Spanish national government, although the Spanish government will keep agents in the region for matters relating to terrorism and immigration. Most of the justice system is administered by national judicial institutions. The legal system is uniform throughout the Spanish State, with the exception of so-called "civil law" (private law), which is administered separately within Catalonia.^[1]

As an autonomous community of Spain, Catalonia has no official status or recognition at an international level.

• Catalonia
• Generalitat de Catalunya
• Autonomous communities of Spain
• Spanish transition to democracy
• Statute of Autonomy

• Full text of the 1979 Statute
• Full article in the Hiperenciclopedia
• Amended text

• 1979 in Catalonia
• 1979 in law
• Statutes of Autonomy of Catalonia

• Articles containing Catalan-language text