Functions of the General State Administration (AGE)

The General State Administration (AGE) It is a form of public administration in Spain and it is the only administration with jurisdiction throughout its territory. It is controlled by the central government and is opposed to the regional and local administrations. In other words, it is the governmental apparatus that manages the public interest of the Spanish.

The organization of the AGE is defined in the Law of Organization and Functioning of the General State Administration (LOFAGE) and responds to the principles of functional division of the different instances of government.

Through the organizational structure, the General State Administration seeks the general interest of society through the development of executive functions of an administrative nature.

Said structure is supported by article 103 of the Spanish Constitution of 1978 and in Law 40/2015. These laws establish that their management and direction is the authority of the Government, but faithfully attached to them.

Organization and Functioning Law of the General State Administration.

This Law (LOFAGE) delimits and regulates, within the framework of the legal regime, to all public administrations, the organization and operation of the AGE and other public bodies related or dependent on it.

These regulations, in addition to defining the development of their activities, list the functions, including those related to the appointment and separation of the governing bodies of the ministries, resource management and organizational structure among other.

In October 2016 the LOFAGE was repealed and Law 40/2015 enters into force, which in its article 2 incorporates it as one of the four types of administrations belonging to the public sector. Remaining then the following: The General Administration of the State, that of the Autonomous Communities, the Entities that make up the Local Administration and the Institutional Public sector.

Structure of the AGE

The organization of the General Administration of the State comprises three large areas: the central organization, the territorial organization and the administration of the state abroad. This structure is designed to allow the operation of the state throughout the Spanish territory in a correct way that guarantees the general interest of citizens.

The AGE It is structured in a group of hierarchically ordered sections They have their own legal personality and whose purpose is to perform administrative functions.

Central organization.

Its competence, which is directed by the Government, extends to the entire national territory. Its structure is made up of: the Central Government, the ministries that are the main body through which The Spanish Government imposes its executive authority, which is located at the highest hierarchical level of the AGE.

In addition, the Central Organization is made up of the Secretaries of State, the Council of Ministers, Government delegates, Secretaries of State and Interministerial Committees.

Territorial or Peripheral Organization.

Your competition includes the entire national territory. This Organization also depends on the AGE and through its components ensures its presence throughout the national territory; therefore, it acts as an extension of the Government and its Administration.

Its structure varies according to the autonomous communities because most of them have delegates and sub-delegates. It is made up of government delegations to the autonomous communities, government sub-delegates to the provinces and AGE delegates in the island territory.

The AGE abroad

It is the Administration abroad. Represents Spain before other countries and international organizations and is made up of Embassies and Consulates.

Functions of the General State Administration.

The Public Administration has its origin in the separation of powers and its different functions. It is a service offered by the State to its citizens complying with some rules and provision of public services always in pursuit of the general interest. Among the main functions are the following:

• Develop and dictate policies that regulate the activity that have a legal impact. Administrative norms or rules can be internal, procedural, interpretative and legislative.
• Serve the general interests of society objectively, acting in accordance with the postulates efficiency, hierarchy, decentralization, deconcentration and coordination and with total fidelity to the Law.
• The public entities linked to the AGE basically define two types of organisms: the Self-Employed whose functions are mainly administrative and are subject to public law and public business organizations, which are aimed at providing services or goods for which they can obtain consideration economical.
• Monitor the effectiveness of the fulfillment of the activities to achieve the objectives and their efficiency in the management of resources.
• Rationalize and streamline administrative procedures and management activities for an effective service to citizens.
• Establish mechanisms to monitor the objectivity and transparency of administrative management.
• Assign responsibilities for compliance with public management.
• Establish cooperation and coordination with the other Public Administrations.

The public administration in general in Spain is governed by a legal regime common to all Public Administrations and, therefore, also regulates the operation of the AGE and the entities linked to it.