Generalitat de Catalunya

Article 1

1. Catalonia, as a nationality and in order to achieve self government, is constituted as an Autonomous Community, in accordance with the Constitution and with this Statute, which provides its basic institutional rules.
2. The Government of Catalonia is the institution into which Catalan self-government is politically organised.
3. The powers of the Government of Catalonia emanate from the Constitution, from this Statute and from the people.

Article 2
The territory of Catalonia as an autonomous community is that of the counties included in the provinces of Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona at the time when this Statute is promulgated.

Article 3

1. The language of Catalonia is Catalan.
2. The Catalan language is official in Catalonia, as also is Spanish, which is official throughout the Spanish State.
3. The Government of Catalonia will ensure the normal and official use of both languages, will take the measures necessary in order to ensure knowledge of them, and will create the conditions making it possible for them to achieve full equality in terms of the rights and duties of citizens of Catalonia.
4. The Aranese language will be taught and will be the subject of particular respect and protection.

Article 4
The flag of Catalonia is the traditional one of four red bars on a yellow background.

Article 5

1. The Government of Catalonia will structure its territorial organisation into municipalities and counties; it may also create territorial units larger than counties.
2. Groupings based on particular urban and metropolitan situations and other functional ones or groupings with specific purposes may also be created.
3. An Act of Parliament will regulate the territorial organisation of Catalonia in accordance with this Statute, guaranteeing the autonomy of the various territorial bodies.
4. Everything established by the foregoing items is understood without prejudice to the organisation of the province as a local body and as a territorial division for carrying out Spanish Government activities, in accordance with the provisions of articles 137 and 141 of the Constitution.

Article 6
For the purposes of this Statute, Spanish citizens who, in accordance with general Spanish law, are administrative residents of any municipality of Catalonia, will be considered as Catalans for political purposes. 2. Spanish citizens resident abroad whose last administrative residence was in Catalonia and who can provide accreditation of this situation at the corresponding Spanish consulate enjoy the political rights defined in this Statute, as Catalans Their descendants who are registered as Spanish nationals will also enjoy these rights, if they make the appropriate application in the form determined by Spanish law.

Article 7

1. The rules and provisions of the Government of Catalonia and Catalan civil law will be effective in the territory, without prejudice to exceptions that may be established on each matter and to situations that must be governed by personal statute or extra-territorial regulations.
2. Foreigners who acquire Spanish nationality will be subject to Catalan civil law while they maintain their administrative residence in Catalonia, unless they declare their will to the contrary.

Article 8

1. Citizens of Catalonia possess the fundamental rights and duties established in the Constitution.
2. It is the task of the Government of Catalonia, as a public authority and acting within its powers, to promote conditions such that the liberty and equality of individuals and the groups they form are real and effective; to remove obstacles that prevent or impede their full existence, and to facilitate the participation of all citizens in political, economic, cultural and social life.