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What it is

Bill proposes maximum time limits for declassifying official secrets

Admitted step 2 of 7 · Unfinished

It is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 4 March 2016. Introduced by: Grupo Parlamentario Vasco (EAJ-PNV).

Official title: Private member's bill amending Law 9/1968, of April 5, on official secrets.

Follow this law

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000014· updated 11 Nov

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

  1. The proposal, introduced by the Basque Parliamentary Group (EAJ-PNV), would reform the 1968 Law on official secrets. It is not an approved law.
  2. The bill would set a maximum time limit for every classified matter: 25 years for secret matters and 10 for reserved ones. The Council of Ministers could grant an exceptional, reasoned extension only to secret matters, for up to 10 more years.
  3. Only the Council of Ministers could classify or cancel a matter. Also, if the Congress of Deputies or the Senate access the information in a non-secret session, the matter would be automatically declassified.
  4. Matters already classified would be declassified if they have met the time limits when the law takes effect, or when they meet them if they have not yet. The law would take effect the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette.

Who it affects

  • The Government and the Council of Ministers: They would be the only ones able to classify matters and would have to set time limits.
  • The Congress of Deputies and the Senate: They would always have access to any classified information they request, under their own rules.
  • The media: They would have to be notified of classified matter declarations that may affect them.
  • Private individuals: They would be notified of the classification so they comply with their duty to cooperate.

Words worth knowing

Materia clasificada (classified matter)
Official information the Government declares secret or reserved for security reasons.
Consejo de Ministros (Council of Ministers)
The group of government ministers, chaired by the prime minister.
Recurso contencioso-administrativo (administrative appeal)
A court challenge to review decisions made by the public administration.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries

Where it stands

How far did it get?

It took 2 of 7 steps. It reached Admitted, and today it is unfinished.

  1. Introduced4 March 2016Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
  2. Admitted8 March 2016The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
  3. Amendmentsnot reachedGroups propose changes.
  4. Committeenot reachedA committee goes through the text in detail.
  5. Plenarynot reachedAll 350 deputies vote.
  6. Senatenot reachedThe Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
  7. BOEnot reachedIt is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 7 official steps on a timeline
Mar 2016Apr 201611. 4 March 2016: Presentación22. 8 March 2016: Boletín Oficial de las Cortes Generales Publicación desde 08/03/2016 hasta 11/03/201633. 8 March 2016: Calificación44. 11 March 2016: Gobierno Contestación desde 11/03/2016 hasta 19/04/201655. 19 April 2016: Pleno Toma en consideración desde 19/04/2016 hasta 27/04/201666. 27 April 2016: Mesa del Congreso Acuerdo subsiguiente a la toma en consideración desde 27/04/2016 hasta 03/05/201677. 3 May 2016: Concluido - (Caducado) desde 03/05/2016 hasta 20/05/2016

27 April 2016

How did the plenary vote?

More votes in favour 219 yes · 111 no

Voted on: Private member's bill of the Basque Parliamentary Group (EAJ-PNV), on the reform of Law 9/1968, of April 5, on official secrets.

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, vote 2 of sitting 12· updated 10 Nov

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Your province

How did the deputies from your province vote?

And your senators: the Senate does not link its votes to this law in its open data, so we cannot put them side by side here.

Or see how most of each province voted
More details: how each group and each province voted

The groups

Who voted in favour and who against?

In favour, most of Socialista, Vasco (EAJ-PNV), Mixto, Ciudadanos, Gc-dl, GER and Gp-ec-em. Against, most of Popular en el Congreso. 3 deputies voted differently from their group.

By province: in 33 most voted in favour; in 7, against.

Coloured by how most of each province’s deputies voted.

  • In favour: 33
  • Against: 7
  • Tie: 12
Result by parliamentary group
GroupSeatsHow it voted
Socialista89
88 in favour · 1 did not vote
Vasco (EAJ-PNV)6
5 in favour · 1 did not vote
Mixto14
7 in favour · 3 against · 4 did not vote
Ciudadanos40
39 in favour · 1 did not vote
Gc-dl8
6 in favour · 2 did not vote
GER9
9 in favour
Gp-ec-em65
65 in favour
Popular en el Congreso118
108 against · 10 did not vote

What happens next

What happens now?

The legislature ended before it finished. To go on, someone would have to introduce it again in the new Cortes.

It was presented again:

Sources

Where does all this come from?

  • The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
  • Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
  • We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.

Read the full method · Report an error