The president of the lower chamber, a sovereing institution in times of monarchical trust? Parliamentary basis in debate in nineeenth-century Spain

This paper analyses the functions assigned to the president of parliament and the qualities ascribed o he post by those in power during the first two thirds of nineteenth century Spain (1810-1867). It begins by looking in detail at the dominant perception to date, according to which the president of the lower chamber was no more than an entity subjected to the governmen. The paper goes on to challenge this view by analysing the elecion procedure and functions as described in the different regulations of he Spanish parliamen in he study period (1810, 1813, 1821, 1838, 1847 and 1854). thi sanalysis concludes by showing how politicians put progressively greater pressure on the president of parliament, bu how, at the same time, this institution continued to be appreciaetd for its impartiality and parliamentary expertise.