Cuba

V

Government

Cuba is governed under a constitution adopted in 1976 and modified in 1992 to remove all mention of Marxism-Leninism, and to allow direct parliamentary elections. It defines the Republic of Cuba as a unitary socialist republic, in which sovereignty rests with the people and is exercised through a variety of linked organs, notably the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and the National Assembly of People’s Power. The head of state and the head of government is the president of the Council of State of the National Assembly of People’s Power. Fidel Castro became Cuba’s first president in 1976, when the post was founded under the new constitution; from 1959, until the post was abolished in 1976, he was prime minister. Castro was also commander-in-chief of the armed forces and first secretary of the PCC.

A

Executive and Legislative

The supreme organ of state and sole legislative authority is the National Assembly of People’s Power, with 601 deputies elected for five-year terms. Since 1993, election to the assembly has been by direct, secret ballot; all citizens aged 16 or over are entitled to vote. Slates of candidates are drawn up by mass organizations, such as trade unions from lists approved by the PCC. The last elections were held in January 2003. No other parties were allowed to stand. The National Assembly elects a 31-member Council of State to carry out its functions when it is not in session; it meets regularly twice a year and can hold additional sessions. The Council of State is the highest representative of the state and exercises day-to-day legislative control. The president of the Council of State, as already mentioned, is also the head of state and government. Other members include a first vice-president and five other vice-presidents. Executive authority is vested in the Council of Ministers, Cuba’s chief administrative body. Members of the Council of Ministers are appointed by the National Assembly on the proposal of the head of state, who also chairs the council’s meetings. In addition to the president, the first vice-president and the vice-presidents of the Council of State are among its members. Within the Council of Ministers is a smaller executive committee.

B

Political Parties

The Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) is the sole political party. Its origins date from the 1920s when Cuba’s first Communist Party was founded. In its present form it came into existence in 1961 when various left-wing parties and movements merged to form the Organizaciones Revolucionarias Integradas (ORI—Integrated Revolutionary Organizations). The ORI became the United Party of the Socialist Revolution in Cuba in 1963, and the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) in October 1965. The PCC is described by the constitution as “the leading force of society and the state”. Its highest authority is the party congress, which elects a central committee of 225 members to support the party’s work. The central committee, in turn, elects a political bureau (politburo; 26 members) to direct policy. Castro has been first secretary of the party since 1965.

C

Judiciary

The People’s Supreme Court is the supreme judicial authority, accountable only to the National Assembly of People’s Power, which also elects its member judges. There are also seven regional courts of appeal, and provincial and municipal judicial districts. Provincial districts have separate courts for civil and criminal actions; municipal courts tend to deal with less serious crime. Judges to the provincial and municipal courts are elected by their respective assemblies of people’s power.

D

Local Government

The country is divided into 14 provinces, a special municipality (Isla de la Juventud), and 169 municipalities. Members of the Municipal Assemblies of People’s Power, which sit for 30-month terms, are elected by direct secret ballots. In turn, the Municipal Assemblies elect the Provincial Assemblies of People’s Power, also for 30-month terms. The assemblies appoint their respective executive committees from lists drawn up by a PCC commission.