Cuba

The Republic of Cuba consists of the island of Cuba (the largest of the Greater Antilles), the Isle of Youth and various adjacent small islands. The name of the island is derived from the Taino word "cubanacán", meaning a central place. It is located in the northern Caribbean at the confluence of the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. To the north is found the United States, to the northeast the Bahamas, to the east the Turks and Caicos Islands, to the west Mexico, to the south the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, and to the southeast Haiti.

Politics

• Elections in Cuba
• Republic of Cuba
• Human rights in Cuba

The Cuban constitution states that, "he Communist Party of Cuba is the superior guiding force of society and the state". Members of the Communist Party of Cuba are selected by the party in a thorough process that includes interviews with co-workers and neighbors. Those selected are considered model citizens. They are selected because they are viewed as strong supporters of the revolution. It makes recommendations concerning the future development of the revolution, and it criticizes tendencies it considers counterrevolutionary. It has a relatively large influence in Cuba, but its authority is based on its influence, not on any legal authority.

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Elections are held, ostensibly by secret ballot, but the elections are not regarded as free or fair by international civil rights organizations. While technically the Communist Party of Cuba is not an electoral party, no other party is legally allowed to exist or campaign. The vast majority of candidates are members of the Communist Party despite the fact that only 15 percent of the Cuban electorate are members. Critics of the Cuban government say this is because of the Communist Party's control over Cuba, while supporters say it shows that the Party has wide support among the populace. Save for those convicted of certain crimes or who have been declared incomeptent, everyone age 16 or older has the vote. Candidates are nominated by municipal assemblies and put to a yes/no vote; citizens are to vote for several candidates at both levels of government and may vote for none, some, or all of them. If the candidates do not receive more than 51% of the votes, new elections will be scheduled; however, near unanimous "unity" (yes for all candidate) votes are frequently reported.

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Legislaive power is nominally in the hands of the National Assembly of People?s Power. However, save for two sessions a year, legislative power is exercised by the 31 member Council of State which is elected by the National Assembly from itself.

Related Topics:
National Assembly of People?s Power - Council of State

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Executive authority is formally vested in the Council of Ministers, a large cabinet comprised of 8 members of the Council of State, the heads of the national ministries, and other persons. A smaller Executive Committee consisting of the more important members of the Council of Ministers oversees normal business.

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Fidel Castro has been the head of government since 1959, first as prime minister and, after the abolition of that office with the adoption of the 1976 Constitution, as President of the Council of State, which also serves as head of state. He is also First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, and since 1976 a member of the National Assembly from the municipality of Santiago de Cuba. (The 1976 Consitution and its 1992 revision require that the President of the Council of State be a member of the National Assembly.)

Related Topics:
Fidel Castro - Head of government - 1959 - Prime minister - 1976 - Head of state - Santiago de Cuba

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In 2001, the Varela Project, attempted to have a national plebiscite to add protections for human rights using provisions in the Constitution of Cuba which provide for citizen initiative. The petition was refused on technical grounds without a vote being allowed.

Related Topics:
2001 - Varela Project - Plebiscite - Constitution of Cuba - Citizen initiative - Petition

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In March 2003, the government of Cuba arrested dozens of people, and charged them with sedition due to alleged contacts with the head of the U.S. interest section in Havana, James Cason ? contacts explicitly denied by him. In all, 75 were tried and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 15 to 28 years. Amnesty International described the closed-door trials as "hasty and manifestly unfair." http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=10678

Related Topics:
March 2003 - Sedition - James Cason - Amnesty International

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