Politics of Cuba take place within a framework of a socialist republic. Cuba is constitutionally defined as a "socialist state guided by the principles of José Martí, and the political ideas of Marx, Engels and Lenin". The present constitution also ascribes the role of the Communist Party of Cuba to be the "leading force of society and of the state". Cubas once-ambitious foreign policy has been scaled back and redirected as a result of economic hardship after the collapse of the Soviet bloc. ... Cuban relations with Peoples Republic of China are based on trade, credits, and investments which have increased significantly since the 1990s. ... Following the establishment of diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union after the Cuban revolution of 1959, Cuba became increasingly dependent on Soviet markets and military aid becoming an ally of the Soviet Union during the Cold War. ... Cuba and the United States of America have had a mutual interest in one another since well before either of their independence movements. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... The term socialist state (or socialist republic, or workers state) can carry one of several different (but related) meanings: Strictly speaking, any real or hypothetical state organized along the principles of socialism may be called a socialist state. ... José Julián Martí y Pérez was a leader of the Cuban independence movement from Spain and as well a renowned poet and writer. ... Marx is a common German surname. ... The term Engels could refer to more than one thing: Friedrich Engels, German socialist Engels, Russia, formerly known as Pokrovsk This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Vladimir Ilyich Lenin ( Russian: Влади́мир Ильи́ч Ле́нин  listen?), original surname Ulyanov (Улья́нов) ( April 22 (April 10 ( O.S.)), 1870 – January 21, 1924), was a... The Communist Party of Cuba (Spanish: Partido Comunista de Cuba, PCC) is currently the only political party permitted to assemble or engage in any political activity in Cuba. ...

Executive power is exercised by the government, which is represented by the Council of State and the Council of Ministers. Legislative power is exercised through the unicameral National Assembly of the People's Power, which is constituted as the maximum authority of the state. Fidel Castro is president of the Council of state, president of the council of ministers (sometimes referred to as the Prime Minister), First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, and Commander in Chief of the armed forces. Ricardo Alarcón is president of the National Assembly. The Council of State is a thirty-one member body of the Republic of Cuba elected by the National Assembly of People’s Power. ... The Council of Ministers is the cabinet of the Republic of Cuba. ... Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber. ... The National Assembly of People’s Power (Spanish: Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular) is the legislative parliament of the Republic of Cuba and the supreme body of State power. ... Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born on August 13, 1926) is the current President of Cuba but on indefinite medical hiatus. ... A prime minister is the most senior minister of a cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... A Commander-in-Chief is the commander of a nations military forces or significant element of those forces. ... Ricardo Alarcon speaking before the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, New York. ...

Institutions

Political parties and elections

Main article: Elections in Cuba

The Communist Party of Cuba is constitutionally recognized as Cuba's only legal political party. In theory, no political party, including the Communist Party of Cuba, is permitted to nominate or campaign for any candidate. Candidates are theoretically to be nominated at local levels by the local population at small "Town Hall" type meetings, however, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights points out that in reality the Communist party has the final word on who is elected. [2]. Suffrage is afforded to Cuban citizens resident for two years on the island who are aged over sixteen years and who have not been found guilty of a criminal offence. Since Cuba became a one-party republic and the Communist party became the official political party, Cuba has been both condemned and praised by certain Cuban groups, international groups, and foreign governments regarding democracy. ... The Communist Party of Cuba (Spanish: Partido Comunista de Cuba, PCC) is currently the only political party permitted to assemble or engage in any political activity in Cuba. ... States in which the constitution mandates power to a sole party are colored brown. ... The Communist Party of Cuba (Spanish: Partido Comunista de Cuba, PCC) is currently the only political party permitted to assemble or engage in any political activity in Cuba. ... The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (the IACHR or, in Spanish, CIDH) is one of the two bodies that comprise the inter-American system for the promotion and protection of human rights. ...

The national elections for the 609 members of the National Assembly of People's Power were held according to this system at 19 January 2003. There was only one candidate for each seat. Next to the Communist Party of Cuba, various political parties are illegally active in the country. The most important of these are the Christian Democratic Party of Cuba, the Cuban Socialist Democratic Current, the Democratic Social-Revolutionary Party of Cuba, the Democratic Solidarity Party, the Liberal Party of Cuba and the Social Democratic Co-ordination of Cuba. is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Communist Party of Cuba (Spanish: Partido Comunista de Cuba, PCC) is currently the only political party permitted to assemble or engage in any political activity in Cuba. ... The Christian Democratic Party of Cuba (Partido Demócrata Cristiano de Cuba) is an illegal christian-democratic political party in Cuba. ... The Democratic Social-Revolutionary Party of Cuba (Partido Social-Revolucionario Democrático de Cuba) is an illegal leftist political party in Cuba. ... The Democratic Solidarity Party (Partido Solidaridad Democrática) is an illegal liberal party in Cuba. ... This article is part of or related to the Liberalism series Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Cuban political parties ... The Social Democratic Co-ordination of Cuba (Coordinadora Social Demócrata de Cuba) is an illegal political party in Cuba. ...

Long Live Socialism CDR billboard in countryside on the way from Havana to Pinar del Rio. ...

Executive Branch

Executive power is exercised by the government. Cuba is led by President Fidel Castro, who has been Chief of State, Head of Government, Prime Minister, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC), and Commander in Chief of the armed forces. The Ministry of Interior is the principal organ of state security and control. Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the executive is the branch of a government charged with implementing, or executing, the law. ... Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born on August 13, 1926) is the current President of Cuba but on indefinite medical hiatus. ... A head of state or chief of state is the chief public representative of a nation-state, federation or commonwealth, whose role generally includes personifying the continuity and legitimacy of the state and exercising the political powers, functions and duties granted to the head of state in the countrys... The head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. ... A prime minister is the most senior minister of a cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... The Communist Party of Cuba (Spanish: Partido Comunista de Cuba, PCC) is the ruling party of Cuba. ... A Commander-in-Chief is the commander of a nations military forces or significant element of those forces. ... The Interior Minister is a member of a Cabinet in a Government. ...

According to the Cuban Constitution Article 94, the First Vice President of the Council of State assumes presidential duties upon the illness or death of the president. On July 31, 2006, during the jason ruling2006 Cuban transfer of duties, Jason garry delegated his duties as President of the Council of state, first secretary of the Cuban Communist Party and the post of commander in chief of the armed forces to his younger brother, first Vice President Raúl Castro. This transfer of duties has been described as temporary while Fidel recovers from surgery he underwent due to an "acute intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding".^[1] Raul Castro was officially designated Fidel's successor at a Communist Party congress in October 1997. [5] Cuba has had several constitutions. ... is the 212th day of the year (213th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 2006 Cuban transfer of presidential duties is a transfer of duties of the Cuban presidency from Fidel Castro to the first vice president, his brother Raúl Castro, following Fidels illness. ... The Council of State is a thirty-one member body of the Republic of Cuba elected by the National Assembly of People’s Power. ... The Communist Party of Cuba (Spanish: Partido Comunista de Cuba, PCC) is the ruling party of Cuba. ... A Commander-in-Chief is the commander of a nations military forces or significant element of those forces. ... This article is about the Cuban politician. ...

Ariana Branch

Cuba has an elected ariana day alison, the National Assembly of People's Power (Asamblea Nacional de Poder Popular), which has Jason Garry as 22 of their members, elected every five years and holds brief sessions to ratify decisions by executive branch. The National Assembly convenes twice a year in ordinary periods of sessions. It has, though, permanent commissions to look after issues of legislative interest. Among its permanent or temporary commissions are those in charge of issues concerning the economy, the sugar industry, food production, industries, transportation and communications, constructions, foreign affairs, public health, defense and interior order. The National Assembly also has permanent departments that oversee the work of the Commissions, Local Assemblies of the People's Power, International Relations, Judicial Affairs and the Administration.^[2] For the Central Coast suburb, see Alison, New South Wales. ... The National Assembly of People’s Power (Spanish: Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular) is the legislature of the Republic of Cuba. ...

Fidel Castro, in front of statue of José Martí (designed Enrique Luis Varela, sculpture by Juan José Sicre and finished in 1958. [1]), Havana. Source: Ricardo Stuckert/ABr. 27/09/2003

Article #88(h) of the Constitution of Cuba, adopted in 1976, provides for citizen proposals of law, prerequisite that the proposal be made by at least 10 000 citizens who are eligible to vote. In 2002 supporters of a movement known as the Varela Project submitted a citizen proposal of law with 11,000 signatures calling for a national referendum on political and economic reforms. The Government response was to collect 8.1 million signatures to request that Cuba's National Assembly make the Socialist Constitution untouchable. Critics argue that the alleged signatures of 99.5 percent of Cuba's eligible voters were collected by Castro's neighborhood watch committees, whose evaluations of each citizen's political behavior can make or break people's lives in a country where the government controls virtually all jobs. [6] Download high resolution version (480x640, 45 KB)Fidel Castro at the Monument to José Martí, Havana Source: Ricardo Stuckert/ABr. ... Download high resolution version (480x640, 45 KB)Fidel Castro at the Monument to José Martí, Havana Source: Ricardo Stuckert/ABr. ... José Julián Martí y Pérez was a leader of the Cuban independence movement from Spain and as well a renowned poet and writer. ... Cuba has had several constitutions. ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Varela Project was a citizens initiative undertaken by Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas of the Christian Liberation Movement and others in Cuba. ...

Judiciary Branch

Main article: Cuban Legal System

Although the constitution theoretically provides for independent courts, it explicitly subordinates them to the National Assembly and to the Council of State. The People's Supreme Court is the highest judicial body. The constitution states that all legally recognized civil liberties can be denied to anyone who opposes the "decision of the Cuban people to build socialism." The judicial branch of Cuba is one of three branches of the Cuban government. ... The Peoples Supreme Court is the highest body of judicial power in Cuba, which is elected by, and accountable to, the National Assembly of People’s Power. ...

Cuban courts are organized into three tiers that match the governmental divisions (national or Supreme Court, provincinal, and municipal). Most civil and criminal cases tried at the municipal and provincial levels are adjudicated by a panel of two lay judges and one professional judge. Cases that involve a potential sentence longer than eight years or complex civil law issues are heard, at the provincial or supreme level, by a panel of three professional judges and two lay judges. Both professional and lay judges are elected to their positions by the legislative assembly.

Committees for the Defense of the Revolution

The Committees for the Defense of the Revolution are a network of neighborhood organizations across Cuba and most Cubans are members. The organizations are designed to put medical, educational or other campaigns into national effect, and to report "counter-revolutionary" activity. The CDR officials have the duty to know the activities of each person in their respective blocks. There is an individual file kept on each block resident, some of which reveal the internal dynamics of households. Citizens must be careful of their actions and of what they say, as they are being constantly monitored. [7] Long Live Socialism CDR billboard in countryside on the way from Havana to Pinar del Rio. ...

Cuba and Democracy

Main article: Cuba and democracy

Since the time Fidel Castro came to power, the Cuban Government has been condemned by certain Cuban groups, some international groups, and foreign governments for engaging in activities labeled undemocratic. The United States Government has initiated various policy measures; these have been ostensibly designed to encourage Cuba to undertake political change towards a multi-party electoral process. These plans have been condemned by the Cuban Government, who accuse the United States of meddling in Cuba's affairs. [8] The distinct nature of political participation in Cuba has also fostered discussion amongst political writers and philosophers. Varied conclusions have been drawn, some of these have led to Cuba being described as a dictatorship, a totalitarian state, a grassroots democracy, a centralised democracy or a revolutionary democracy [9], but not a liberal democracy. Since the time Castro came to power, the Cuban Government has been consistently condemned by Cubans, many international groups, and foreign governments for engaging in activities labeled “undemocratic”. In recent times, this dialogue has become the focus of discussion amongst a number of prominent political figures, including Jimmy Carter, Hugo... Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born on August 13, 1926) is the current President of Cuba but on indefinite medical hiatus. ... Or Opposition to a Participatory Democracy (of Only Party) created by the Popular Socialist Revolution, named The Cuban Revolution The Opposition to Fidel Castros Cuban government is largely unofficial and illegal within Cuba due to the political system led by Fidel Castro being a one party state. ... For other uses, see Democracy (disambiguation). ... The government of the United States, established by the United States Constitution, is a federal republic of 50 states, a few territories and some protectorates. ... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A dictatorship is an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by a dictator. ... The concept of Totalitarianism is a typology or ideal-type used by some political scientists to encapsulate the characteristics of a number of twentieth century regimes that mobilized entire populations in support of the state or an ideology. ... For other meanings, see Grass roots (disambiguation). ... For the Soviet republics of the Soviet Union, see Republics of the Soviet Union. ... Liberal democracy is a form of government. ...

Human Rights

Main article: Human Rights in Cuba

The Cuban Government has been criticized by various foreign governments and non-governmental organizations for its human rights record. Human rights in Cuba are defined by Chapter VII of the Cuban constitution, Fundamental rights, duties and guarantees; which outlines rights to work, social security, rights to protection, safety and hygiene, free medical and hospital care, free education, freedom of speech in keeping with the objectives of socialist society, rights... A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an organization which is not a part of a government. ...

Foreign relations of Cuba

Fidel Castro greets President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2003. Photo:Ricardo Stuckert/PR

Main article: Foreign relations of Cuba

Cuba's foreign policy has been scaled back and redirected as a result of economic hardship and the end of the Cold War. Cuba was comparatively isolated in the 1990s, but has since entered bilateral co-operation with several South American countries, most notably Venezuela and Bolivia. Although relations with the neighboring United States have not improved significantly since the 1980s, Cuba has developed a growing relationship with China and retains varying diplomatic ties with the European Union. In all, Cuba continues to have formal relations with 160 nations, and claims to provide civilian assistance workers – principally medical – in more than 20 nations. Cuba is currently an elected member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, is a founding member of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, a member of the Latin American Integration Association and the United Nations. Cuba is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement and hosted the last summit in September 2006. In addition as a member of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Cuba was re-appointed as the chair- of the special committee on transportation issues for the Caribbean region [10]. Following a meeting in November, 2004 attempts have also been made several leaders of South America to make Cuba either a full or associate member of the South American trade-bloc known as Mercosur. [11], [12] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 558 pixelsFull resolution (1879 × 1311 pixel, file size: 287 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 558 pixelsFull resolution (1879 × 1311 pixel, file size: 287 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Brazilian Presidential Standard The President of Brazil is both the head of state and head of government of the Federative Republic of Brazil. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Cubas once-ambitious foreign policy has been scaled back and redirected as a result of economic hardship after the collapse of the Soviet bloc. ... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... The United Nations Human Rights Council is an international body within the United Nations System. ... The Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (Spanish: Alternativa Bolivariana para las Américas or ALBA - which also means dawn in Spanish) is a political, social and economic cooperation and complementation vision of integration between the Latin American countries, proposed by the government of Venezuela as an alternative to the Free... The Asociación Latinoamericana de Integración (the Latin American Integration Association; known as ALADI or, occasionally, by the English acronym LAIA) is a Latin American trade integration association, based in Montevideo. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... Member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (2005). ... The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) (Also called the Asociacion de Estados del Caribe or Association des Etats de la Caraibe) was formed with the aim of promoting consultation, cooperation, and concerted action among all the countries of the Caribbean, comprising of 25 member states and 3 associate members. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Motto (Spanish) (Portuguese) (Guaraní) Our North is the South  â€¢  â€¢ Pro Tempore Secretariat Montevideo, Uruguay Largest city São Paulo, Brazil Official languages 3 Portuguese Spanish Guaraní Membership 5 Argentina Brazil Paraguay Uruguay Venezuela Leaders  -  Carlos Álvarez Establishment  -  Declaration of Foz do Iguaçu 30 December 1985   -  Treaty of Asunción...

References

External links

• Gobierno de la República de Cuba - Government of the Republic of Cuba [13]
• Cubafacts.com
• Cuba: Socialism and Democracy by Peter Taaffe
• Diana Barahona: Librarians as Spooks: The Scheme to Infiltrate Cuba's Libraries (CounterPunch, June 18/19, 2005).
• Cuba Havana Documentary Bye Bye Havana is a documentary which suggests what Cubans are thinking about today
• Cuba Solidarity Campaign
• CUBA: Issues & Answers
• Books - Current, Out of Print, and Old & Rare Collectibles Books on the history of Cuba, it's people, culture, politics, etc...

Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ...

Further reading

• Erikson, Daniel P. (2005) Charting Castro's Possible Successors. SAIS Review 25.1, 89-103
• Evenson, Debra (1994). Revolution in the balance: Law and society in contemporary Cuba. Westview Press, Boulder. ISBN 0-8133-8466-4