User:Zleitzen/Cuba Government Sandbox

Overview
Cuba is a socialist republic, ...

Summary
The President of Cuba is chosen by the National Assembly, for a five-year term. There is no limit to the number of terms the President can serve, and Castro has been President since the adoption of the current Constitution in 1976. The Premable of the Constitution names Castro as Cuba's leader. In its first of two annual meetings, the Popular Power National Assembly nominates 31 member Council of Ministers to act in its place.

Cuba's national legislature, the National Assembly of People's Power (Asamblea Nacional de Poder Popular), has 609 members who serve five-year terms. All Cuban citizens aged over sixteen years and who have not been found guilty of a criminal offence can vote. Article 131 of the Constitution says that voting shall be "through free, equal and secret vote." Article 136 says: "In order for deputies or delegates to be considered elected they must get more than half the number of valid votes cast in the electoral districts." In its first of two annual meetings, the Popular Power National Assembly nominates 31 member Council of Ministers to act in its place. The executive committee, is composed of the president, the first vice-president and the vice-presidents of the Council of Ministers.

History
The structure of the Modern Cuban government was established with the Cuban Constitution in 1976 and modified in 2001?.

Future
The succession of power is defined by the Cuban Constitution article XXX

Overview
...in which the Communist Party of Cuba is the sole legal political party.

Summary
Fidel Castro, the incumbemt President of Cuba, and the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC), as well as Head of the Council of State. The President of the Council of State and the president of the National Assembly (Ricardo Alarcon) are both elected from deputies of the National Assembly

History
The Premable of the Constitution names Castro as the leader of Cuba's modern revolution and guided by the ideas of José Martí and the political and social ideas of Marx, Engels and Lenin;

Future
There is much speculation in Cuba and abroad over what will happen to the revolution when Castro dies. Officially, there is a line of succession in place, and the Cuban government repeatedly proclaims that the transition will be smooth. Cuban dissidents in Cuba and Florida warn that there will be tremendous unrest and bloodshed. The Bush administration has appointed Caleb McCarry "transition coordinator" for Cuba, and given him a budget of $59 million, with the task of overthrowing the Communist regime after Castro's death. Official Cuban news service Granma alleges that these transition plans were created at the behest of the Miami "Mafia", and that McCarry is responsible for engineering the overthrow of the Aristide government in Haiti. -->

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Cuba is a socialist republic, in which the Communist Party of Cuba is the sole legal political party. Fidel Castro, the President of Cuba, is officially the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC), as well as Head of the Council of State. The President of Cuba is chosen by the National Assembly, for a five-year term. There is no limit to the number of terms the President can serve, and Castro has been President since the adoption of the current Constitution in 1976. The Premable of the Constitution names Castro as Cuba's leader. The President of the Council of State and the president of the National Assembly (Ricardo Alarcon) are both elected from deputies of the National Assembly

Cuba's national legislature, the National Assembly of People's Power (Asamblea Nacional de Poder Popular), has 609 members who serve five-year terms. All Cuban citizens aged over sixteen years and who have not been found guilty of a criminal offence can vote. Article 131 of the Constitution says that voting shall be "through free, equal and secret vote." Article 136 says: "In order for deputies or delegates to be considered elected they must get more than half the number of valid votes cast in the electoral districts." In its first of two annual meetings, the Popular Power National Assembly nominates 31 member Council of Ministers to act in its place. The executive committee, is composed of the president, the first vice-president and the vice-presidents of the Council of Ministers.

Administratively, Cuba is divided into 14 provinces and 169 municipalities. Each municipality has an elected assembly, elected every two and a half years. Regional and provincial executive committees are chosen by the elected members of the National Assembly. Article 103 of the Cuban Constitution decrees that municipal governments must act in close coordination with grassroot and social organisations. In both the municipal and national level, the ability for these organisations to propose legislation is constitutionally recognised. No political party, including the Communist Party of Cuba, is permitted to nominate or campaign for any municipal candidate. Candidates are nominated at this level by the local population at small "Town Hall" type meetings.

There is much speculation in Cuba and abroad over what will happen to the revolution when Castro dies. Officially, there is a line of succession in place, and the Cuban government repeatedly proclaims that the transition will be smooth. Cuban dissidents in Cuba and Florida warn that there will be tremendous unrest and bloodshed. The Bush administration has appointed Caleb McCarry "transition coordinator" for Cuba, and given him a budget of $59 million, with the task of overthrowing the Communist regime after Castro's death. Official Cuban news service Granma alleges that these transition plans were created at the behest of the Miami "Mafia", and that McCarry is responsible for engineering the overthrow of the Aristide government in Haiti.

Government and politics


Cuba is a socialist republic whose government is controlled by the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC). The PCC leader, Fidel Castro, is both President of the Council of State (President of Cuba) and President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister of Cuba). The President of Cuba is chosen by the National Assembly for a five-year term. There is no limit to the number of terms the President can hold office and Castro has been President since the adoption of the current Constitution in 1976.

The Cuban constitution states: "the Communist Party of Cuba... is the superior guiding force of society and the state". No other political parties are permitted. The Constitution guarantees of freedom of speech and assembly, though these rights are limited by Article 62, which states that "None of the freedoms which are recognized for citizens can be exercised contrary to... the existence and objectives of the socialist state, or contrary to the decision of the Cuban people to build socialism and communism. Violations of this principle can be punished by law".

Cuba's national legislature, the National Assembly of People's Power (Asamblea Nacional de Poder Popular), has 609 members who serve five-year terms. All Cuban citizens over sixteen years of age who have not been found guilty of a criminal offense can vote. Article 131 of the Constitution states that voting shall be "through free, equal and secret vote". Article 136 states: "In order for deputies or delegates to be considered elected they must get more than half the number of valid votes cast in the electoral districts".

The voting process itself is free but the process for nominating candidates for election to the National Assembly has been effectively controlled by the PCC and grass-roots organizations and people affiliated, sympathetic or controlled by it. As a result, in the National Assembly elections of January 2003, more than 70% of the candidates were members of the PCC and the remainder were favorable to the PCC. Many believe the Cuban government does not meet minimal standards of a democracy, especially in lacking multi-party contests for seats. The Cuban government and its supporters within and outside Cuba argue that Cuba has a form of democracy, evidenced by the fact that elections and nominations are held by secret ballots and that all voters have the right to reject any and all candidates.

Government and politics


The Republic of 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 (PCC) to be the "leading force of society and of the state". The first secretary of the Communist Party, Fidel Castro, is concurrently President of the Council of State (President of Cuba) and President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister of Cuba). Members of both councils are chosen by the National Assembly of People’s Power. The President of Cuba serves for a five-year term and there is no limit to the number of terms of office. Castro has been President since the adoption of the current Constitution in 1976 when he replaced Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado.

Cuba's national legislature, the National Assembly of People's Power (Asamblea Nacional de Poder Popular), has 609 members who serve five-year terms. Candidates for the assembly are approved by public referendum. All Cuban citizens over sixteen years of age who have not been found guilty of a criminal offense can vote. Article 131 of the Constitution states that voting shall be "through free, equal and secret vote". Article 136 states: "In order for deputies or delegates to be considered elected they must get more than half the number of valid votes cast in the electoral districts". Nominees are chosen at local gatherings from multiple candidates before gaining approval from election committees.

No political party is permitted to nominate candidates or campaign on the island, though the Communist Party of Cuba has held five party congress meetings since 1975. In 1997 the party claimed 780,000 members, and representatives generally constitute at least half of the Councils of state and the National Assembly. The remaining positions are filled by independent candidates. Other political parties campaign and raise finance internationally, whilst activity within Cuba by oppositional groups is minimal and rare. The Constitution guarantees freedom of speech though these rights are limited by Article 62, which states that "None of the freedoms which are recognized for citizens can be exercised contrary to... the existence and objectives of the socialist state, or contrary to the decision of the Cuban people to build socialism and communism. Violations of this principle can be punished by law".

Since Cuba became a declared socialist republic in 1961, the United States Government has initiated various policy measures against Cuba which have had a considerable political effect on the island; these have been ostensibly designed to encourage Cuba to undertake political change towards a multi-party electoral process. The most significant of these measures is the United States embargo against Cuba and the subsequent Helms-Burton Act of 1996. Many believe the Cuban government does not meet minimal standards of a democracy, especially in lacking multi-party contests for seats. The Cuban government, its supporters and other observers within and outside Cuba argue that Cuba has a form of democracy, evidenced by the fact that elections and nominations are held by secret ballots, participation in the nomination process is extensive and all voters have the right to reject any and all candidates.