Congress of Cuba

Congress of Cuba
Miguel Teurbe Tolón · Public domain · source
Name	Congress of Cuba
Legislature	National Assembly of People's Power
House type	Unicameral
Foundation	1976
Leader1 type	President
Leader1	Esteban Lazo Hernández
Election1	2013
Leader2 type	Vice President
Leader2	Ana María Mari Machado
Election2	2013
Members	470
Meeting place	Palacio de la Revolución, Havana
Website	http://www.parlamentocubano.gob.cu/

Congress of Cuba. The supreme legislative body of the Republic of Cuba is the National Assembly of People's Power, a unicameral institution established by the 1976 Constitution. It is described as the highest organ of state power, embodying the sovereignty of the people and the sole body with constituent and legislative authority. The Assembly meets twice yearly in regular sessions and is composed of deputies elected from municipal districts across the country.

History

The current legislative system was instituted following the Cuban Revolution and the consolidation of power by the Communist Party of Cuba. It replaced the previous bicameral Congress of the Republic of Cuba, which was dissolved in 1959. The foundational legal framework was established by the Constitution of 1976, drafted under the guidance of leaders like Fidel Castro and formally approved in a national referendum. This document was significantly amended in 1992 and again replaced by a new constitution approved via referendum in 2019, which reaffirmed the leading role of the Communist Party of Cuba while introducing structural changes to the government. The history of the body is intertwined with key events such as the Periodo especial and the transfer of leadership to Raúl Castro.

Structure and composition

The legislature operates as a unicameral body consisting of 470 deputies who serve five-year terms. Its internal organization includes a Council of State, elected by the deputies from among themselves, which acts on the Assembly's behalf between its brief plenary sessions. The Council is headed by the President of the Assembly, a position held by Esteban Lazo Hernández. Key internal bodies include the Secretariat of the National Assembly and various permanent working commissions that focus on areas such as constitutional and legal affairs, economic matters, and foreign relations. The seat of the assembly is in the Palacio de la Revolución in Havana.

Powers and functions

Its constitutional powers are extensive, including the authority to amend the Constitution of Cuba, enact and interpret laws, approve the state budget and economic plans, and declare war and peace. It holds the exclusive power to elect, from among its deputies, the members of the Council of State, the President of the Republic (Miguel Díaz-Canel), and the nation's highest judicial officials, including those of the People's Supreme Court. It also exercises oversight over other state organs, such as the Council of Ministers and the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic. Furthermore, it ratifies international treaties and can call for national referendums.

Political dynamics

All political activity within the chamber operates under the guiding principle of the Communist Party of Cuba as the "leading force of society and the state," as codified in Article 5 of the constitution. Consequently, there is no organized parliamentary opposition, and legislative debates typically focus on the implementation of policy rather than ideological contestation. Important political figures within the assembly, such as Homero Acosta Álvarez, the Secretary of the Council of State, play crucial roles in shaping legislative agendas. Dynamics are often influenced by major policy directives from the Politburo of the Communist Party of Cuba and responses to external pressures like the United States embargo against Cuba.

Elections and membership

Deputies are elected by direct, secret ballot in general elections held every five years. Candidates are nominated by special candidacy commissions at the municipal level, which are composed of representatives from mass organizations like the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, the Federation of Cuban Women, and the Central de Trabajadores de Cuba. There is only one candidate per electoral district, and voters may select, deselect, or leave the ballot unmarked for the single candidate. Notable members have included historical figures like Vilma Espín and contemporary officials like Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla. The most recent elections were supervised by the National Electoral Council of Cuba.

Relationship with the executive

The relationship is constitutionally defined as one where the legislature is supreme, electing and overseeing the executive. In practice, significant executive authority is vested in the President of Cuba and the Council of Ministers, whose members are proposed by the President and approved by the assembly. The Council of State, particularly its President, serves as a critical link, executing many legislative functions when the full assembly is not in session. This structure ensures a high degree of integration between the legislative and executive branches, with key figures like Salvador Valdés Mesa often holding high-ranking positions in both the party and the state apparatus. Category:National legislatures Category:Government of Cuba Category:Unicameral legislatures