National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba
Encyclopedia
The National Assembly of People’s Power is the legislative parliament
of the Republic of Cuba and the supreme body of State power. Its members (currently numbering 614) are elected from single-member electoral districts for a term of five years. The Assembly's current President
is Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada
. The assembly meets twice a year. Between sessions legislative power is held by the 31 member Council of Ministers
. The most recent elections
were held on 20 January 2008.
s that have the force of law). It holds two regular sessions a year, which are public unless the Assembly itself votes to hold them behind closed doors for reasons of state. It has permanent commissions to look after issues of legislative interest at times when the Assembly is not in session.
The National Assembly has the power to amend the Constitution
; to pass, amend, and repeal laws; to debate and approve national plans for economic
development, the State budget, credit and financial programs; and to set guidelines for domestic and foreign policies
. It hears the reports from national government and administration agencies and can also grant amnesties. 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, Judicial Affairs
, and Administration.
. Elected officials, according to the procedures established by law, met for the first time on 2 December 1976, thus formally setting up the Cuban Parliament. The Constitution, approved in a Referendum
on 14 February 1976, empowered the National Assembly as the supreme body of State power.
The assembly deputies are nationally elected every five years. Half of the candidates are nominated at public meetings before gaining approval from electoral committees, while the other half are nominated by public solidarity organizations (such as trade unions, farmers' organizations and students' union
s).
The Assembly itself elects the 31 members of the Council of State; their terms expire when a new Assembly is elected. The assembly elects the President, Vice President and Secretary of the Council of State, who must report to the National Assembly on all its work and tasks. It also elects the Council of Ministers
, the members of the Supreme Court
, and the Attorney General's Office of Cuba.
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
of the Republic of Cuba and the supreme body of State power. Its members (currently numbering 614) are elected from single-member electoral districts for a term of five years. The Assembly's current President
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
is Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada
Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada
Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada is a Cuban statesman. He served as Cuba's Permanent Representative to the United Nations for nearly 30 years and later served as the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs, from 1992 to 1993...
. The assembly meets twice a year. Between sessions legislative power is held by the 31 member Council of Ministers
Council of Ministers of Cuba
The Cabinet of Cuba is the highest ranking executive and administrative body of the Republic of Cuba, and constitutes the nation's government...
. The most recent elections
Cuban legislative election, 2008
A parliamentary election to the National Assembly of People's Power was held in Cuba on 20 January 2008. According to the Cuban electoral system, one candidate was nominated for each of the 614 seats in the Assembly, and candidates were elected if they received at least 50% of the vote.The date of...
were held on 20 January 2008.
Overview
The Assembly is a unicameral (one-chamber) parliament and the only body in Cuba that is invested both with constituent and legislative authority (although the government may pass decreeDecree
A decree is a rule of law issued by a head of state , according to certain procedures . It has the force of law...
s that have the force of law). It holds two regular sessions a year, which are public unless the Assembly itself votes to hold them behind closed doors for reasons of state. It has permanent commissions to look after issues of legislative interest at times when the Assembly is not in session.
The National Assembly has the power to amend the Constitution
Constitution of Cuba
Since attaining its independence from Spain, Cuba has had five constitutions. The current constitution was drafted in 1976 and has since been amended.-1901 Constitution:The 1901 Constitution was Cuba's first as an independent state...
; to pass, amend, and repeal laws; to debate and approve national plans for economic
Economy of Cuba
The economy of Cuba is a largely centrally planned economy dominated by state-run enterprises overseen by the Cuban government, though there remains significant foreign investment and private enterprise in Cuba...
development, the State budget, credit and financial programs; and to set guidelines for domestic and foreign policies
Foreign relations of Cuba
Cuba's once-ambitious foreign policy has been down sized as a result of economic hardship after the collapse of the Soviet bloc. Without massive Soviet subsidies and its primary trading partner Cuba was comparatively isolated in the 1990s, but has since entered bilateral co-operation with several...
. It hears the reports from national government and administration agencies and can also grant amnesties. 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
Healthcare of Cuba
The Cuban government operates a national health system and assumes fiscal and administrative responsibility for the health care of all its citizens. There are no private hospitals or clinics as all health services are government-run. The present Minister for Public Health is José Ramón Balaguer.An...
, defense
Military of Cuba
The Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces consist of ground forces, naval forces, air and air defence forces, and other paramilitary bodies including the Territorial Troops Militia , Revolutionary Armed Forces , and Youth Labor Army .The armed forces has long been the...
, and interior order. The National Assembly also has permanent departments that oversee the work of the Commissions, Local Assemblies, Judicial Affairs
Cuban Law
The substantive and procedural laws of Cuba were later based on the Spanish Civil laws and were influenced by the principles of Marxism-Leninism after that philosophy became the guiding force of government.- Principle of equality :...
, and Administration.
History
The Assembly originated from the nation-wide elections held in 1976 following the ratification of the 1976 ConstitutionConstitution of Cuba
Since attaining its independence from Spain, Cuba has had five constitutions. The current constitution was drafted in 1976 and has since been amended.-1901 Constitution:The 1901 Constitution was Cuba's first as an independent state...
. Elected officials, according to the procedures established by law, met for the first time on 2 December 1976, thus formally setting up the Cuban Parliament. The Constitution, approved in a Referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
on 14 February 1976, empowered the National Assembly as the supreme body of State power.
Elections
- See main article: Elections in CubaElections in CubaElections in Cuba involves nomination of municipal candidates by voters in nomination assemblies, nomination of provincial and national candidates by candidacy commissions, voting by secret ballot, and recall elections....
The assembly deputies are nationally elected every five years. Half of the candidates are nominated at public meetings before gaining approval from electoral committees, while the other half are nominated by public solidarity organizations (such as trade unions, farmers' organizations and students' union
Students' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
s).
The Assembly itself elects the 31 members of the Council of State; their terms expire when a new Assembly is elected. The assembly elects the President, Vice President and Secretary of the Council of State, who must report to the National Assembly on all its work and tasks. It also elects the Council of Ministers
Council of Ministers of Cuba
The Cabinet of Cuba is the highest ranking executive and administrative body of the Republic of Cuba, and constitutes the nation's government...
, the members of the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Cuba
The People's Supreme Court is the highest body of judicial power in Cuba. It is elected by, and accountable to, the National Assembly of People’s Power...
, and the Attorney General's Office of Cuba.
Composition
- See main article Cuban legislative election, 2008Cuban legislative election, 2008A parliamentary election to the National Assembly of People's Power was held in Cuba on 20 January 2008. According to the Cuban electoral system, one candidate was nominated for each of the 614 seats in the Assembly, and candidates were elected if they received at least 50% of the vote.The date of...
Presidents of the National Assembly of People's Power
- Blas Roca CalderíoBlas Roca CalderioBlas Roca Calderio was the First President of the National Assembly of People's Power in Cuba, former head of the Communist Party of Cuba, editor of the communist newspaper 'Hoy', and influential member of Castro's government, in Santa Clara, August 1962.-Political life:Blas Roca, a leading...
1976–1981 - Flavio Bravo 1981–1990
- Juan Escalona Reguera 1990–1993
- Ricardo Alarcón de QuesadaRicardo Alarcón de QuesadaRicardo Alarcón de Quesada is a Cuban statesman. He served as Cuba's Permanent Representative to the United Nations for nearly 30 years and later served as the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs, from 1992 to 1993...
1993–Present
See also
- Liaena Hernandez MartínezLiaena Hernandez MartínezLiaena Hernández Martínez is the youngest member of the Cuban National Assembly. During the opening of the 2008 Cuban National Assembly, after the Cuban legislative election, 2008, "Eighteen-year old legislator Liaena Hernandez Martínez read the oath in which each member of the new legislature...
- List of Presidents of the National Assembly of People's Power