Government and administration in Cuba

Cuba · Government

How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.

The three branches

Party — Communist Party of Cuba: Article 5 designates it the leading force of society and the state.
Head of state — President of the Republic: Elected by the National Assembly for five years, maximum two terms.
Executive — Council of Ministers, led by the Prime Minister: Office of Prime Minister restored in 2019.
Legislative — Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular: Supreme organ of state power; elects the Council of State from among its members.

How legislation is made

Legislative initiative lies with deputies, the Council of State, the Council of Ministers, the courts, the Prosecutor General, mass organisations and 10,000 citizens by popular initiative. The Assembly meets in short ordinary sessions, so much law is made by decree-law of the Council of State and subsequently ratified. Constitutional amendment requires two-thirds of the Assembly, and a referendum for provisions on the political system or rights.

Enforcement institutions

Fiscalía General de la República: Prosecutes and supervises legality; reports to the National Assembly.
Ministerio del Interior: Police (PNR) and state security.
Contraloría General de la República: Constitutional audit body.
Organización Nacional de Bufetes Colectivos: The state-organised collective law offices through which most litigators practise.

Government bodies and regulators

Found something out of date on Cuba · Government?

Corrections are reviewed against the primary source before anything changes.

Report a correction