Cuba Government Profile 2012

Under the constitution of 1976, the Republic of Cuba is a "socialist state". A single political party—the Partido Comunista de Cuba (Communist Party of Cuba), also known as the PCC, governs Cuba. The Communist Party was established by the Constitution as the leading authority in the government and society. The highest levels of policy are made by the Central Committee of the PCC, and it exercises control over all formal government institutions.Membership in the PCC was highly restricted until the late 20th century. The PCC aimed to attract greater numbers of young people, women, and Cubans of African descent.

The constitution provides for a popularly elected legislature called the National Assembly of People's Power. The 589 deputies of the Assembly are elected by the people to five-year terms. All candidates must have the approval of the Communist Party to appear on the ballot. The National Assembly holds two regular sessions a year. It elects the Council of State, an executive body consisting of a president, a first vice president, 5 vice presidents, a secretary, and 23 other members. The council's president serves both as president of the country (head of state) and as premier (head of government). The president, with the approval of the Assembly council elects the Council of Ministers, the highest-ranking and most powerful executive bureauas as it enforces laws, directs government agencies, and conducts Cuba's foreign policy. The Communist party is the only political party. All citizens 16 years of age and older may vote.

Cuba has 14 provinces, which are divided into about 170 municipalities, with each having its own assembly. The people elect the members of each municipal assembly. The municipal assemblies of a province elect the members of the provincial assembly. The Isle of Youth, Cuba's largest offshore island does not belong to any province and is ruled directly by the central government

Municipal assemblies supervise and control local economic enterprises, including retail operations and factories that produce goods for the local market. Municipal assemblies also exercise authority over schools, health services, motion-picture theaters and sports facilities, and all transportation within municipal boundaries.

Cuba's highest court is the People's Supreme Court. It consists of a president, a vice president, and the members of the court's five divisions. These divisions, called chambers, are civil and administrative, criminal, labor, military, and state security. Each chamber consists of a president, at least two other professional judges, and a number of lay judges. The National Assembly elects the Justices of the Supreme Court. The president and vice president of the court are nominated by the president of the Council of State and approved by the National Assembly.

Cuba also has a number of lower courts, which include 14 provincial courts and about 170 municipal courts that operate throughout the island.