National Assembly of People's Power Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular | |
|---|---|
| 10th Legislature | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 2 December 1976; 48 years ago (1976-12-02) |
| Preceded by | Congress of Cuba |
| Leadership | |
Esteban Lazo Hernández since 24 February 2013 | |
Vice president | Ana María Marí Machado since 2013 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 470 |
 | |
Political groups |
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| Elections | |
| Two-round system | |
Last election | 26 March 2023 |
Next election | 2028 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| El Capitolio,Havana | |
| Website | |
| www | |
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Related topics |
 Cuba portal |
TheNational Assembly of People's Power (Spanish:Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular) is thesupreme state organ of power of theRepublic of Cuba. It is the only branch of government in the state, and per the principle ofunified power, all state organs are subservient to it. It is currently composed of 470 representatives who are elected from multi-member electoral districts for a term of five years calledconsejos populares. The currentpresident of the Assembly isEsteban Lazo Hernández. The Assembly only meets twice a year, with the 31-memberCouncil of State exercising legislative power throughout the rest of the year.[2] The most recent elections were held on 26 March 2023. The number of deputies was reduced from 605 to 470 for the2023 election.[3]
Liberal democracy is not practiced in Assembly elections in post-1959 revolutionary Cuba because the rulingCommunist Party of Cuba (PCC) government does not permitcompetitive elections.[3][4] The PCC is the "superior driving force of the society and the state" in theConstitution of Cuba, and all otherpolitical parties are illegal.[3] There is only one candidate for each seat in the Assembly. However, the nomination process aims to ensure that elected candidates are rooted in and supported by the local community:
Voters can either select individual candidates on theirballot, select every candidate, or leave every question blank, but voters have no option to vote against candidates.[8][9] During the 2013 elections, around 80% of voters selected every candidate for the Assembly on their ballot, while 4.6% of voters submitted a blank ballot; no candidate for the Assembly has ever lost an election in Cuban history.[8]
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The Assembly is aunicameral (one-chamber) parliament and the only body in Cuba that is vested with both constituent and legislative authority (although the government may passdecrees 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.
Under theConstitution of Cuba, the Assembly is the "supreme body of state power" in Cuba. The National Assembly has the power to amend the Constitution; to pass, amend, and repeal laws; to debate and approve national plans foreconomic development, the State budget, credit and financial programs; and to set guidelines for domestic andforeign 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.
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During the existence of theFirst Republic, Cuba had abicameral legislature, that – consisting of the Senate (upper house) and House of Representatives (lower house) – was modeled after theUnited States. Its sessions were held inEl Capitolio from 1929 to 1959.
The Assembly originated from the nationwide elections held in 1976 following the ratification of the1976 Constitution. 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 aconstitutional referendum on 14 February 1976, empowered the National Assembly as the supreme body of State power.
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The assembly representatives are elected from each district across Cuba 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 astrade unions, farmers' organizations, andstudents' unions).
In keeping with the provisions of the Constitution, 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 and Vice President of the Republic, and also the Secretary of the Council of State, who must report to the National Assembly on all its work and tasks. It also elects the Prime Minister and the members of theCouncil of Ministers, the Chief Justice and members of theSupreme Court, and the Attorney General's Office of Cuba.
In concordance with the 2018-19 amendments to the Constitution, by right the President of the National Assembly is president of the Council of Stateex officio, with the first vice president of the Council exercising his or her duties if absent. If absent from the duties of the presidency of the Assembly, the Vice President of the National Assembly serves the office.
Up to 50% of the candidates must be chosen by the Municipal Assemblies. The candidates are otherwise proposed by nominating assemblies, which comprise representatives of workers, youth, women, students, and farmers, as well as members of theCommittees for the Defense of the Revolution, after initial mass meetings soliciting a first list of names. The final list of candidates is drawn up by the National Candidature Commission taking into account criteria such as candidates' merit, patriotism, ethical values, and revolutionary history.[10][11]
| Legislature | Years | President | Vice president | Secretary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I Legislature | 1976–1981 | Blas Roca Calderío | Raúl Roa | José Arañaburu García |
| II Legislature | 1981–1986 | Flavio Bravo Pardo | Jorge Lezcano Pérez | |
| III Legislature | 1986–1993 | Flavio Bravo Pardo (1986–d. 1987) Severo Aguirre del Cristo (1987–d. 1990) Juan Escalona Reguera (1990–1993) | Severo Aguirre del Cristo (1986–d. 1990) Zoila Benitez de Mendoza (1990–1993) | Ernesto Suárez Méndez |
| IV Legislature | 1993–1998 | Ricardo Alarcón | Jaime Crombet Hernández-Baquero | |
| V Legislature | 1998–2003 | |||
| VI Legislature | 2003–2008 | |||
| VII Legislature | 2008–2013 | Jaime Crombet Hernández-Baquero (2008–2012) Ana María Marí Machado (2012–2013) | Miriam Brito Saroca | |
| VIII Legislature | 2013–2018 | Esteban Lazo Hernández | Ana María Marí Machado | |
| IX Legislature | 2018–2023 | Homero Acosta Álvarez |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
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