What type of government does Cuba have?

Answer 1

Cuba is a communist country.

The Cuban constitution states that, "the Communist Party of Cuba...is the superior guiding force of society and the state." Members are selected by the party in a thorough process that includes interviews with co-workers and neighbors. Those selected are considered model citizens and strong supporters of the revolution. It makes recommendations concerning the future development of the revolution, and it criticizes tendencies it considers counterrevolutionary. It has a relatively large influence in Cuba, but its authority is "moral", not on any legal authority. The Communist Party of Cuba is the sole legal political party, and no other party is legally allowed to exist. In later years independent candidates have been nominally allowed to participate.

Elections are held by secret ballot and everyone age 16 or older can vote. Voters nominate candidates for the municipal assemblies and are then placed before the voters who choose among 2-8 candidates. Candidates for the National Assembly are nominated by municipal assemblies with one candidate for each seat and put to an approval vote where voters may approve all, some or none of the candidates (source: "Democracy in Cuba and the 1997-1998 Elections" by Arnold August [90]).

Legislative power is nominally in the hands of the National Assembly of People's Power. However, save for two sessions a year, power is exercised by the 31 member Council of State which is elected by the National Assembly from itself.

Executive authority is formally vested in the Council of Ministers, a large cabinet comprised of 8 members of the Council of State, the heads of the national ministries, and other persons. A smaller Executive Committee consisting of the more important members of the Council of Ministers oversees normal business.

Fidel Castro was head of the government from 1959 - 2008, first as prime minister and, after the abolition of that office with the adoption of the 1976 Constitution, as President of the Council of State, which also serves as head of state. He was also First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, and since 1976 a member of the National Assembly from the municipality of Santiago de Cuba. (The 1976 Constitution and its 1992 revision require that the President of the Council of State be a member of the National Assembly). Due to poor health, Fidel Castro was succeeded by his brother, Raul Castro Ruz, in February 2008.