Government of Cuba
Long Conventional Name
Republic of Cuba
Short Conventional Name
Cuba
Long Local Name
Republica de Cuba
Short Local Name
Cuba
Government Type
Communist State
Capital City
Havana
Administrative Divisions
14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara.
Independence Day
Tuesday, 20th May 1902
Constitutional History
24 February 1976; amended July 1992 and June 2002.
Legal System
Based on Spanish civil law and influenced by American legal concepts, with large elements of Communist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage
16 years of age; universal
Executive Branch
Chief of State
President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (president since 24 February 2008)
Head of Government
President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (president since 24 February 2008)
Cabinet
Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the Council of State and appointed by the National Assembly or the 31-member Council of State, elected by the Assembly to act on its behalf when it is not in session.
Elections
President and vice presidents elected by the National Assembly for a term of five years; election last held 24 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013).
Legislative Branch
Unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (number of seats in the National Assembly is based on population; 614 seats; members elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions to serve five-year terms).
Judical Branch
People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly).
Flag Description
Five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center.
