Council of state
The council of state is a permanent committee of the People’s power’ system (ANPP). It can issue laws, propose legislation, and constitutional reforms. However all its activities are closely monitored and coordinated by the PCC leaders. The council of state is made up of a president, a first vice president, five vice presidents, a secretary, and twenty-three regular members. Due to the constitution the president of the council of state is the head of state. Fidel Castro has always held this position. He is able to control legislative decision making. Castro can also appoint and remove government ministers of the Council. During a crisis Castro may obtain personal command of any government ministry. Castro also has direct command over the armed forces, this also makes him commander in chief. The Council of State also over-rules the authority of the National Assembly.
National assembly
In 1976, the National Assembly of People's Power was established by the constitution as the unicameral national legislature (only one legislative or chamber). Currently the Assembly has 601 members representing area districts nationwide. Every five years the members of the electorates are re-elected. Campaigning is prohibited, as publicity is the same for all members. Candidates are usually nominated because of their popularity. Unlike Australia, the members can be removed before the next election if the population oppose with policies. The assembly can debate any bills and choose to modify or dismiss them. Debating sessions last no more than two weeks. the Assembly plays a passive role as audience for various government speakers. Once the Council of State's proposals have been presented, they are summed by a unanimous vote of the general chamber.
Judiciary
The constitution establishes the Supreme Court of the People as the nation's high court and authorizes the creation of lower courts. The Supreme Court is organized into five chambers, which include criminal, civil and administrative, labor, state security, and military. The lower court system comprises fourteen people's provincial courts and 169 people's basic courts at the public level. The judiciary is not recognized as an independent part of government but is instead secondary to the Council of State and the ANPP. In practice, the courts are nearly powerless to defend individuals against acts of the state, especially when dealing with politically relevant cases e.g. treason. The Court is not authorized to decide on constitutional matters, which is only the legal right held by the ANPP. Therefore, The Court is limited to ruling on individual civil and minor criminal cases.
Human rights
Cuba has developed a highly effective machinery of repression. The lack of basic civil rights is supported by the Cuban law. Criminals and political enemies to the PCC are threatened by armed security forces. this silences any directed opposition on the PCC with heavy prison terms, threats of prosecution, harassment, or exile. Cuba uses these tools to restrict severely the exercise of fundamental human rights of expression, association, and assembly. The conditions in Cuba's prisons are inhuman, and political prisoners suffer from poor treatment and torture. In recent years, many new laws have been introduced to further repress opposition. Although there are many international appeals for change, with occasional releases of political prisoners, prosecuting continues.
Government priorities
Health and education are major priorities for the Cuban revolution. It provides free health care including advanced surgical procedures, which are unavailable in other third world countries. After the revolution there were only 3000 doctors, today there are more than 64000, the highest number per head in the world. This has greatly affected Cuba’s which has raised the life expectancy from 55 to 74 years. Education is also a priority to Cuba, which also has the highest number of teacher per head in the world. Before the revolution literacy was around 30%, today this has almost been eliminated with the large majority being literate.
Comparison of Australia with Cuba
There are a many differences between the Australian democratic, federal state system and the Cuban communist state. These include voting, government structure, human rights, procedures in government and the roles of the government within society. However there are also some similarities between Australia and Cuba’s political systems. These include the government priorities of health and education as well as some political similarities.
Government structure
Australia (democracy)
Local (electorates, councils)
State (legislative council, legislative assembly, premier, governor.)
Federal (House of Representatives, Senate, Governor-general, Prime minister.)
Cuba (communist)
Council of ministers (incorporates the leadership of all the nations’ ministries, state committees, and national institutes)
Council of state (control legislative decision making and is like a mixture of the senate and house of reps)
National assembly (is the people’s power committee, made up of electorates like the House of Reps)
Judiciary (the supreme court, similar to the high court of Australia
- Head of state= Fidel Castro Ruz
- Commanding in chief of armed forces= Fidel Castro Ruz
- General secretary of communist party = Fidel Castro Ruz
Comparison of government structure
There are similarities and differences between the structure of Australia’s and Cuba’s government. Firstly, one similarity is the electorates. In the Australian parliamentary system electorates elected members for the house of representatives. This is similar to Cuba as its electorates also choose members for the national assembly. However this process differs slightly between the countries. While Cuba chooses members for the national assembly, these politicians are only members of the PCC or individual representation, unlike Australia where there are a number of different parties to choose from. The electorates of Cuba are also much smaller.
The levels of parliament are also similar. The Australian system has a state government, like the Cuban council of state. Although the council of state in Cuba has greater responsibilities than that of the state government, they both are responsible for minor issues compared to the higher level of government.
A major difference of the political system is the presence of Fidel Castro Ruz in all government committees to coordinate there activities. The current prime minister is more interested in becoming less involved in certain issues to cut back on government interference with society. Castro also is the head of state and the commanding chief of the armed forces. This is involvement of the prime minister, clearly shows the difference between totalitarian socialism and democracy.
Comparison of passing a bill
In the Australian parliamentary system a bill is passed through many stages to become an act while in Cuba it is only debated at one level of government. The process in Australia first involves heavy debate in the House of Representatives and an overall vote. The next stage is the senate which ensures the bill is constitutional, if not it goes back to the House of Representatives again for debate, if it passes it is given the royal assent by the governor general. In Cuba the bill is presented and debated only in the National Assembly. The debate sessions last for two weeks. The bill is past only after a preferential vote in the national assembly.
Human rights comparison
Australia
Freedom of speech
Free country
Human rights
Cuba
Totalitarianism
Death penalty
Basic civil and political rights
Heavy prison terms
Threats of prosecution
Harassment
Exile
Human rights are a major difference between Australia and Cuba. Cuba uses many tools to restrict severely the exercise of fundamental human rights of expression of speech, association, and assembly. Conditions in Cuba's prisons are very inhuman, and political prisoners suffer dreadful treatment and torture. Cuba has not let the Red Cross inspect prisons since 1989. There have been many reports of poor treatment to prisoners. The is evidence of this treatment in the case of Juan Carlos Gonzalez. He is a blind political active journalist who was fighting for human rights in Cuba. However he has been sentenced to prison. Carlos bravely continues his efforts for human rights as he writes “If I die, I will die content knowing that I was defending the cause of God.” “I do not fear death.” This issue is controlled by the media, however prisoners and ex-prisoners have witnessed first hand the terrible treatment in prison and have let their stories be known to the world.
Government within society
Australia’s current government the Liberal party believes in reducing government interference in society. For example not having direct interference with issues such as the recent Cronulla race riots, where the state government took immediate action against the violence. On the other hand, the Cuban communist party enforces in totalitarianism. Cuba’s government maintains a highly effective security offense comprising of many military layers which track and imprison any political opposition to the communist party. Australia’s government being a democracy controls and enforces in the best interests of Australians, while Cuba’s communist party uses supreme power to serve its own interests.
Conclusion
There are many differences and some similarities between Australia’s democratic parliamentary system and Cuba’s communist state. An overview of these clearly shows that Australians are very fortunate to live in a country with freedom of speech, human rights and an efficient and fair parliamentary system, which serves the interests of Australians.
