ASAMBLEA NACIONAL DEL PODER POPULAR

Under the Constitutions of 1976, the “National Assembly of the People’s Power” was called into session for its first meeting as the new legislature under speaker Blas Roca on December 2, 1976.  Headed by a speaker (presidente), deputy speaker (vicepresidente), and a secretary, it has one national deputy (elected for a five-year term) for every 20,000 citizens, and 14 politico-administrative committees of seven to 21 members.  Besides its legislative and constitutional reform authority, the assembly may revoke decree laws issued by the Council of State (the legislative body, whenever the assembly is not in session).  It approves the national budget, declares war (in the face of military aggression), appoints the members of such organs as the Council of State, the chief justice, and other judges of the Supreme Court and the attorney general, and exercises control over the organs of state and government.  It holds regular sessions, usually of two days, twice a year, and extraordinary sessions whenever the need arises.  Its load includes the annual state budget and yearly economic and social development plans.  Bills are drafted by its Commission on Judicial and Constitutional Affairs, but are put together in coordination with any of the 20 standing commissions that function throughout the year.  The deputies are normally assigned to one or more commissions, which are staffed with advisory and clerical personnel. Deputies are not paid, but are given paid leave from their normal employment when discharging their responsibilities.  The sessions and commission meetings are held in different cities throughout the year.  The record would indicate that the deputies take their representative role in earnest, discussing their constituents’ concern as well as their own.  Laws can be proposed not only by the deputies, but also by the Council of State, the Council of Ministers, the assembly’s commissions, trade unions and mass organizations, the attorney general, the People’s Supreme Court, and by a petition signed by at least 10,000 voters.   Nevertheless, there is little evidence that deputies can freely demonstrate any desire to reject a major policy or propose new alternatives to what is officially recommended.  The assembly has obediently approved all laws proposed by Fidel Castro and the Communist Party.