Constitution of Cuba

Since attaining its independence from Spain, Cuba has had 9 constitutions. The current constitution was drafted in 1976 and has since been amended.

1901 Constitution

Main article: 1901 Constitution of Cuba

The 1901 Constitution was Cuba's first as an independent state. It contained the Platt Amendment, which allowed the United States to intervene in Cuba's affairs to protect its independence.

1934 Constitution

Cuba's second constitution came into effect in 1934. This document was intended to be a provisional constitution.

1940 Constitution

Main article: 1940 Constitution of Cuba

In 1940, during the de facto presidency of Federico Laredo Brú, a constitution was created. It provided for land reform, public education, minimum wage and other progressive ideas. Some of its provisions were not implemented in practice. Following a coup d'etat by Fulgencio Batista in 1952, parts of this constitution were suspended.

1976 Constitution

Poster urging citizens to vote to make the socialist system permanent and irrevocable by amending the constitution

After 16 years of extra-constitutional rule (1959–1975), used to consolidate its power, the revolutionary government of Cuba sought to institutionalize the revolution. The Socialist Constitution of 1976 was adopted by referendum on February 15, in which it was approved by 97.7% of voters. The document came into effect on February 24, 1976.

Original provisions

This constitution called for a centralized control of the market, and committed the State to providing its citizens with access to free education and health care. The state had the power to regulate the activities of religious institutions on the island, and the private ownership of media companies was forbidden.

Amendments

In the late 1980s, as the Eastern Bloc collapsed, the laws of Cuba changed to respond to the new conditions of the Special Period. The constitutional amendments of 1992 granted foreign corporations a limited right to own property on the island if they took part in joint ventures with the government. It also provided for non-discrimination based on religious belief, allowing persons with religious beliefs to join the Communist Party of Cuba.

In 2002, the constitution was amended to stipulate that the socialistic system was permanent and irrevocable.

See also

• Cuban law
• Constitutional law
• Constitutional economics
• Constitutionalism

External links

• Constitution of Cuba 2002 English language version
• Constitutions of Cuba, original Spanish language text, Political Database of the Americas
• Consttución de la Republica de Cuba, original Spanish language text of 2002, the Portal Cuba
• Republic of Cuba, 1940 Constitution, English translation
• The Rule of Law and Cuba, includes links to the Cuban Penal Code and Cuban Constitution in Spanish and some English translations, Cuba Center for the Advancement of Human Rights at Florida State University