1. “The Key to the Gulf of Mexico”
CUBA
“The Key to the Gulf of Mexico”

2. Cuba Republic of Cuba (Republica de Cuba)
Capital: La Habana (hereafter, Havana)
Independence: May 20, 1902

3. Discovered in 1492 Exploration of Christopher Columbus
Under Spanish rule
Subjected to harsh trade restrictions
Britain occupied Havana , change trade restrictions
The change allowed Cuba to become the World’s leading producer of sugar

4. Spanish-American War of 1898
Granted Independence in 1902
Dependent of the United States
Proportion of self-rule
Platt Amendment: U.S. was allowed military intervention

5. New Rule
Fulgencio Batista y Zaldivar: led a corrupt and brutal dictatorship ( , )
20,000 political killings
January 1, 1959, overthrown and fled to the Dominican Republic with 40 million dollars

6. Hello Fidel! Fidel Castro Ruz became President in 1976
Guerrilla Warfare
Communist Dictator
CIA reports: may have Parkinson's disease

7. EMBARGO El bloqueo of 1960-present day Cold War Tactic
deter communism and promote democracy
Under Eisenhower: partial embargo (exclude food and machines)
Under Kennedy, Foreign Assistance Act: prohibit aid to any country that trades with Cuba

8. New Constitution After the Collapse of Communism in the Soviet Union
Constitution of 1992
Promotes Cuba!
Made Political Regimes more inclusive, tolerant to religious beliefs, behavior, and organizations
Deeply authoritarian, still only one party,

9. Constitutional Provisions
1992 Constitution limits the State ownership of land
Article 53: Freedom of Expression
Freedom of “CUBAN” Speech
Article 62: Prohibits Art 53 if it interfere with, threatens, or defy existence of Socialist State

10. PCC Communist Party of Cuba
National Assembly: Legislative Branch
Formal Powers: declare war,make peace, modify legislature, elect members to Council of State & Supreme Court
4 year terms,
Meet only twice a year

11. Council of State Fidel Castro: President of Council of State
Elected by the National Assembly
appoint and remove ministers, ambassadors, and other high officials
“Routine Authoritative” decision maker

12. Council of Ministers Fidel Castro: President of Council of Ministers
Highest executive and administrative organ
Constitution empowers it to issue regulations to administer laws and decrees authorize exceptions to state ownership of the means of production

13. Supreme Court
Five Chambers: Criminal, Civil, Administrative, Labor, and Military
Nominated by Minister of Justice, confirmed by National Assembly
Article 121: Supreme Court and all other courts are subordinate to the National Assembly & Council of State
Prohibited from determining laws to be constitutional
No life terms

14. Provincial Courts Exist in each Province
Four Chambers: Criminal, Civil, Administrative, Labor
Jurisdiction over crimes that punishment does not exceed 8 years
3/4 of all crimes committed in Cuba
Lay Judges

15. Municipal Courts Much like District Court in the U.S.
Jurisdiction over minor crimes that punishment does not exceed 1 year
preliminary levels for civil cases
Lay Judges

16. Source of Law Spanish Law & U.S Law
History of Spanish Law is related to the abuses of the Catholic Church and the Inquisition
Judges where the investigator and sentencor
U.S. influence after the Spanish-American War

17. Criminal Procedure Stage 1
Filing of complaint
police investigates the complaint
prosecutor decides to move forward
the accused does not have right to council during this stage
can’t exceed 8 days in this stage, after which, accused attorney is invited in

18. Criminal Proceedings Stage 2
In Prosecutor’s hands
Complexity of the case, the interpretations, and emphasis of the case are defined
Recommendation of sentence is recorded
Case is passed to accused
10 days to file a rebuttal
Court will appoint

19. Criminal trial Stage 3 1st witness is always the defendant
freedom not to testify against himself
Preserve the presumption, “Innocent until proven guilty”
witnesses are examine by the judges including lay judges
Court has 10 days to make a decision

20. Any Questions?