The Republic of Cuba 



At the expiration of the term of General Jose 

 Miguel Gomez, elections were again held, wherein 

 the Liberal Party nominated Dr. Alfredo Zayas, 

 and the Conservative Party, General Mario G. 

 Menocal — the latter being elected President on 

 November i, 1912, his term of office continuing 

 until May 20, 1917. 



THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT 



Insofar as local conditions of Cuba permit, the 

 system of government is modelled on that of the 

 United States. There are a President and Vice- 

 President, who serve terms of four years. The 

 President appoints a cabinet of nine members, as 

 follows: Secretary of State, Secretary of the 

 Treasury, Secretary of the Executive Depart- 

 ment, Secretary of Justice, Secretary of the 

 Interior, Secretary of Public Works, Secretary of 

 Public Instruction, Secretary of Agriculture, Com- 

 merce and Labor, and Secretary of Sanitation. 



At the general election, preceding the expiration 

 of the presidential term of office, each of the six 

 provinces elects a number of presidential and vice- 

 presidential electors, equal to the combined num- 

 ber of senators and representatives to which each 

 province is entitled, and a third as many alter- 

 nates. This body proceeds to the election of the 

 President and Vice-President. 



The Senate consists of 24 members, 4 from each 

 of the provinces, elected for terms of eight years — 

 one-half of the number being elected every four 

 years. The Vice-President is the presiding 

 officer, but to provide for contingencies, the 

 Senate also elects one of its members to that office 

 and he is considered to be the leader of the body, 

 especially in the absence of the Vice-President. 



