ABSTRACT
The newest and most decentralized level of government in what constitute the Local Organs of People's Power in Cuba, the consejos populares (people's councils), were conceived at the Third Party Congress of the Communist Party in 1986. The historical precedents were the deputies groups in the former Soviet Union. Consejo presidents do things on their own, often contrary to stated regulations. For example, there was supposed to be only one private agricultural market per municipality, but many consejos, including Santa Fe, set them up in their neighborhoods. The consejos populares mesh with the characteristics and province of the Cuban municipal assembly and help carry out its functions. The convergence of civil and political societies-constituents resemble and maintain close, frequent personal contact with their elected representatives, and hold them in high estimation-and the mandat imperatif- the responses to and responsibilities of municipal delegates regarding citizens' planteamientos-are enhanced through the consejos populares.
