Under the 1901 constitution, Cuba had a presidential system based on that of the United States.

In 1940, a new constitution reformed the government into a semi-presidential system, 18 years before
its modern archetype – the French Fifth Republic – came into being.

On 2 December 1976, the executive was reformed again by a new national constitution, this time in
emulation of the Soviet Union. The presidential office was abolished and replaced by a collective head of
state, the Council of State, elected by the National Assembly of People's Power. However, unlike the
USSR's arrangements, where the chairmen of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet and the Council of
Ministers were distinct posts, the chairman of the Council of State also chaired the Council of Ministers.
Furthermore, unlike English and Russian, Spanish does not distinguish between the terms
"chairman/председатель" and "president/президент", translating both as "Presidente". Thus, when
back-translated into English, the term used was not "Chairman" (on the precedent of similar institutions
in countries whose languages have a chairman/president distinction, such as the USSR and East
Germany), but rather "President", from the shared etymology with the Spanish "Presidente".

On 24 February 2019, another constitution – Cuba's current – was adopted in a referendum. Under it,
the government was again re-organized, and the posts of President and Prime Minister were restored.
[3] This reorganization took effect on 11 October 2019. Díaz-Canel was President of the Council of State
until 10 October 2019 and President of the Republic after that date. Under the new constitution, the
position of President of the Council of State continues as a separate role, subordinate to President of the
Republic. The new document also limited the President to two consecutive five-year terms.

In cases of the absence, illness or death of the President of Cuba, the Vice President assumes the
presidential duties.