1、Chinas Political SystemChinas political system here refers to the political structure, fundamental laws, rules, regulations and practices that are implemented in Chinas mainland and regulate the state power, government, and the relationships between the state and society in the Peoples Republic of C
2、hina since its founding in October 1949.I. The Constitutional System The Constitution is the fundamental law of the state.I. Major stipulations in the Constitution in regard to Chinas political system 1. Major political principles in China (1) The Communist Party of China is the countrys sole politi
3、cal party in power. The Peoples Republic of China was founded by the Communist Party of China which is the leader of the Chinese people. (2) The socialist system The socialist system led by the working class and based on the alliance of the workers and farmers is the fundamental system of the People
4、s Republic of China (3) All rights belong to the people All the power in the country belongs to the people who exercise their power through the National Peoples Congress and local peoples congresses at all levels. The people manage the state, economy, culture and other social affairs through a multi
5、tude of means and forms. (4) The fundamental task and goals of the state To concentrate on the socialist modernization drive along the road of building socialism with Chinese characteristics; to adhere to the socialist road, persist in the reform and opening up program, improve the socialist system
6、in all aspects, develop the market economy, expand democracy, and improve the rule of law; to be self-reliance and work hard to gradually realize the modernization of the industry, agriculture, national defense, science and technology so as to build China into a strong and democratic socialist count
7、ry with a high degree of cultural development. (5) Democratic centralism The organizational principle for the state organs is democratic centralism. (6) The armed forces of the people The armed forces of the Peoples Republic of China belong to the people. The tasks of the armed forces are to consoli
8、date national defense, resist invasion, defend the country, safeguard the people in their peaceful work and life, take part in the countrys economic construction and strive to serves the people. (7) To govern the country through the rule of law All individuals, political parties and social organizat
9、ions must abide by the Constitution in all their actions and shall not be privileged to be above the Constitution or the law. All acts in violation of the Constitution and law must be investigated. The rule of law is practiced to build China into a socialist country with the rule of law. (8) The sys
10、tem of ethnic regional autonomy All ethnic groups are equal. All prejudice and oppression against any ethnic group is forbidden. All behaviors harmful to ethnic unity and aimed at ethnic separation are forbidden. 2. The position and rights of the citizen in the political life of the country (1) All
11、citizens are equal before the law. (2) The right to vote and stand for election All citizens who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote and stand for election, regardless of ethnic status, race, sex, occupation, family background, religious belief, education, property status or length of
12、residence, except persons deprived of political rights according to law. (3) The freedom of speech and thought All citizens enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, or assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration (4) The freedom of religious belief Citizens enjoy the freedom of religio
13、us belief. No state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion. (5) Inviolable freedom of the person No citizen may be arrested except with the approval or by decision of a peoples procuratorate or by decision of a peoples court, an
14、d arrests must be made by a public security organ. Unlawful detention or deprivation or restriction of citizens freedom of the person by other means is prohibited, and unlawful search of the person of citizens is prohibited. The personal dignity of citizens is inviolable, so are their residences. (6
15、) Freedom of correspondence The freedom and privacy of correspondence of citizens are protected by law. No organization or individual may, on any ground, infringe upon citizens freedom and privacy of correspondence, except in cases where, to meet the needs of state security or of criminal investigat
16、ion, public security or procuratorial organs are permitted to censor correspondence in accordance with procedures prescribed by law. (7) The right to criticize and make suggestions Citizens have the right to criticize and make suggestions regarding any state organ or functionary. They have the right
17、 to make to relevant state organs complaints or charges against, or exposures of, any state organ or functionary for violation of the law or dereliction of duty. (8) The right to compensation Citizens who have suffered losses as a result of infringement of their civic rights by any state organ or fu
18、nctionary have the right to compensation in accordance with law. (9) The right to work Citizens have the right as well as duty to work. The state should, through various channels, create conditions for employment, enhance occupational safety and health, improve working conditions and, on the basis o
19、f expanded production, increase remuneration for work and welfare benefits. (10) The right to welfare Citizens have the right to material assistance from the state and society when they are old, ill or disabled. The state and society ensure the livelihood of disabled members of the armed forces, pro
20、vide pensions to the families of martyrs and give preferential treatment to the families of military personnel. The state and society help make arrangements for the work, livelihood and education of the blind, deaf-mutes and other handicapped citizens. (11) The right to receive education Citizens ha
21、ve the right and duty to receive education. (12) The freedom to engage in academic studies and literary creation Citizens have the freedom to engage in scientific research, literary and artistic creation and other cultural pursuits. (13) The equality of men and women Women enjoy equal rights with me
22、n in all spheres of life, in political, economic, cultural, social and family life. (14) Both husband and wife have the duty to practice family planning. (15) Citizens have the obligation to pay taxes in accordance with the law. (16) Citizens have the obligation to perform military service and join
23、the militia in accordance with the law. II. The interpretation and revision of the Constitution and the system of supervision of its implementation 1. The right of interpretation of the Constitution The right to interpret the Constitution rests with the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Con
24、gress. 2. The amendment of the Constitution The National Peoples Congress holds the right to make amendments to the Constitution. The revision of the Constitution shall be proposed by the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress or more than one-fifth of the delegates to the National Peop
25、les Congress and it must be approved by a two-thirds majority of a session of the National Peoples Congress. 3. The system of supervision The National Peoples Congress has the duty to supervise the enforcement of the Constitution. The National Peoples Congress has the right to change or withdraw int
26、erpretations to the Constitution by the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress.IV. The System of Multi-Party Cooperation and Political Consultation I. The essence of the multi-party cooperation and political consultation The multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the l
27、eadership of the Communist Party of China is a basic political system in China. The system means that the CPC is the only party in power in the Peoples Republic of China while under the precondition of accepting the leadership of the CPC, the eight other political parties participate in the discussi
28、on and management of state affairs, in cooperation with the CPC. Political consultation means that under the leadership of the CPC, all parties, mass organizations and representatives from all walks of life take part in consultations of the countrys basic policies and important issues in political,
29、economic, cultural and social affairs before a decision is adopted and in the discussion of major issues in the implementation of the decisions. Political consultation takes the organizational form of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference. Political consultation is the most important
30、 political and organization form of the multi-party and political consultation system. Cooperative relations between the CPC and other political parties are based on the principle of “long-term coexistence and mutual supervision, treating each other with full sincerity and sharing weal or woe.“ II.
31、Political parties participating in the discussion and management of state affairs This refers to the eight political parties other than the CPC. These parties are those established before the founding of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949, which were then dedicated to the realization of a bourgeo
32、is republic in China and supported the CPC in the latters effort of overthrowing the rule of the Kuomintang. They are independent in organization and enjoy political freedom, organizational independence and legal equality under the Constitution. 1. China Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang Off
33、icially founded on January 1, 1948, its main constituents at the time were former Kuomintang members for democracy and other patriotic personages. Their political stand was to overthrow the dictatorial rule of the Kuomintang and realize independence, democracy and peace in China. Its Constitution re
34、vised in November 1988 stipulates that its political program at the present stage is to lead all party members, unite patriots living in China and residing abroad in favor of the unification of the motherland to strive for the unification and rejuvenation of China, under the guidance of the basic li
35、ne for the primary stage of socialism. Its members come from mainly four areas: those with relations with the Kuomintang, those with relations with people of all walks of life in Taiwan, those dedicated to the unification of the motherland and others. The party mainly draws members from representati
36、ve people and middle-level and senior intellectuals. By the end of 1997, the party had a membership of 54,000 and He Luli is its chairwoman. 2. China Democratic League First established in November 1939, it took its present name in September 1944. At the time, it was a united political organization
37、consisting of political parties and forces favoring the middle road and democracy. In 1997 it adopted a constitution which stipulates that its program is to hold high the banner of patriotism and socialism, implement the basic line for the primary stage of socialism, safeguard stability in the socie
38、ty, strengthen services to national unity and strive for the promotion of socialist modernization, establishment and improvement of a market economy, enhancement of political restructuring and socialist spiritual civilization, emancipation and development of productive forces, consolidation and expa
39、nsion of the united patriotic front and realization of the grand goals of socialism with Chinese characteristics. China Democratic League is mainly made up by middle-level and senior intellectuals in the fields of culture, education, science and technology. It has a membership of 157,000 and its cha
40、irman is Jiang Shusheng. 3. China Democratic National Construction Association It was established on December 16, 1945. Its political stand at the time was to guarantee the basic political rights and human rights of citizens, protect and develop national industry and commerce and oppose the dictator
41、ial rule of the Kuomintang. Its present constitution calls for the implementation of the CPCs policy of focusing on economic construction, acceptance of the leadership of the CPC, persisting in the tradition of self-education, adhering to the principle of democratic centralism and carrying out the p
42、olicy of multi-party cooperation and political consultation. Most of its 90,000 members are representative figures in the economic field. Its chairman is Cheng Siwei. 4. China Association for the Promotion of Democracy When it was founded on December 30, 1945, it was made up mostly by people engaged
43、 in education and publishing and patriotic figures in industry and commerce in Shanghai who stood for promotion of democracy and reform of the political power. It called on the Kuomintang to return the political power to the people, the establishment of a united and constitutional government. Its pr
44、ogram drawn in 1988 stands for the promotion and improvement of socialist democracy, improvement of a socialist legal system, uplifting of the qualifications of the people, development of productive forces and turning China into a prosperous, culturally developed, democratic, strong and modern socia
45、list country. The association is mainly made up by representative intellectuals in the fields of education, culture, publishing and science. It had a membership of 99,000 at the end of 2005 and its chairman is Xu Jialu. 5. Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party Founded in August 1930, its mai
46、n political program was to oppose the dictatorial rule of the Kuomintang and establish the power of the people. Its present program includes the stand to accept the leadership of the CPC, adhere to multi-party cooperation and political consultation, practice democratic centralism and safeguard the r
47、ights and interests of party members and associated intellectuals. It now has a membership of over 80,000 and its chairman is Jiang Zhenghua. 6. China Zhi Gong Dang China Zhi Gong Dang was founded in San Francisco, October 1925 by overseas Chinese organizations in North America. According to its con
48、stitution, the party is made up mainly by the middle and upper levels of returned overseas Chinese and their relatives. Its job is to assist the CPC and the Chinese government, consolidate and develop political stability, safeguard the rights and interests of party members and associated returned ov
49、erseas Chinese and their relatives, reflect their opinions and demands and practice democratic centralism. It had a membership of nearly 16,000 at the end of 1997 and its chairman is Luo Haocai. 7. Jiusan Society When it was first established in May 1946, its political stand was to carry on the tradition of democracy and science, oppose the civil war and practice democratic politics. The present program of Jiusan Society stipulates that organizationally, the party draws members from representative middle and senior level intellectuals in the fields of science, t
