The Communist Party is the sole party in power in China.
Founded in 1921, the Communist Party of China (CPC) established the
People's Republic of China in 1949 through years of armed
struggle.
The CPC now has more than 60 million members in more than 3 million
grassroots organizations.
The CPC has established formal (through elections within the Party)
and informal (appointed by the organization of the higher level)
organizations within the Chinese government and various levels and
walks of life in the country.
I. The nature of the CPC
The CPC is the vanguard of the Chinese working class, the faithful
representative of the interests of the Chinese people of all ethnic
groups and the core of leadership over the socialist cause of
China.
CPC's maximum program of long objective is to realize the Communist
social system and the minimum program at present is to build
socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The CPC takes Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng
Xiaoping Theory as the guidance of its actions.
The CPC's basic line for the primary stage of socialism is to unite
with and lead the people of all ethnic groups in the endeavor to
build China into a prosperous, strong, democratic and highly
civilized modern socialist state by taking economic development as
the central task, adhering to the Four Cardinal Principles
(adherence to the socialist road, the people's democratic
dictatorship, the leadership of the Communist Party, and
Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought), persisting in reform and
opening up, developing the spirit of self-reliance and pioneering
enterprises with painstaking efforts.
II. Four basic demands for the building of the Party
First, uphold the Party's basic line;
Second, adhere to the principle of emancipating he mind and seeking
truth from facts;
Third, persist in serving the people wholeheartedly; and
Fourth, uphold democratic centralism.
III. The political and organizational principle of democratic
centralism
1. The basic principle of democratic centralism
(1) The individual Party member is subordinate to a Party
organization, the minority is subordinate to the majority, the
lower level organization is subordinate to the higher level, each
organization and all members of the whole Party are subordinate to
the Party's National Congress and the Central Committee.
(2) Leading bodies at various levels of the Party, except for their
agencies and for leading Party groups in non-Party organizations,
shall all be elected.
(3) The Party's supreme leading organ is the National Party
Congress and the Central Committee it elects. The Party's leading
bodies at all levels in the localities are the Party congresses at
these levels and the committees they elect. Party committees at all
levels are accountable and report work to the congresses at their
respective levels.
(4) Party organizations at a higher level shall frequently listen
to the opinions of lower organizations and Party members in general
and solve their problems without delay. Lower Party organizations
shall ask for instructions from and report on their work to higher
organizations, and also be responsible for solving problems
independently within the scope of their official duties. Lower and
higher organizations shall keep each other informed, and support
and supervise each other. Party organizations at all levels shall
help Party members to have a better understanding of and more
participation in inner-Party affairs.
(5) Party committees at all levels carry out a system that combines
collective leadership with divisions of work and personal
responsibility. Major issues shall be discussed and decided
collectively by the Party committee; and committee members shall
earnestly perform their duties in accordance with the collective
decisions and divisions of work.
(6) The Party prohibits personality cult in any form. There must be
a guarantee for the activities of Party leaders to be placed under
the supervision of the Party and people, while at the same time
safeguarding the prestige of all leaders representing the interests
of the Party and people.
2. Organizational principles
(1) The election of delegates to Party congresses at all levels and
of committees is by secret ballot.
No
organization or individual shall use any method to force voters to
elect or not to elect a certain person.
If
anything in violation of the Party Constitution occurs during the
election of local Party congresses at various levels and grassroots
congresses, a Party committee at the next higher level, after
investigation and verification, shall make a decision invalidating
the election and adopting appropriate measures; the decision then
shall be reported to the Party committee at a still higher level
for examination and approval, and its implementation formally
declared.
(2) The party Central Committee and local committees at various
levels, when necessary, call a representative conference to discuss
and decide on major issues needing timely solutions. The number of
delegates to a representative conference and the method of election
of delegates to a representative conference and the method of
electing them shall be decided by the committee which convenes the
conference.
(3) Establishment of a new Party organization or dissolution of an
existing one must be decided by a Party organization at the next
higher level.
(4) The Party Central Committee and local committees at various
levels may set up agencies.
(5) When the Party congresses at various levels and grassroots
congresses are not in session, the Party organization at the next
higher level, when it deems necessary, may transfer or assign
responsible members to the leading Party group at a lower
level.
(6) When Party leading bodies at various levels make decisions on
important issues related to lower organizations, under normal
conditions they shall solicit the opinions of the latter. They
shall ensure that lower organizations can normally exercise their
function and powers. Unless under special conditions, the leading
bodies at a higher level shall not interfere in matters which
should be handled by lower organizations.
(7) Only the Party Central Committee has the right to decide on
major issues of national policy; Party organizations of various
departments and localities may put forward their suggestions to the
Central Committee, but must not make decisions without
authorization or publish their own proposals in public.
(8) Lower Party organizations must firmly carry out the decisions
of higher organizations.
Lower organizations may request a change in the decision of the
higher organization if they think it does not conform to conditions
in their locality or department; if the higher organization insists
on its original decision, the lower organizations must carry it out
and shall not openly publicize differing opinions, but they have
the right to report the matter to the organizations at a still
higher level.
(9) The newspapers, magazines and other mass media of Party
organizations at various levels must publicize the Party's line,
principles, policies and resolutions.
(10) In discussing and deciding issues, a Party organization must
apply the principle of subordinating the minority to the majority.
Decisions on important issues shall be put to the vote. Serious
consideration shall be given to the different opinions of a few
people. If a dispute over an important issue arises and the number
of people on both sides is approximately the same, except when in
an emergency the opinions of the majority must be carried out,
finalizing a decision shall be deferred. Under special
circumstances, a report of the case under dispute may be referred
to the organization at the next higher level for a ruling.
(11) If an important proposal published by an individual Party
member on behalf of a Party organization exceeds the scope of the
original decision, the matter shall be submitted to the Party
organization for discussion and decision, or instructions shall be
sought from the Party organization at the next higher level. No
Party member, whether of high or low position, can individually
decide on a major issue; if, in an emergency, a decision must be
made by an individual, the matter must be promptly reported to the
Party organization afterwards.
IV. Organizations of the Party
1. Central organizations of the Party
(1) The National Party Congress and the Central
Committee
The central leading organ of the Party is the National Party
Congress and the Central Committee it elects. The Central Committee
is accountable to and reports its work to the National
Congress.
The National Party Congress, held once every five years, is
convened by the Central Committee. If the Central Committee deems
it necessary, or over one-third of the provincial-level
organizations express a demand, the congress may be held ahead of
schedule; and if there is no special situation, its convening shall
not be postponed.
The number of delegates to the National Party Congress and the
method of election are decided by the Central Committee.
The Central Committee is elected for a term of five years. If the
National Congress is held ahead of schedule or deferred, its term
of office shall be changed accordingly.
The functions and powers of the National Party Congress are:
1)
To hear and examine the report of the Central Committee;
2)
To hear and examine the report of the Central Commission for
Discipline Inspection;
3)
To discuss and decide on major issues of the Party;
4)
To revise the Party Constitution;
5)
To elect the Central Committee; and
6)
To elect the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
When the National Congress is not in session, the Central Committee
implements the resolutions of the National Congress, leads all the
work of the Party, and represents the CPC outside the Party.
Members and alternate members of the Central Committee must have a
Party standing of at least five years.
The number of members and alternate members of the Central
Committee is decided by the National Congress. If posts of members
of the Central Committee fall vacant, the vacancies shall be filled
in proper order by alternate members in accordance with the number
of votes they gain.
A
plenary session of the Central Committee is held at least once a
year by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee.
(2) The Political Bureau, its Standing Committee, the General
Secretary, the Central Military Commission and the
Secretariat
The leading organs of the Central Committee are the Political
Bureau, its Standing Committee and general secretary of the Central
Committee.
The Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee, the Standing
Committee of the Political Bureau and the general secretary of the
Central Committee are elected by the plenary session of the Central
Committee.
The general secretary of the Central Committee must be elected from
among members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of
the Central Committee.
When the plenum of the Central Committee is not in session, the
Political Bureau of the Central Committee and its Standing
Committee exercise the functions and powers of the Central
Committee.
The general secretary of the Central Committee is responsible for
calling sessions of both the Political Bureau of the Central
Committee and its Standing Committee, and is in charge of the work
of the Secretariat of the Central Committee.
The central military leading organ of the Party is the Central
Military Commission.
Members of the Central Military Commission of the Party are decided
on by the Central Committee.
The Secretariat of the Central Committee is the administrative body
of the Political Bureau and its Standing Committee. Its members are
nominated by the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the
Central Committee and approved by the plenary session of the
Central Committee.
Leading bodies and leaders of the Central Committee elected by each
Central Committee shall continue to take charge of the day-to-day
work of the Party while the next National Congress is in session,
until a new central leading body and central leaders are elected by
the next Central Committee.
2. Local organizations of the Party
Party congresses of various provinces, autonomous regions,
municipalities directly under the central government, cities with
districts and autonomous prefectures are held once every five
years.
Local Party congresses at various levels are called by Party
committees at the same level. Under special conditions, they may be
held ahead of time or postponed with approval from the committee at
the next higher level.
The number of delegates of local Party congresses at various levels
and the method of election are decided by the Party committees at
the same level and reported to the Party committee at the next
higher level for approval.
The functions and powers of local Party congresses at various
levels are:
1)
To hear and examine the report of the committee at the same
level;
2)
To hear and examine the report of the discipline inspection
commission at the same level;
3)
To discuss major issues within the scope of the region and pass
resolutions; and
4)
To elect Party committees and party discipline inspection
commissions at the same level.
When congresses are not in session, local Party committees at
various levels carry out directions of the Party organizations at
the next higher level and the resolutions of Party congresses at
the same level, lead the work of the locality, and report work
regularly to the higher Party committee.
Party committees of various provinces, autonomous regions,
municipalities under the Central Government, cities divided into
districts and autonomous prefectures are elected for a term of five
years. Members and alternate members of these committees must have
a Party standing of at least five years.
Party committees of counties (banners), autonomous counties, cities
without districts and districts under the jurisdiction of a city
are elected for a term of five years. Members and alternate members
of these committees must have a Party standing of at least three
years.
If
local Party congresses at various levels are held ahead of time or
postponed, the term of office of the committees they elect shall be
changed accordingly.
The number of members and alternate members of the local Party
committees at various levels shall be decided respectively by the
committee at the next higher level. Vacancies of the posts for
members of local Party committees at various levels shall be filled
in proper order by alternate members in accordance with the number
of votes gained.
Plenary sessions of local Party committees at various levels shall
be held at least twice a year.
The plenary sessions of local Party committees at various levels
elect their standing committees, secretaries and deputy
secretaries, and report the results to the Party committee at the
next higher level for approval.
The standing committees of local Party committees at various levels
exercise the functions and powers of the committees when the
plenums of the committees are not in session.
They continue to be in charge of the day-to-day work while the next
congress is in session, until the new standing committees are
elected.
Regional Party committees and organizations equivalent to regional
committees are Party agencies of provinces and autonomous regions
within the scope of several counties, autonomous counties and
cities. Authorized by provincial and autonomous regional
committees, they lead the work of the areas concerned.
3. Grassroots organizations of the Party
A
grassroots Party organization shall be set up in enterprises, rural
areas, organizations, schools, scientific research institutes,
neighborhoods, People's Liberation Army companies and other basic
units on the mainland in which there are three or more full Party
members.
The grassroots Party organizations are combat bastions of the Party
among grassroots social organizations and the foundation of all the
Party's work and combat effectiveness.
Grassroots Party organizations respectively set up grassroots Party
committees, general Party branch committees and Party branch
committees in accordance with the requirements of the work and the
number of Party members, after approval by the next higher level
Party organization. Grassroots Party committees are elected by
meetings or congresses of Party members. General Party branch
committees and Party branch committees are elected by meetings of
Party members.
The grassroots Party committees are elected for a term of three or
four years. The general Party branch committees and the Party
branch committees are elected for a term of two or three years.
The names of the secretaries and deputy secretaries elected by
grassroots Party committees, general branch committees and branch
committees shall be submitted to the Party organization at the next
higher level for approval.
4. Leading Party groups
A
leading Party group can be established in the leading bodies of
central and local state organs, people's organizations, economic
and cultural organizations and other non-Party organizations.
The tasks for the leading Party groups are to take as their main
responsibility the realization of the Party's line, principles and
policies; discuss and decide on major issues of their own
department; unite with non-Party officials and masses in fulfilling
the tasks assigned by the Party and the state; and direct the work
of the Party organizations of the organs and the work units
directly under them.
Members of a leading Party group are appointed by the Party
committee that approves the establishment of the leading Party
group. The leading Party group consists of a secretary and deputy
secretaries.
The leading Party group must follow the leadership of the Party
committee which approves its establishment.
5. Discipline inspection organizations of the Party
Discipline inspection organizations of the Party consist of the
Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, local Party
commissions for discipline inspection at various levels and the
grassroots Party commissions for discipline inspection.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection works under the
leadership of the Party Central Committee.
The local Party commissions for discipline inspection at various
levels and the grassroots Party commissions for discipline
inspection work under the dual leadership of the Party committee at
the same level and Party commission for discipline inspection at
the next higher level.
The term of each Party commission for discipline inspection is the
same as that of the Party committee at the same level.
The plenary session of the Central Commission for Discipline
Inspection elects its standing committee, secretary and deputy
secretaries and reports this to the Party Central Committee for
approval.
The plenary sessions of local Party commissions for discipline
inspection at various levels elect the standing committee and
secretary and deputy secretaries, and the results are passed by the
Party committee at the same level and reported to the Party
committee at the next higher level for approval.
Whether a discipline inspection commission or discipline inspection
members for a grassroots Party committee shall be established or
put into position is to be decided by a Party organization at the
next higher level in light of specific conditions.
A
general Party branch committee and a Party branch committee shall
include discipline inspection members.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection may, if needed,
accredit a discipline inspection group or discipline inspectors to
central Party and state organs.
Leaders of the discipline inspection group or discipline inspectors
may attend, as non-voting members, related conferences organized by
Party leaders of the organ concerned.
Their work must be supported by the Party leaders and organizations
of the organ concerned.
V. Party members
Members of the CPC are vanguard fighters of the Chinese working
class with communist consciousness.
Chinese workers, farmers, soldiers, intellectuals and other
revolutionaries at 18 full years of age, who accept the Party
Program and Party Constitution, are willing to participate in one
Party organization and actively work in it, carry out Party
resolutions and pay regular Party dues, may apply for membership in
the CPC.
Party members must be admitted through a Party branch according to
the principles of admitting members individually only, without
exception.
Under special circumstances, the Party Central Committee, and
provincial, autonomous regional and municipal Party committees can
directly accept Party members.
An
applicant must fill in the form for Party membership and have two
full Party members as sponsors. The applicant can become a full
Party member only when his or her application has been passed by
the Party branch meeting and approved by the Party organization at
the next higher level, and only after assessment over a
probationary period.
Each Party member, regardless of whether his or her post is high or
low, must be entered into a Party branch, group or other specific
organization, and must participate in the Party's regular
organizational activities.
Leading Party officials must also participate in democratic
meetings of Party committees or leading Party groups.
Party members are free to withdraw from the Party. When a Party
member asks to withdraw from the Party, following discussion at a
general meeting of the Party branch concerned, his or her name must
be declared struck from the rolls, and the matter reported to the
next higher level Party organization for the record.
When a Party member neglects to perform the duties of a Party
member and fails to meet the requirements for a Party member, the
Party branch shall educate him or her and require that he or she
correct his or her shortcomings within a time limit; if after
education he or she still shows no change, the Party branch shall
persuade him or her to withdraw from the Party. The matter of
persuading a Party member to withdraw shall be discussed and
decided by a general meeting of the Party branch concerned and
reported to the Party organization at the next higher level for
approval. If the Party member persists in refusing to withdraw from
the Party after being advised, the matter shall be referred to the
Party branch for discussion at a general meeting, a decision taken
to have his or her name struck from the rolls, and a report made to
the Party organization at the next higher level for approval.
When a Party member has a difference of opinion concerning a Party
resolution or policy, he or she may declare reservations on the
premise of resolute implementation, and may forward his or her
opinion to a higher organization up to the Central Committee.
VI. CPC's leadership of the country
CPC's leadership over the country is mainly political, ideological
and organizational, as reflected mainly in the following
aspects:
First, organize and exercise leadership over the country's
legislative and law enforcement activities.
Second, maintain leadership over the armed forces.
Third, provide leadership and manage the work of officials.
Fourth, organize and mobilize the society, and
Fifth, give importance to ideological and political work.
