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Politics of China

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China is a very large and diverse country. It is led by a single group called the Chinese Communist Party, or the CCP. This group is known as a one-party state. This means the CCP holds almost all the power in the land. The government in Beijing says it is the only real government for all of China. This includes mainland China and Taiwan. However, the Republic of China government has disagreed with this since 1949.

Karakorum-carretera-d08
Karakorum-carretera-d08

The main part of the government is the National People's Congress, or the NPC. It is the highest source of state power. The NPC meets every year for about two weeks in Beijing. During these meetings, members review new laws and the country's budget. They also choose important leaders like the president and the premier. The NPC has a smaller group called a Standing Committee that meets more often. This committee helps make most of the national laws.

第十三届全国委员会第四次会议 20210305
第十三届全国委员会第四次会议 20210305

Power is held by a few key leaders within the CCP. The most important person is the General Secretary. This person holds the highest authority in the party. Since 1989, one person has held both the General Secretary role and the military leader role. This gives that person a huge amount of control. The President of China is a state leader, but the role is often more ceremonial. In March 2018, the NPC removed limits on how long a president can serve.

Bushhujintao
Bushhujintao

There are other small political parties in China, but they are not like parties in other places. There are eight minor parties that work under a system called the united front. These parties must support the leading role of the CCP to exist. They participate in a group called the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. They do not act as an opposition to the CCP. Instead, they help the CCP connect with different parts of society.

第十三届全国委员会第四次会议 20210305
第十三届全国委员会第四次会议 20210305

Voting works differently in China than in many other nations. People can only vote for leaders at the local level. This includes small towns and villages. There are no free national elections for top leaders. The CCP controls who can be a candidate in these local elections. This helps the party keep its monopoly on power. The party also leads the People's Liberation Army, which is the country's military.

Bushhujintao
Bushhujintao
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