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Politics of China

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The political system of the People's Republic of China (PRC) is a communist state framework. It operates under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This system is often described as authoritarian because the CCP holds a monopoly on power. There are no freely elected national leaders and political opposition is suppressed. The government officially describes its system as a people's democratic dictatorship. It also uses terms like "socialist consultative democracy" and "whole-process people's democracy."

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

At the center of the state is the National People's Congress (NPC). The NPC is the supreme organ of state power and the only branch of government. It meets annually for about two weeks to review laws, the budget, and major policies. The NPC elects important officials, including the president and the premier. Because the NPC has a permanent body called the Standing Committee (NPCSC), most national legislation is handled there. The NPCSC meets regularly between the large annual sessions.

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

The CCP functions as the true source of authority within this structure. The party holds two-thirds of the seats in the NPC. This allows the CCP to control the state through the legislative process. The party's supreme body is the Party Congress, which meets every five years. This congress elects the Central Committee. The Central Committee then elects the most powerful leaders in the country.

Bushhujintao
Bushhujintao

Leadership within the CCP is organized into several specific bodies. The General Secretary is the highest-ranking official and the paramount leader. Below the General Secretary is the Politburo, which contains 22 full members. The most critical group is the Politburo Standing Committee. As of June 2020, this committee consisted of seven members. These individuals make the most important decisions for the nation. The Secretariat serves as the main administrative mechanism for the party.

Bushhujintao
Bushhujintao

Power is concentrated in specific roles held by individual leaders. The General Secretary holds ultimate authority over both the party and the state. Since 1989, one person has held both the General Secretary role and the chairmanship of the Central Military Commission. This grants that individual predominant power over the military and the government. The President of China serves as the state representative. While the presidency was once limited by term limits, the NPC removed these limits in March 2018.

Bushhujintao
Bushhujintao

Political competition in China often happens within the party itself. These are known as intra-party factions. In the past, two main groups were the Tuanpai and the Shanghai Clique. The Tuanpai consisted of officials from the Communist Youth League. The Shanghai Clique rose to power under former leader Jiang Zemin. However, since Xi Jinping became General Secretary in 2012, he has centralized power. He has promoted his own allies, often called the "Xi Jinping faction," making the old factions considered extinct.

Bushhujintao
Bushhujintao

The electoral system is highly constrained by party control. Direct elections only occur at the local level, such as in villages and towns. At the national level, there are no free elections. The CCP controls all candidate nominations for these local positions. While there are eight minor political parties in China, they must support the CCP's leadership. They participate in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) but do not act as an opposition. This system ensures the CCP remains the sole ruling power.

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
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