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White paper on political democracy (full text)
(china.org.cn)
Updated: 2005-10-19 11:01 The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
(CPPCC) is an organization of the patriotic united front of the Chinese people.
It is an important organ of multi-party cooperation and political consultation
under the leadership of the CPC, and an important instrument of democracy in the
country's political life. The CPPCC National Committee is composed of members of
the CPC and the democratic parties, personages without party affiliation,
representatives of people's organizations, ethnic minorities and all walks of
life, representatives of compatriots of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan, as well as of
returned overseas Chinese and other specially invited people, who are divided
into several circles. The CPPCC National Committee has one chairperson, a number
of vice-chairpersons and one secretary-general, serves for a term of five years,
and holds a plenary session once a year. The provinces, autonomous regions,
municipalities directly under the central government establish CPPCC committees
of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. The autonomous
prefectures, cities divided into districts, counties, autonomous counties,
cities not divided into districts and districts under the jurisdiction of
cities, where there are suitable conditions for setting up local committees, may
establish CPPCC committees in the corresponding areas. The tenure of these
committees is five years, and a plenary session shall be held at least once a
year. The CPPCC conducts its work centering on the two themes of unity and
democracy, and exercises the functions of political consultation, democratic
supervision, and participating in the administration and discussion of state
affairs. The CPPCC plays an important role in the state's political life, social
life and overseas friendship activities, as well as the country's modernization
drive and the struggle to safeguard national reunification and unity. The CPC
and the governments at all levels consult the CPPCC on fundamental policies and
important issues in political, economic, cultural and social affairs before a
decision is adopted and during the implementation of such decisions, so as to
heed and canvass a wide range of opinions. This is a key link for the CPC and
the governments at all levels to ensure that decision-making is scientific and
democratic.
The increasing importance of the system of multi-party
cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC in the
state's political and social life can be specified as follows:
- Political consultation between the CPC and the
democratic parties and personages without party affiliation has been gradually
institutionalized and standardized. The CPC Central Committee routinely invites
leaders of the democratic parties and representative personages without party
affiliation to consultative conferences, small-scale meetings and forums at
which CPC leaders inform the participants of major events, hear their opinions
and suggestions, and discuss state affairs with them. In addition to these
consultation meetings, the central committees of the democratic parties may
submit suggestions in writing to the CPC Central Committee. Consultations may
cover important documents of the CPC National Congress and the CPC Central
Committee; proposed amendments to the Constitution and important laws;
candidates for senior offices of the state; important decisions concerning the
reform and opening-up program; the medium- and long-term plans for national
economic and social development; major issues that have a bearing on the overall
situation of the country; circulation of information about important documents
and situations, and soliciting of opinions; as well as other major issues that
need to be discussed with the democratic parties. In 2003 and 2004, 36
consultative conferences, forums and briefings were convened by CPC leaders or
entrusted by them to be convened by relevant departments, 13 of which were
presided over by the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee.
- Members of the democratic parties and personages
without party affiliation play an important role in the people's congresses.
Members of the democratic parties and personages without party affiliation hold
an appropriate proportion in the deputies to the NPC, the Standing Committee and
the special committees of the NPC. Through their activities in the people's
congresses, they reflect the wishes of the people, participate in
decision-making on major state issues and in the formulation of laws, and
supervise the work of the government. In 2003, when a new term of office began,
176,000 members of the democratic parties and personages without party
affiliation were elected deputies to the people's congresses at various levels
nationwide. Among them, seven are vice-chairpersons of the NPC Standing
Committee and 50 are members of the NPC Standing Committee; 41 are
vice-chairpersons of the standing committees of provincial-level people's
congresses and 462 are members of such standing committees; and 352 are
vice-chairpersons of the standing committees of municipal-level people's
congresses and 2,084 are members of such standing committees.
- Members of the democratic parties and personages
without party affiliation hold leading positions in government and judicial
organs at various levels. At the end of 2004, over 32,000 members of the
democratic parties and personages without party affiliation held leading
positions in government and law-enforcement departments at and above the county
level. Among them, 19 held leading posts in the Supreme People's Court, the
Supreme People's Procuratorate as well as the various ministries and commissions
under the central government; 27 served as deputy governors, vice-chairpersons
or deputy mayors in the 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities on
the mainland of China; 354 served as deputy mayors in the people's governments
of 397 cities (prefectures, leagues or districts); 19 were vice-presidents of
courts or deputy chief procurators of procuratorates at the provincial level;
and 87 were vice-presidents of courts or deputy chief procurators of
procuratorates at the prefecture level. Engaging in mutual support with CPC
officials, they play a significant role in the organs of state power.
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