CHINA INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT AP Comparative Government PARALLEL

CHINA: INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT AP Comparative Government

PARALLEL HIERARCHIES • The political structure of the People’s Republic of China can best be seen as three parallel hierarchies that are separate yet interact. They include the: • Communist Party • State or government • People’s Liberation Army • The party dominates all three arms of government, but they are considered to be separate entities • The control of the party and government is described as dual role • Vertical supervision of the next higher level of government • Horizontal supervision of the Communist Party at the same level • While the structure of government closely mirrors Russia, Chinese policy making is determined more through factions than through strict control through a main leader

STRUCTURE • The government structure of the People’s Republic of China has three branches: • Legislature • Executive • Judiciary • All Branches are controlled party, so they are not independent, nor do they have a system checks and balances • All top positions are held by party members, as are the majority of lower level positions

PEOPLE’S CONGRESS • The National People’s Congress has the formal authority in China • The National People’s Congress is at the top of the hierarchy. They are followed by provincial, city and local congresses • The National People’s Congress chooses the president and vice president of China, but there is only one party-sponsored candidate for each position • The National People’s Congress has very little power, but they are important because it is through these meetings where the Politburo’s decisions are announced

EXECUTIVE/BUREAUCRACY • The president and vice president serve five-year terms and are limited to two terms • To be president you must be at least 45 years old • The positions are largely ceremonial, but party leaders have always held them • Currently Xi Jinping is both the president and the general secretary of the CCP • He is expected to serve two five year terms and serve as president until 2023 • The premier is the head of government, formally appointed by the president • This position is also always held by a member of the Standing Committee • The current premier is Li Keqiang • He directs the State Council, which is composed of ministers who direct the many ministries and commissions of the bureaucracies • The Bureaucracy exists on all levels, national, provincial, county and local • Lower level positions are held by cadres, people in positions of authority who are paid by the government or party

JUDICIARY • China has a four-tiered “people’s court” system, organized hierarchically just as the people's congresses are • The people‘s procuratorate provides public prosecutors and defenders to the courts • Under Mao, the concept of rule of law had very little impact, but after 1978 Chinese leaders began to develop new legal ideas and institutions that included rule of law • The concept of rule of law in China is interpreted to mean that laws bind behavior and all are equally subject to them • These principles are however not always applied • Those who dissent against the government are commonly arrested and placed in jail without having their charges announced and without trial • The conviction rate in China is 99% • Prison terms are long and subject to little appeal • Execution for crimes are common in China

THE PEOPLE’S LIBERATION ARMY (PLA) • The People’s Liberation Army encompasses all of the country's ground, air, and naval armed services • There are 3 million active personnel and about 12 million reserves • The military is represented in the government by the Central Military Commission • The military has cut off connections with other militaries

POLICYMAKING • Since Deng Xioping, policymaking has focused on reconciling centralized political authority, with marketization and privatization • China has been able to thus far resist the need to democratize even though there has been large changes in the newly capitalist nature of the Chinese economy