The following is the full text of the Constitution of the Communist
Party of China (CPC) amended and adopted at the 16th CPC National
Congress on November 14, 2002.
CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF
CHINA
(Amended and adopted at the Sixteenth National Congress of the
Communist Party of China on November 14, 2002)
General Program
Chapter I Membership
Chapter II Organization System of the
Party
Chapter III Central Organizations of the
Party
Chapter IV Local Organizations of the
Party
Chapter V Primary Organizations of the
Party
Chapter VI Party Cadres
Chapter VII Party Discipline
Chapter VIII Party Organs for Discipline
Inspection
Chapter IX Leading Party Members' Groups
Chapter X Relationship Between the Party and the
Communist Youth League
Chapter XI Party Emblem and Flag
General Program
The Communist Party of China is the vanguard both of the Chinese
working class and of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation. It
is the core of leadership for the cause of socialism with Chinese
characteristics and represents the development trend of China's
advanced productive forces, the orientation of China's advanced
culture and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority
of the Chinese people. The realization of communism is the highest
ideal and ultimate goal of the Party.
The Communist Party of China takes Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong
Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three
Represents as its guide to action.
Marxism-Leninism brings to light the laws governing the development
of the history of human society. Its basic tenets are correct and
have tremendous vitality. The highest ideal of communism pursued by
the Chinese Communists can be realized only when the socialist
society is fully developed and very advanced. The development and
improvement of the socialist system is a long historical process.
So long as the Chinese Communists uphold the basic tenets of
Marxism-Leninism and follow the road suited to China's specific
conditions and chosen by the Chinese people of their own accord,
the socialist cause in China will be crowned with final
victory.
The Chinese Communists, with Comrade Mao Zedong as their chief
representative, created Mao Zedong Thought by integrating the basic
tenets of Marxism-Leninism with the concrete practice of the
Chinese revolution. Mao Zedong Thought is Marxism-Leninism applied
and developed in China; it consists of a body of theoretical
principles concerning the revolution and construction in China and
a summary of experience therein, both of which have been proved
correct by practice; it represents the crystallized, collective
wisdom of the Communist Party of China. Under the guidance of Mao
Zedong Thought, the Communist Party of China led the people of all
ethnic groups in their prolonged revolutionary struggle against
imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism, winning victory
for the new-democratic revolution and founding the People's
Republic of China, a people's democratic dictatorship. After the
founding of the People's Republic, it led them in carrying out
socialist transformation, completing the transition from New
Democracy to socialism, establishing the basic system of socialism
and developing socialism economically, politically and
culturally.
After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Party Central
Committee, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Deng Xiaoping as
the chief representative, summed up their experience, both positive
and negative, emancipated their minds, sought truth from facts,
shifted the focus of the work of the whole Party onto economic
development and carried out reform and opening to the outside
world, ushering in a new era of development in the cause of
socialism, gradually formulating the line, principles and policies
concerning the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics
and expounding the basic questions concerning the building,
consolidating and developing of socialism in China, and thus
founding Deng Xiaoping Theory. Deng Xiaoping Theory is the outcome
of the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism with the
practice of contemporary China and the features of the times, a
continuation and development of Mao Zedong Thought under new
historical conditions; it represents a new period of development of
Marxism in China, it is Marxism of contemporary China and it is the
crystallized, collective wisdom of the Communist Party of China. It
is guiding the socialist modernization of our country from victory
to victory.
Since the Fourth Plenary Session of the Thirteenth Party Central
Committee and in the practice of building socialism with Chinese
characteristics, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Jiang Zemin
as their chief representative, have acquired a deeper understanding
of what socialism is, how to build it and what kind of a party to
build and how to build it, accumulated new valuable experience in
running the Party and state and formed the important thought of
Three Represents. The important thought of Three Represents is a
continuation and development of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong
Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory; it reflects new requirements for
the work of the Party and state arising from the changes in China
and other parts of the world today; it serves as a powerful
theoretical weapon for strengthening and improving Party building
and for promoting self-improvement and development of socialism in
China; and it is the crystallized, collective wisdom of the
Communist Party of China. It is a guiding ideology that the Party
must uphold for a long time to come. Persistent implementation of
the "Three Represents" is the foundation for building our Party,
the cornerstone for its governance and the source of its
strength.
China is at the primary stage of socialism and will remain so for a
long period of time. This is a historical stage which cannot be
skipped in socialist modernization in China that is backward
economically and culturally. It will last for over a hundred years.
In socialist construction we must proceed from our specific
conditions and take the path to socialism with Chinese
characteristics. At the present stage, the principal contradiction
in Chinese society is one between the ever-growing material and
cultural needs of the people and the low level of production. Owing
to both domestic circumstances and foreign influences, class
struggle will continue to exist within a certain scope for a long
time and may possibly grow acute under certain conditions, but it
is no longer the principal contradiction. In building socialism,
our basic task is to further release and develop the productive
forces and achieve socialist modernization step by step by carrying
out reform in those aspects and links of the production relations
and the superstructure that do not conform to the development of
the productive forces. We must uphold and improve the basic
economic system, with public ownership playing a dominant role and
diverse forms of ownership developing side by side as well as the
system of distribution under which distribution according to work
is dominant and a variety of modes of distribution coexist,
encourage some areas and some people to become rich first,
gradually eliminate poverty and achieve common prosperity, and
continuously meet the people's ever-growing material and cultural
needs on the basis of the growth of production and social wealth.
Development is our Party's top priority in governing and
rejuvenating the country. The general starting point and criterion
for judging all our work should be how it benefits the development
of the productive forces in our socialist society, adds to the
overall strength of our socialist country and improves the people's
living standards. The beginning of the new century marks China's
entry into the new stage of development of building a well-off
society in an all-round way and accelerating socialist
modernization. The strategic objectives of economic and social
development at the new stage in the new century are to consolidate
and develop the well-off standard of living initially attained,
bring China into a well-off society of a higher level to the
benefit of well over one billion people by the time of the Party's
centenary and bring the per capita GDP up to the level of
moderately developed countries and realize modernization in the
main by the time of the centenary of the People's Republic of
China.
The basic line of the Communist Party of China at the primary stage
of socialism is to lead the people of all our ethnic groups in a
concerted, self-reliant and pioneering effort to turn China into a
prosperous, strong, democratic and culturally advanced modern
socialist country by making economic development our central task
while adhering to the Four Cardinal Principles and persevering in
the reform and opening up.
In
leading the cause of socialism, the Communist Party of China must
persist in taking economic development as the central task, making
all other work subordinated to and serve this central task. We must
lose no time in speeding up economic development, implement the
strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education
and that of sustainable development, give full play to the role of
science and technology as the primary productive force. We must
take advantage of the advancement of science and technology to
improve the quality of workers and work hard to push forward the
economy with good results, high quality and high speed.
The Four Cardinal Principles -- to keep to the socialist road and
to uphold the people's democratic dictatorship, leadership by the
Communist Party of China, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong
Thought -- are the foundation on which to build our country.
Throughout the course of socialist modernization we must adhere to
the Four Cardinal Principles and combat bourgeois
liberalization.
Reform and opening up are the only way to make our country strong.
We must carry out fundamental reform of the economic structure that
hampers the development of the productive forces, and keep and
improve a socialist market economy; we must also carry out
corresponding political restructuring and reform in other fields.
The opening up means all-dimensional opening up, both externally
and internally. We must expand economic and technological exchanges
and cooperation with other countries, make more and better use of
foreign capital, resources and technologies, and assimilate and
exploit the achievements of all other cultures, including all the
advanced modes of operation and methods of management of developed
countries in the West that embody the laws governing modern
socialized production. We must be bold in blazing new trails in the
practice of reform and opening up.
The Communist Party of China leads the people in promoting
socialist democracy and building socialist political civilization.
It keeps expanding socialist democracy, strengthens the socialist
legal system, rules the country by law, builds a socialist country
under the rule of law and consolidates the people's democratic
dictatorship. The system of people's congresses and the system of
multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the
leadership of the Communist Party of China should continue. The
Party should encourage the people to act as the masters of the
country and take effective measures to protect the people's right
to run the affairs of the state and of society and manage economic
and cultural undertakings. It should encourage the free airing of
views and establish and improve systems and procedures of
democratic decision-making and supervision. State legislation and
law enforcement should be strengthened so as to gradually put all
work of the state on a legal footing. Comprehensive measures for
keeping law and order should be taken to maintain the long-term
social stability. Efforts must be made according to law to crack
down on the criminal activities and criminals that endanger
national security and interests, social stability and economic
development. We should strictly distinguish between the two
different types of contradictions -- those between ourselves and
the enemy and those among the people, so as to handle them
properly.
The Communist Party of China leads the people in their efforts to
build spiritual civilization as well as material and political
civilizations and to combine ruling the country by law and ruling
the country by virtue. Socialist spiritual civilization provides a
powerful ideological driving force and intellectual support and
helps create a good social climate for economic development, reform
and opening up. It is essential to press ahead with education,
science and culture, respect learning and talented people, raise
the ideological, moral, scientific and educational levels of the
entire nation, develop the fine national traditional culture, and
develop a thriving socialist culture. It is essential to inspire
the Party members and the people with the Party's basic line,
patriotism, community spirit and socialist ideology, enhance their
sense of national dignity, self-confidence and self-reliance, imbue
the Party members with lofty ideals of communism, resist corrosion
by capitalist and feudal decadent ideas and wipe out all social
evils so that our people will have lofty ideals, moral integrity, a
good education and a strong sense of discipline.
The Communist Party of China persists in its leadership over the
People's Liberation Army and other people's armed forces, builds up
the strength of the People's Liberation Army, and gives full play
to its role in consolidating national defense, defending the
motherland and participating in the socialist modernization
drive.
The Communist Party of China upholds and promotes relations of
equality, unity and mutual assistance among all ethnic groups in
the country, upholds and constantly improves the system of regional
ethnic autonomy, actively trains and promotes cadres from among
ethnic minorities, and helps them with economic and cultural
development in the areas inhabited by ethnic minorities so as to
achieve common prosperity and all-round progress for all ethnic
groups.
The Communist Party of China unites with all workers, farmers and
intellectuals, and with all the democratic parties, personages
without party affiliation and the patriotic forces of all ethnic
groups in China in further expanding and fortifying the broadest
possible patriotic united front embracing all socialist workers and
all patriots who support socialism or who support the reunification
of the motherland. We should constantly work to strengthen the
unity of all the Chinese people, including our compatriots in Hong
Kong and Macao special administrative regions and in Taiwan as well
as overseas Chinese. We should accomplish the great task of
reunifying the motherland in conformity with the principle of "one
country, two systems".
The Communist Party of China stands for developing relations with
other countries in order to bring about a favorable international
environment for China's reform, opening up and modernization. In
international affairs, it adheres to the independent foreign policy
of peace, safeguarding China's independence and sovereignty,
opposing hegemonism and power politics, defending world peace, and
promoting human progress. It works to develop relations between
China and other countries on the basis of the five principles of
mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual
non-aggression, noninterference in each other's internal affairs,
equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. It strives
for the constant development of good-neighborly relations between
China and the surrounding countries and for the strengthening of
the unity and cooperation between China and other developing
countries. The Communist Party of China develops relations with
communist parties and other political parties in other countries in
accordance with the principles of independence, complete equality,
mutual respect and noninterference in each other's internal
affairs.
In
order to lead the people of all ethnic groups in China in attaining
the great goal of socialist modernization, the Communist Party of
China must adhere to the Party's basic line in strengthening and
improving Party building, persist in the principle that the Party
exercises self-discipline and is strict with its members, and carry
forward its fine tradition and style of work. It must constantly
improve its art of leadership and governance, raise its ability to
resist corruption, prevent degeneration and withstand risks,
constantly strengthen its class foundation, expand its mass base
and enhance its creativity, cohesion and combat effectiveness, so
that it will stand forever in the forefront of the times and make
itself a strong nucleus that can lead all the Chinese people in the
unceasing march along the road of socialism with Chinese
characteristics. In building the Party, we must be determined to
meet the following four essential requirements:
First, adhering to the Party's basic line. The whole Party must
achieve unity in thinking and in action with Deng Xiaoping Theory,
the important thought of Three Represents and the Party's basic
line and will persevere in doing so for a long time to come. We
must integrate the reform and the open policy with the Four
Cardinal Principles, carry out the Party's basic line in all fields
of endeavor, implement in an all-round way the Party's basic
program for the primary stage of socialism and combat all "Left" or
Right erroneous tendencies, maintaining vigilance against Right
tendencies, primarily against "Left" tendencies. We must intensify
the building of leading bodies at all levels, selecting and
promoting cadres who have scored outstanding achievements in their
public service and have won the trust of the masses in the reform,
opening up and the modernization drive, and train and cultivate
millions of successors to the cause of socialism, thus ensuring
organizationally the implementation of the Party's basic line and
program.
Second, persevering in emancipating the mind, seeking truth from
facts and keeping pace with the times. The Party's ideological line
is to proceed from reality in handling all matters, to integrate
theory with practice, to seek truth from facts, and to verify and
develop the truth through practice. Party members must adhere to
this ideological line, explore new ways, boldly experiment with new
methods, go in for innovation, work creatively, constantly study
new situations, review new experience and solve new problems, and
enrich and develop Marxism in practice.
Third, persevering in serving the people wholeheartedly. The Party
has no special interests of its own apart from the interests of the
working class and the broadest masses of the people. At all times
the Party gives top priority to the interests of the people, shares
weal and woe with them and keeps in closest contact with them, and
it does not allow any member to become divorced from the masses or
place himself above them. The Party follows the mass line in its
work, doing everything for the masses, relying on them in every
task, carrying out the principle "from the masses, to the masses",
and translating its correct views into conscious action of the
masses. The biggest political advantage of our Party lies in its
close ties with the masses while the biggest potential danger for
it as a ruling party comes from its divorce from them. The Party's
style of work and its maintenance of ties with the masses of the
people are a matter of vital importance to the Party, and the Party
persistently opposes corruption, exerting great efforts to improve
its style of work and make itself clean and honest.
Fourth, upholding democratic centralism. Democratic centralism is a
combination of centralism on the basis of democracy and democracy
under centralized guidance. It is the fundamental organizational
principle of the Party and is also the mass line applied in the
Party's political activities. Within the Party, democracy and the
initiative and creativity of Party organizations at all levels as
well as the vast number of Party members must be given full play.
Correct centralism must be practiced so as to ensure concerted
action in the whole Party and prompt and effective implementation
of its decisions. The sense of organization and discipline must be
strengthened, and all members are equal before Party discipline.
Supervision over leading organs of the Party and over Party members
holding leading positions must be strengthened and the system of
inner-Party supervision constantly improved. In its internal
political activities, the Party conducts criticism and
self-criticism in the correct way, waging ideological struggles
over matters of principles, upholding truth and rectifying
mistakes. Diligent efforts must be made to create a political
situation in which there are both centralism and democracy, both
discipline and freedom, both unity of will and personal ease of
mind and liveliness.
Leadership by the Party means mainly political, ideological and
organizational leadership. The Party must meet the requirements of
reform, opening up and the socialist modernization drive and
strengthen and improve its leadership. Acting on the principle that
the Party commands the overall situation and coordinates the
efforts of all quarters, the Party must play the role as the core
of leadership among all other organizations at the corresponding
levels. It must concentrate on leading economic development,
organize and coordinate all forces in a concerted effort to focus
on economic development. The Party must practice democratic and
scientific decision-making; formulate and implement the correct
line, principles and policies; do its organizational, publicity and
educational work well and make sure that all Party members play an
exemplary and vanguard role. The Party must conduct its activities
within the framework of the Constitution and other laws. It must
see to it that the legislative, judicial and administrative organs
of the state and the economic, cultural and people's organizations
work with initiative and independent responsibility and in harmony.
The Party must strengthen its leadership over the trade unions, the
Communist Youth League organizations, the women's federations and
other mass organizations, and give full scope to their roles. The
Party must adapt itself to the march of events and changing
circumstances, improving its system and style of leadership and
raising its governing capacity. Party members must work in close
cooperation with the vast number of non-Party people in the common
endeavor to build socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Chapter I Membership
Article 1 Any Chinese worker, farmer, member of the armed
forces, intellectual or any advanced element of other social strata
who has reached the age of eighteen and who accepts the Party's
Program and Constitution and is willing to join and work actively
in one of the Party organizations, carry out the Party's decisions
and pay membership dues regularly may apply for membership in the
Communist Party of China.
Article 2 Members of the Communist Party of China are
vanguard fighters of the Chinese working class imbued with
communist consciousness.
Members of the Communist Party of China must serve the people
wholeheartedly, dedicate their whole lives to the realization of
communism, and be ready to make any personal sacrifices.
Members of the Communist Party of China are at all times ordinary
members of the working people. Communist Party members must not
seek personal gain or privileges, although the relevant laws and
policies provide them with personal benefits and job-related
functions and powers.
Article 3 Party members must fulfill the following
duties:
(1) To conscientiously study Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought,
Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents,
study the Party's line, principles, policies and decisions, acquire
essential knowledge concerning the Party, obtain general,
scientific and professional knowledge and work diligently to
enhance their ability to serve the people.
(2) To implement the Party's basic line, principles and policies,
take the lead in reform, opening up and socialist modernization,
encourage the people to work hard for economic development and
social progress and play an exemplary and vanguard role in
production, work, study and social activities.
(3) To adhere to the principle that the interests of the Party and
the people stand above everything else, subordinating their
personal interests to the interests of the Party and the people,
being the first to bear hardships and the last to enjoy comforts,
working selflessly for the public interests and working to
contribute more.
(4) To conscientiously observe the Party discipline, abide by the
laws and regulations of the state in an exemplary way, rigorously
guard secrets of the Party and state, execute the Party's
decisions, and accept any job and actively fulfill any task
assigned them by the Party.
(5) To uphold the Party's solidarity and unity, be loyal to and
honest with the Party, match words with deeds, firmly oppose all
factions and small-clique activities and oppose double-dealing and
scheming of any kind.
(6) To earnestly engage in criticism and self-criticism, boldly
expose and correct shortcomings and mistakes in work and resolutely
combat corruption and other malpractices.
(7) To maintain close ties with the masses, disseminate the Party's
views among them, consult with them when problems arise, keep the
Party informed of their views and demands in good time and defend
their legitimate interests.
(8) To promote new socialist ways and customs and advocate
communist ethics. To step forward and fight bravely in times of
difficulty or danger, daring to make any sacrifice to defend the
interests of the country and the people.
Article 4 Party members enjoy the following rights:
(1) To attend relevant Party meetings, read relevant Party
documents, and benefit from the Party's education and training.
(2) To participate in the discussion of questions concerning the
Party's policies at Party meetings and in Party newspapers and
journals.
(3) To make suggestions and proposals regarding the work of the
Party.
(4) To make well-grounded criticism of any Party organization or
member at Party meetings, to present information or charges against
any Party organization or member concerning violations of
discipline or the law to the Party in a responsible way, to demand
disciplinary measures against such a member, or call for dismissal
or replacement of any incompetent cadre.
(5) To participate in voting and elections and to stand for
election.
(6) To attend, with the right of self-defense, discussions held by
Party organizations to decide on disciplinary measures to be taken
against themselves or to appraise their work and behavior; other
Party members may also bear witness or argue on their behalf.
(7) In case of disagreement with a Party decision or policy, to
make reservations and present their views to Party organizations at
higher levels even up to the Central Committee, provided that they
resolutely carry out the decision or policy while it is in
force.
(8) To put forward any request, appeal, or complaint to higher
Party organizations even up to the Central Committee and ask the
organizations concerned for a responsible reply.
No
Party organization, up to and including the Central Committee, has
the right to deprive any Party member of the above-mentioned
rights.
Article 5 New Party members must be admitted through a Party
branch, and the principle of individual admission must be adhered
to.
An
applicant for Party membership must fill in an application form and
be recommended by two full Party members. The application must be
accepted at a general membership meeting of the Party branch
concerned and approved by the next higher Party organization, and
the applicant must undergo observation for a probationary period
before being granted full membership.
Party members who recommend an applicant must make genuine efforts
to acquaint themselves with the applicant's ideology, character,
personal record and work performance and explain to each applicant
the Party's program and Constitution, qualifications for membership
and the duties and rights of members, and must make a responsible
report to the Party organization on the matter.
The Party branch committee must canvass the opinions of persons
concerned, inside and outside the Party, about an applicant for
Party membership and, after establishing the latter's qualification
following rigorous examination, submit the application to a general
membership meeting for discussion.
Before approving the admission of applicants for Party membership,
the next higher Party organization concerned must appoint people to
talk with them, in order to get to know them better and help deepen
their understanding of the Party.
In
special circumstances, the Central Committee of the Party or the
Party committee of a province, autonomous region or municipality
directly under the Central Government may admit new Party members
directly.
Article 6 A probationary Party member must take an admission
oath in front of the Party flag. The oath reads: It is my will to
join the Communist Party of China, uphold the Party's program,
observe the provisions of the Party Constitution, fulfill a Party
member's duties, carry out the Party's decisions, strictly observe
Party discipline, guard Party secrets, be loyal to the Party, work
hard, fight for communism throughout my life, be ready at all times
to sacrifice my all for the Party and the people, and never betray
the Party.
Article 7 The probationary period of a probationary member
is one year. The Party organization should make serious efforts to
educate and observe the probationary members.
Probationary members have the same duties as full members. They
enjoy the rights of full members except those of participating in
voting and elections and standing for election.
Upon the expiration of the probationary period of a probationary
member, the Party branch concerned should promptly discuss whether
he is qualified for full membership. A probationary member who
conscientiously performs his duties and is qualified for full
membership shall be granted full membership as scheduled; if
continued observation and education are needed, the probationary
period may be extended, but by no more than one year; if a
probationary member fails to perform his duties and is found to be
unqualified for full membership, his probationary membership shall
be annulled. Any decision to grant a probationary member full
membership, extend a probationary period, or annul a probationary
membership must be made through discussion held by the general
membership meeting of the Party branch concerned and approved by
the next higher Party organization.
The probationary period of a probationary member begins from the
day the general membership meeting of the Party branch admits him
as a probationary member. The Party standing of a member begins
from the day he is granted full membership on the expiration of the
probationary period.
Article 8 Every Party member, irrespective of position, must
be organized into a branch, cell or other specific unit of the
Party to participate in the regular activities of the Party
organization and accept supervision by the masses inside and
outside the Party. Leading Party cadres must attend democratic
meetings held by the Party committee or leading Party members'
groups. There shall be no privileged Party members who do not
participate in the regular activities of the Party organization and
do not accept supervision by the masses inside and outside the
Party.
Article 9 Party members are free to withdraw from the Party.
When a Party member asks to withdraw, the Party branch concerned
shall, after discussion by its general membership meeting, remove
his name from the Party rolls, make the removal public and report
it to the next higher Party organization for the record.
The Party branch shall try to educate the Party member who lacks
revolutionary will, fails to fulfill the duties of a Party member,
or is not qualified for membership and require him to correct his
mistakes within the time. If he remains incorrigible after
education, he should be persuaded to withdraw from the Party. The
case shall be discussed and decided by the general membership
meeting of the Party branch concerned and submitted to the next
higher Party organization for approval. If the Party member being
persuaded to withdraw refuses to do so, the case shall be submitted
to the general membership meeting of the Party branch concerned for
discussion to decide on the removal of his name from the Party
rolls, after which the decision shall be submitted to the next
higher Party organization for approval.
A
Party member who fails to take part in regular Party activities,
pay membership dues or do work assigned by the Party for six
successive months without good reason is regarded as having given
up membership. The general membership meeting of the Party branch
concerned shall decide on the removal of such a person's name from
the Party rolls and report it to the next higher Party organization
for approval.
Chapter II Organization System of the Party
Article 10 The Party is an integral body organized under its
program and Constitution on the principle of democratic centralism.
The basic principles of democratic centralism as practiced by the
Party are as follows:
(1) Individual Party members are subordinate to the Party
organization, the minority is subordinate to the majority, the
lower Party organizations are subordinate to the higher Party
organizations, and all the constituent organizations and members of
the Party are subordinate to the National Congress and the Central
committee of the Party.
(2) The Party's leading bodies at all levels are elected except for
the representative organs dispatched by them and the leading Party
members' groups in non-Party organizations.
(3) The highest leading body of the Party is the National Congress
and the Central Committee elected by it. The leading bodies of
local Party organizations are the Party congresses at their
respective levels and the Party committees elected by them. Party
committees are responsible, and report their work, to the Party
congresses at their respective levels.
(4) Higher Party organizations shall pay constant attention to the
views of lower organizations and the rank-and-file Party members,
and solve in good time the problems they raise. Lower Party
organizations shall report on their work to, and request
instructions from, higher Party organizations; at the same time,
they shall handle, independently and in a responsible manner,
matters within their jurisdiction. Higher and lower Party
organizations should exchange information and support and supervise
each other. Party organizations at all levels should enable Party
members to keep well informed of inner-Party affairs and to have as
many opportunities as possible to involve themselves in them.
(5) Party committees at all levels function on the principle of
combining collective leadership with individual responsibility
based on division of labor. All major issues shall be decided upon
by the Party committees after discussion in accordance with the
principle of collective leadership, democratic centralism,
individual consultations and decision by meetings. The members of
the Party committees should earnestly perform their duties in
accordance with the collective decisions taken and division of
labor.
(6) The Party forbids all forms of personality cult. It is
necessary to ensure that the activities of the Party leaders are
subject to the supervision of the Party and the people, and at the
same time to uphold the prestige of all the leaders who represent
the interests of the Party and the people.
Article 11 The election of delegates to Party congresses and
of members of Party committees at all levels should reflect the
will of the voters. Elections shall be held by secret ballot. The
lists of candidates shall be submitted to the Party organizations
and voters for full deliberation and discussion. The election
procedure in which the number of candidates nominated is greater
than the number of persons to be elected may be used directly in a
formal election or this procedure may be used first in a
preliminary election in order to draw up a list of candidates for
the formal election. The voters have the right to inquire about the
candidates, demand a change or reject one in favor of another. No
organization or individual shall in any way compel voters to elect
or not to elect any candidate.
If
any violation of the Party Constitution occurs in the election of
delegates to a local Party congress or to Party congresses at the
primary level, the Party committee at the next higher level, after
investigation and verification, should decide to declare the
election invalid and take appropriate measures. The decision shall
be reported to the Party committee at the next higher level for
checking and approval before it is formally announced and
implemented.
Article 12 When necessary, the Central Committee of the
Party and the local Party committees at all levels will convene
conferences of delegates to discuss and decide on major problems
that require timely solution. The number of delegates to such
conferences and the procedure governing their election shall be
determined by the Party committees convening them.
Article 13 The formation of a new Party organization or the
dissolution of an existing one shall be decided upon by the higher
Party organizations.
The Central Committee of the Party and the local Party committees
at all levels may send out their representative organs.
When the congress of a local Party organization at any level or the
congress of Party organization at the primary level is not in
session, the next higher Party organization may, when it deems it
necessary, transfer or appoint responsible members of that
organization.
Article 14 When making decisions on important questions
affecting the lower organizations, the leading bodies of the Party
at all levels should, under normal circumstances, solicit opinions
of the lower organizations. Measures should be taken to ensure that
the lower organizations can exercise their functions and powers
normally. Except in special circumstances, higher leading bodies
should not interfere with matters that ought to be handled by lower
organizations.
Article 15 Only the Central Committee of the Party has the
power to make decisions on major policies of a nationwide
character. Party organizations of various departments and
localities may make suggestions with regard to such policies to the
Central Committee, but shall not make any decisions or publicize
their views outside the Party without authorization.
Lower Party organizations must firmly implement the decisions of
higher Party organizations. If lower organizations consider that
any decisions of higher organizations do not suit the specific
conditions in their localities or departments, they may demand
modification. If the higher organizations insist on their original
decisions, the lower organizations must carry out such decisions
and refrain from publicly voicing their differences, but retain the
right to report to the next higher Party organization.
Newspapers, journals and other means of publicity run by Party
organizations at all levels must disseminate the line, principles,
policies and decisions of the Party.
Article 16 When discussing and making decisions on any
matter, Party organizations must keep to the principle of
subordination of the minority to the majority. A vote must be taken
when major issues are decided on. Serious consideration should be
given to the differing views of a minority. In case of controversy
over major issues in which supporters of the two opposing views are
nearly equal in number, except in emergencies where action must
betaken in accordance with the majority view, the decision should
be put off to allow for further investigation, study and exchange
of opinions followed by another vote. Under special circumstances,
the controversy may be reported to the next higher Party
organization for a ruling.
When, on behalf of the Party organization, an individual Party
member is to express views on major issues beyond the scope of the
existing decisions of the Party organizations, the content must be
referred to the Party organization for prior discussion and
decision, or referred to the next higher Party organization for
instructions. No Party member, whatever his position, is allowed to
make decisions on major issues on his own. In an emergency, when a
decision by an individual is unavoidable, the matter must be
reported to the Party organization immediately afterwards. No
leader is allowed to take decisions arbitrarily on his own or to
place himself above the Party organization.
Article 17 The central, local and primary organizations of
the Party must all pay great attention to Party building. They
shall regularly discuss and examine the Party's work in publicity,
education, organization and discipline inspection, its mass work
and united front work. They must carefully study ideological and
political developments inside and outside the Party.
Chapter III Central Organizations of the
Party
Article 18 The National Congress of the Party is held once
every five years and convened by the Central Committee. It may be
convened before the normally scheduled date if the Central
Committee deems it necessary or if more than one-third of the
organizations at the provincial level so request. Except under
extraordinary circumstances, the Congress may not be postponed.
The number of delegates to the National Congress of the Party and
the procedure governing their election shall be determined by the
Central Committee.
Article 19 The functions and powers of the National Congress
of the Party are as follows:
(1) To hear and examine the reports of the Central Committee;
(2) To hear and examine the reports of the Central Commission for
Discipline Inspection;
(3) To discuss and decide on major questions concerning the
Party;
(4) To revise the Constitution of the Party;
(5) To elect the Central Committee; and
(6) To elect the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
Article 20 The powers and functions of the National
Conference of the Party are as follows: to discuss and make
decisions on major questions; and to replace members and elect
additional members of the Central Committee and the Central
Commission for Discipline Inspection. The number of members and
alternate members of the Central Committee to be replaced or newly
elected shall not exceed one-fifth of the respective totals of
members and alternate members of the Central Committee elected by
the National Congress of the Party.
Article 21 The Central Committee of the Party is elected for
a term of five years. However, when the next National Congress is
convened before or after its normally scheduled date, the term
shall be correspondingly shortened or extended. Members and
alternate members of the Central Committee must have a Party
standing of five years or more. The number of members and alternate
members of the Central Committee shall be determined by the
National Congress. Vacancies on the Central Committee shall be
filled by its alternate members in the order of the number of votes
by which they were elected.
The Central Committee of the Party meets in plenary session at
least once a year, and such sessions are convened by its Political
Bureau.
When the National Congress is not in session, the Central Committee
carries out its decisions, directs the entire work of the Party and
represents the Communist Party of China in its external
relations.
Article 22 The Political Bureau, the Standing Committee of
the Political Bureau and the General Secretary of the Central
Committee of the Party are elected by the Central Committee in
plenary session. The General Secretary of the Central Committee
must be a member of the Standing Committee of the Political
Bureau.
When the Central Committee is not in session, the Political Bureau
and its Standing Committee exercise the functions and powers of the
Central Committee.
The Secretariat of the Central Committee is the working body of the
Political Bureau of the Central Committee and its Standing
Committee. The members of the Secretariat are nominated by the
Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee
and are subject to endorsement by the Central Committee in plenary
session.
The General Secretary of the Central Committee is responsible for
convening the meetings of the Political Bureau and its Standing
Committee and presides over the work of the Secretariat.
The members of the Military Commission of the Central Committee are
decided on by the Central Committee.
The central leading bodies and leaders elected by each Central
Committee shall, when the next National Congress is in session,
continue to preside over the Party's day-to-day work until the new
central leading bodies and leaders are elected by the next Central
Committee.
Article 23 Party organizations in the Chinese People's
Liberation Army carry on their work in accordance with the
instructions of the Central Committee. The political work organ of
the Military Commission of the Central Committee is the General
Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army; the
General Political Department directs Party and political work in
the army. The organizational system and organs of the Party in the
armed forces are prescribed by the Military Commission of the
Central Committee.
Chapter IV Local Organizations of the Party
Article 24 The Party congress of a province, autonomous
region, municipality directly under the Central Government, city
divided into districts, or autonomous prefecture is held once every
five years.
The Party congress of a county (banner), autonomous county, city
not divided into districts, or municipal district is held once
every five years.
Local Party congresses are convened by the Party committees at the
corresponding levels. Under extraordinary circumstances, they may
be held before or after their normally scheduled dates upon
approval by the next higher Party committees.
The number of delegates to the local Party congresses at any level
and the procedure governing their election are determined by the
Party committees at the corresponding levels and should be reported
to the next higher Party committees for approval.
Article 25 The functions and powers of the local Party
congresses at all levels are as follows:
(1) To hear and examine the reports of the Party committees at the
corresponding levels;
(2) To hear and examine the reports of the commissions for
discipline inspection at the corresponding levels;
(3) To discuss and decide on major issues in the given areas;
and
(4) To elect the Party committees and commissions for discipline
inspection at the corresponding levels.
Article 26 The Party committee of a province, autonomous
region, municipality directly under the Central Government, city
divided into districts, or autonomous prefecture is elected for a
term of five years. The members and alternate members of such a
committee must have a Party standing of five years or more.
The Party committee of a county (banner), autonomous county, city
not divided into districts, or municipal district is elected for a
term of five years. The members and alternate members of such a
committee must have a Party standing of three years or more.
When local Party congresses at various levels are convened before
or after their normally scheduled dates, the terms of the
committees elected by the previous congresses shall be
correspondingly shortened or extended.
The number of members and alternate members of the local Party
committees at various levels shall be determined by the next higher
committees. Vacancies on the local Party committees at various
levels shall be filled by their alternate members in the order of
the number of votes by which they were elected.
The local Party committees at various levels meet in plenary
session at least twice a year.
Local Party committees at various levels shall, when the Party
congresses of the given areas are not in session, carry out the
directives of the next higher Party organizations and the decisions
of the Party.
Congresses at the corresponding levels, direct work in their own
areas and report on it to the next higher Party committees at
regular intervals.
Article 27 Local Party committees at various levels elect,
at their plenary sessions, their standing committees, secretaries
and deputy secretaries and report the results to the higher Party
committees for approval. The standing committees of local Party
committees at various levels exercise the powers and functions of
local Party committees when the latter are not in session. They
continue to handle the day-to-day work when the next Party
congresses at their levels are in session, until the new standing
committees are elected.
Article 28 A prefectural Party committee, or an organization
analogous to it, is the representative organ dispatched by a
provincial or an autonomous regional Party committee to a
prefecture covering several counties, autonomous counties or
cities. It exercises leadership over the work in the given region
as authorized by the provincial or autonomous regional Party
committee.
Chapter V Primary Organizations of the
Party
Article 29 Primary Party organizations are formed in
enterprises, rural areas, government departments, schools,
scientific research institutes, communities, mass organizations,
intermediaries, companies of the People's Liberation Army and other
basic units, where there are at least three full Party members.
In
primary organizations, primary Party committees and committees of
general Party branches or Party branches are set up as the work
requires and according to the number of Party members, subject to
approval by the higher Party organizations. A primary Party
committee is elected by a general membership meeting or a delegate
meeting. The committee of a general Party branch or a Party branch
is elected by a general membership meeting.
Article 30 A Primary Party committee is elected for a term
of three to five years, while a general Party branch committee or a
Party branch committee is elected for a term of two or three years.
Results of the election of a secretary and deputy secretaries by a
primary Party committee, general branch committee or branch
committee shall be reported to the higher Party organizations for
approval.
Article 31 The primary Party organizations are militant
bastions of the Party in the basic units of society, where all the
Party's work proceeds and they serve as the foundation of its
fighting capacity. Their main tasks are:
(1) To disseminate and carry out the Party's line, principles and
policies, the decisions of the Central Committee of the Party and
other higher Party organizations, and their own decisions; to give
full play to the exemplary, vanguard role of Party members, and to
unite and organize the cadres and the rank of file inside and
outside the Party to fulfill the tasks of their own units.
(2) To organize Party members to conscientiously study
Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the
important thought of Three Represents, the Party's line,
principles, policies and decisions, acquire essential knowledge
concerning the Party and obtain general, scientific and
professional knowledge.
(3) To educate and supervise Party members, raise the overall
quality of the Party membership, cultivate their Party spirit,
ensure their regular participation in the activities of the Party
organizations, make criticism and self-criticism, maintain and
observe Party discipline, see that Party members truly fulfill
their duties and protect their rights from encroachment.
(4) To maintain close ties with the masses, constantly seek their
criticisms and opinions regarding Party members and the Party's
work, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the masses
and do effective ideological and political work among them.
(5) To give full scope to the initiative and creativeness of Party
members and the masses and to discover, nurture and recommend fine,
talented people from among Party members and the masses and
encourage them to contribute their skills and learning to the
reform, opening up and the socialist modernization drive.
(6) To educate and train the activists who apply for Party
membership, attend to the routine work concerning the recruitment
of new members and attach great importance to recruiting Party
members from among those in the forefront of production and work
and from among young people.
(7) To see to it that Party and non-Party cadres strictly observe
the law and administrative discipline and the financial and
economic statutes and personnel regulations of the state and that
none of them infringe on the interests of the state, the collective
or the masses.
(8) To encourage Party members and the masses to conscientiously
resist unhealthy practices and wage resolute struggles against all
illegal and criminal activities.
Article 32 The primary Party committees in communities,
townships and towns and the Party organizations in villages and
communities provide leadership for the work in their localities and
assist administrative departments, economic institutions and
self-governing mass organizations in fully exercising their
functions and powers.
In
a state-owned or collective enterprise, the primary Party
organization acts as the political nucleus and works for the
operation of the enterprise. The primary Party organization
guarantees and supervises the implementation of the principles and
policies of the Party and the state in its own enterprise and backs
the meeting of shareholders, board of directors, board of
supervisors and manager (factory director) in the exercise of their
functions and powers according to law. It relies wholeheartedly on
the workers and office staff, supports the work of the congresses
of representatives of workers and office staff and participates in
making final decisions on major questions in the enterprise. It
works to improve its own organization and provides leadership over
ideological and political work, efforts for cultural and ethical
progress and the trade unions, the Communist Youth League and other
mass organizations.
In
a non-public economic institution, the primary Party organization
carries out the Party's principles and policies, provides guidance
to and supervises the enterprise in observing the laws and
regulations of the state, exercises leadership over the trade
union, the Communist Youth League organization and other mass
organizations, rallies the workers and office staff around it,
safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of all quarters and
stimulates the healthy development of the enterprise.
In
an institution where the administrative leaders assume full
responsibility, the primary Party organization acts as the
political nucleus. In an institution where the administrative
leaders assume full responsibility under the leadership of the
Party committee, the primary Party organization discusses and
decides on major issues and at the same time ensures that the
administrative leaders are able to fully exercise their functions
and powers.
In
offices of the Party or the state at all levels, the primary Party
organizations assist the chief administrators in fulfilling their
tasks and improving their work. They exercise supervision over all
Party members, including the chief administrators who are Party
members, but do not direct the work of their units.
Chapter VI Party Cadres
Article 33 Party cadres are the backbone of the Party's
cause and public servants of the people. The Party selects its
cadres according to the principle that they should possess both
political integrity and professional competence, adheres to the
practice of appointing people on their merits and opposes
favoritism; it exerts genuine efforts to make the ranks of the
cadres more revolutionary, younger in average age, better educated
and more professionally competent.
The Party attaches great importance to education, training,
selection and assessment of cadres, especially to the training and
selection of outstanding young cadres. The Party actively promotes
the reform of the cadre system.
The Party attaches great importance to the training and promotion
of women cadres and cadres from among the ethnic minorities.
Article 34 Leading Party cadres at all levels must show
exemplary performance in carrying out their duties as Party members
prescribed in Article 3 of this Constitution and must meet the
following basic requirements:
(1) Know Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping
Theory well enough to perform their duties, earnestly put the
important thought of Three Represents into practice, try hard to
analyze and solve practical problems with the stand, viewpoint and
methods of Marxism, keep stressing study, political awareness and
integrity, and be able to stand the test of all trials and
tribulations.
(2) Have the grand ideal of communism and firm conviction in
socialism with Chinese characteristics, firmly implement the
Party's basic line, principles and policies, be determined to carry
out the reform and opening to the outside world, devote themselves
to the cause of modernization and work hard to start undertakings
and make solid achievements in socialist construction.
(3) Persist in emancipating their minds, seeking truth from facts,
keeping pace with the times and blazing new trails in a pioneering
spirit; conduct earnest investigations and studies so as to be able
to integrate the Party's principles and policies with the actual
conditions in their localities or departments and work efficiently;
tell the truth, do practical work, seek tangible results and oppose
formalism.
(4) Be fervently dedicated to the revolutionary cause and imbued
with a strong sense of political responsibility, have practical
experience, and be qualified for leading posts in organizational
ability, general education and vocational knowledge.
(5) Properly exercise the power invested in them by the people,
handle matters according to law, be upright and clean and work
diligently for the people, set an example by their own actions,
work hard and live simply, maintain close ties with the masses,
uphold the Party's mass line, conscientiously accept the criticism
and supervision of the Party and the masses, exercise self-respect,
self-examination, self-caution and self-motivation, combat
bureaucratism, and fight against malpractices such as abuse of
power for personal gain.
(6) Uphold the Party's system of democratic centralism, maintain a
democratic style of work, take the overall situation into
consideration, and be good at uniting and working with other
comrades, including those who hold differing opinions.
Article 35 Party cadres should be able to cooperate with
non-Party cadres, respect them and be open-minded in learning from
their strong points.
Party organizations at all levels must be good at discovering and
recommending talented non-Party cadres with practical learning for
leading posts, and ensure that the latter enjoy authority
commensurate with their posts and can fully play their roles.
Article 36 Leading Party cadres at all levels, whether
elected through democratic procedure or appointed by a leading
body, are not entitled to lifelong tenure, and they can be
transferred from or relieved of their posts.
Cadres no longer fit to continue working due to old age or poor
health should retire according to the regulations of the state.
Chapter VII Party Discipline
Article 37 Party discipline refers to the rules of conduct
that must be observed by Party organizations at all levels and by
all Party members. It is the guarantee that the unity and
solidarity of the Party are safeguarded and that the tasks of the
Party are accomplished. Party organizations must strictly observe
and maintain Party discipline. A Communist Party member must
conscientiously act within the bounds of Party discipline.
Article 38 Party organizations should criticize, educate or
take disciplinary measures against members who violate Party
discipline, depending on the nature and seriousness of their
mistakes and in the spirit of "learning from past mistakes to avoid
future ones, and curing the sickness to save the patient".
Party members who have seriously violated criminal law shall be
expelled from the Party.
It
is strictly forbidden in the Party to take any measures against a
member that contravene the Party Constitution or the laws of the
state, or to retaliate against or frame a member. Any offending
organization or individual must be dealt with according to Party
discipline and the laws of the state.
Article 39 There are five measures for enforcing Party
discipline: warning, serious warning, removal from Party posts,
probation within the Party, and expulsion from the Party.
The period for which a Party member is placed on probation shall
not exceed two years. During that period, the Party member
concerned has no right to participate in voting or elections or
stand for election. A Party member who during that time truly
rectifies his mistake shall have his rights as a Party member
restored. Party members who refuse to mend their ways shall be
expelled from the Party.
Expulsion is the ultimate Party disciplinary measure. In deciding
on or approving an expulsion, Party organizations at all levels
should study all the relevant facts and opinions and exercise
extreme caution.
Article 40 Any disciplinary measure to be taken against a
Party member must be discussed and decided on at a general
membership meeting of the Party branch concerned, and reported to
the primary Party committee concerned for approval. If the case is
relatively important or complicated, or involves the expulsion of a
member, it shall be reported to a Party commission for discipline
inspection at or above the county level for examination and
approval, in accordance with the specific situation. Under special
circumstances, a Party committee or a commission for discipline
inspection at or above the county level has the authority to decide
directly on disciplinary measures to be taken against a Party
member.
Any decision to remove a member or alternate member of the Central
Committee or a local committee at any level from his posts within
the Party, to place such a person on probation within the Party or
to expel him from the Party must be approved by a two-thirds
majority vote at a plenary meeting of the Party committee to which
he belongs. In special circumstances, the decision may betaken
first by the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the
Central Committee or the standing committee of a local Party
committee, pending confirmation at the plenary meeting of the Party
committee. Such a disciplinary measure against a member or
alternate member of a local Party committee is subject to approval
by the higher Party committee.
A
member or alternate member of the Central Committee who has
seriously violated the criminal law shall be expelled from the
Party on decision by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee;
a member or alternate member of a local Party committee who has
seriously violated criminal law shall be expelled from the Party on
decision by the standing committee of the Party committee at the
corresponding level.
Article 41 When a Party organization is deciding on a
disciplinary measure against a Party member, it should investigate
and verify the facts in an objective way. The Party member in
question must be informed of a decision regarding any disciplinary
measure to be taken and of the facts on which it is based. The
person concerned must be given a chance to account for himself and
speak in his own defense. If the member does not accept the
decision, he can appeal, and the Party organization concerned must
promptly deal with or forward his appeal, and must not withhold or
suppress it. Those who cling to erroneous views and unjustifiable
demands shall be educated by criticism.
Article 42 If a Party organization fails to uphold Party
discipline, it must be investigated.
In
case a Party organization seriously violates Party discipline and
is unable to rectify the mistake on its own, the next higher Party
committee should, after verifying the facts and considering the
seriousness of the case, decide on the reorganization or
dissolution of the organization, report the decision to the Party
committee at the next higher level for examination and approval,
and then formally announce and carry out the decision.
Chapter VIII Party Organs for Discipline
Inspection
Article 43 The Party's Central Commission for Discipline
Inspection functions under the leadership of the Central Committee
of the Party. The Party's local commissions for discipline
inspection at all levels and primary commissions for discipline
inspection function under the dual leadership of the Party
committees at the corresponding levels and the next higher
commissions for discipline inspection.
The Party's commissions for discipline inspection at all levels
serve a term of the same duration as the Party committees at the
corresponding levels.
The Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection elects, in
plenary session, its standing committee, secretary and deputy
secretaries and reports the results to the Central Committee for
approval. Local commissions for discipline inspection at all levels
elect, at their plenary sessions, their respective standing
committees, secretaries and deputy secretaries. The results of the
elections are subject to endorsement by the Party committees at the
corresponding levels and should be reported to the next higher
Party committees for approval. The question of whether a primary
Party committee should set up a commission for discipline
inspection or simply appoint a discipline inspection commissioner
shall be determined by the next higher Party organization in light
of the specific circumstances. The committees of general Party
branches and Party branches shall have discipline inspection
commissioners.
The Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection shall,
when its work so requires, accredit discipline inspection groups or
commissioners to Party or state organs at the central level.
Leaders of the discipline inspection groups or discipline
inspection commissioners may attend relevant meetings of the
leading Party organizations in the said organs as non-voting
participants. The leading Party organizations in the organs
concerned must support their work.
Article 44 The main tasks of the Party's commissions for
discipline inspection at all levels are as follows: to uphold the
Constitution and other statutes of the Party, to check up on the
implementation of the line, principles, policies and decisions of
the Party and to assist the respective Party committees in
improving the Party's style of work and in organizing and
coordinating the work against corruption.
The commissions for discipline inspection at all levels shall
frequently provide education for Party members on their duty to
observe Party discipline and adopt decisions for the upholding of
Party discipline; they shall supervise Party members holding
leading positions in exercising their power; they shall examine and
deal with relatively important or complicated cases of violation of
the Constitution or other statutes of the Party by Party
organizations or Party members and decide on or rescind
disciplinary measures against Party members involved in such cases;
they shall deal with complaints and appeals made by Party members;
and they shall guarantee the rights of Party members.
The commissions for discipline inspection at all levels shall
report to the Party committees at the corresponding levels on the
results of their handling of cases of special importance or
complexity, as well as on the problems encountered. The local
commissions for discipline inspection at all levels and primary
commissions for discipline inspection shall also present such
reports to the higher commissions.
If
a commission for discipline inspection at any level discovers any
violation of Party discipline by a member of the Party committee at
the corresponding level, it may take the initial step of verifying
the facts and, if it is necessary to put a case on file, it should
report to the Party committee at the corresponding level for
approval, and if a member of the standing committee of the Party
committee is involved, it should first report to the Party
committee at the corresponding level and then to the commission for
discipline inspection at the next higher level for approval.
Article 45 Higher commissions for discipline inspection have
the power to examine the work of the lower commissions and to
approve or modify their decisions on any case. If decisions so
modified have already been ratified by the Party committee at the
corresponding level, the modification must be approved by the next
higher Party committee.
If
a local commission for discipline inspection or a primary
commission for discipline inspection does not agree with a decision
made by the Party committee at the corresponding level in dealing
with a case, it may demand the commission at the next higher level
to reexamine the case; if a local or primary commission discovers
cases of violation of Party discipline by the Party committee at
the corresponding level or by its members, and if that Party
committee fails to deal with them properly or at all, it has the
right to appeal to the higher commission for assistance in dealing
with such cases.
Chapter IX Leading Party Members' Groups
Article 46 A leading Party members' group may be formed in
the leading body of a central or local state organ, people's
organization, economic or cultural institution or other non-Party
unit. The group plays the role of the core of leadership. Its main
tasks are: to see to it that the Party's line, principles and
policies are implemented, to discuss and decide on matters of major
importance in its unit, to do well in managing affairs concerning
cadres, to unite with the non-Party cadres and the masses in
fulfilling the tasks assigned by the Party and the state and to
guide the work of the Party organization of the unit and those
directly under it.
Article 47 The composition of a leading Party members' group
is decided by the Party organization that approves its
establishment. The group shall have a secretary and, if necessary,
deputy secretaries.
A
leading Party members' group must accept the leadership of the
Party organization that approves its establishment.
Article 48 Party committees may be set up in state organs
which exercise centralized leadership over their subordinate units.
The Central Committee of the Party shall provide the specific
procedure for their establishment and define their functions,
powers and tasks.
Chapter X Relationship Between the Party and the
Communist Youth League
Article 49 The Communist Youth League of China is a mass
organization of advanced young people under the leadership of the
Communist Party of China; it is a school where a large number of
young people learn about socialism with Chinese characteristics and
about communism through practice; it is the Party's assistant and
reserve force. The Central Committee of the Communist Youth League
functions under the leadership of the Central Committee of the
Party. The local chapters of the Communist Youth League are under
the leadership of the Party committees at the corresponding levels
and of the higher organizations of the League itself.
Article 50 Party committees at all levels must strengthen
their leadership over the Communist Youth League organizations and
pay attention to selecting and training League cadres. The Party
must firmly support the Communist Youth League in the lively and
creative performance of its work to suit the characteristics and
needs of young people, and give full play to the League's role as a
shock force and as a bridge linking the Party with great numbers of
young people.
Those secretaries of League committees at or below the county level
or in enterprises and institutions who are Party members may attend
meetings of Party committees at the corresponding levels and
meetings of their standing committees as non-voting
participants.
Chapter XI Party Emblem and Flag
Article 51 The emblem of the Communist Party of China is a
design of sickle and hammer.
Article 52 The flag of the Communist Party of China is a red
flag highlighted by a golden Party emblem on it.
Article 53 The Party emblem and flag are the symbol and sign
of the Communist Party of China. Party organizations at all levels
and all Party members shall safeguard the sanctity of the Party
emblem and flag. Party emblems and flags should be made and used
according to regulations.
(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2002)