Founded in 1921, the Communist Party of China (CPC) established the People’s Republic of China in 1949 through years of armed struggle.

The CPC now has more than 60 million members in more than 3 million grassroots organizations.

The CPC has established formal (through elections within the Party) and informal (appointed by the organization of the higher level) organizations within the Chinese government and various levels and walks of life in the country.

I. The nature of the CPC

The CPC is the vanguard of the Chinese working class, the faithful representative of the interests of the Chinese people of all ethnic groups and the core of leadership over the socialist cause of China.

CPC’s maximum program of long objective is to realize the Communist social system and the minimum program at present is to build socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The CPC takes Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory as the guidance of its actions.

The CPC’s basic line for the primary stage of socialism is to unite with and lead the people of all ethnic groups in the endeavor to build China into a prosperous, strong, democratic and highly civilized modern socialist state by taking economic development as the central task, adhering to the Four Cardinal Principles (adherence to the socialist road, the people’s democratic dictatorship, the leadership of the Communist Party, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought), persisting in reform and opening up, developing the spirit of self-reliance and pioneering enterprises with painstaking efforts.

II. Four basic demands for the building of the Party

First, uphold the Party’s basic line;

Second, adhere to the principle of emancipating he mind and seeking truth from facts;

Third, persist in serving the people wholeheartedly; and

Fourth, uphold democratic centralism.

III. The political and organizational principle of democratic centralism

1. The basic principle of democratic centralism

(1) The individual Party member is subordinate to a Party organization, the minority is subordinate to the majority, the lower level organization is subordinate to the higher level, each organization and all members of the whole Party are subordinate to the Party’s National Congress and the Central Committee.

(2) Leading bodies at various levels of the Party, except for their agencies and for leading Party groups in non-Party organizations, shall all be elected.

(3) The Party’s supreme leading organ is the National Party Congress and the Central Committee it elects. The Party’s leading bodies at all levels in the localities are the Party congresses at these levels and the committees they elect. Party committees at all levels are accountable and report work to the congresses at their respective levels.

(4) Party organizations at a higher level shall frequently listen to the opinions of lower organizations and Party members in general and solve their problems without delay. Lower Party organizations shall ask for instructions from and report on their work to higher organizations, and also be responsible for solving problems independently within the scope of their official duties. Lower and higher organizations shall keep each other informed, and support and supervise each other. Party organizations at all levels shall help Party members to have a better understanding of and more participation in inner-Party affairs.

(5) Party committees at all levels carry out a system that combines collective leadership with divisions of work and personal responsibility. Major issues shall be discussed and decided collectively by the Party committee; and committee members shall earnestly perform their duties in accordance with the collective decisions and divisions of work.

(6) The Party prohibits personality cult in any form. There must be a guarantee for the activities of Party leaders to be placed under the supervision of the Party and people, while at the same time safeguarding the prestige of all leaders representing the interests of the Party and people.

2. Organizational principles

(1) The election of delegates to Party congresses at all levels and of committees is by secret ballot.

No organization or individual shall use any method to force voters to elect or not to elect a certain person.

If anything in violation of the Party Constitution occurs during the election of local Party congresses at various levels and grassroots congresses, a Party committee at the next higher level, after investigation and verification, shall make a decision invalidating the election and adopting appropriate measures; the decision then shall be reported to the Party committee at a still higher level for examination and approval, and its implementation formally declared.

(2) The party Central Committee and local committees at various levels, when necessary, call a representative conference to discuss and decide on major issues needing timely solutions. The number of delegates to a representative conference and the method of election of delegates to a representative conference and the method of electing them shall be decided by the committee which convenes the conference.

(3) Establishment of a new Party organization or dissolution of an existing one must be decided by a Party organization at the next higher level.

(4) The Party Central Committee and local committees at various levels may set up agencies.

(5) When the Party congresses at various levels and grassroots congresses are not in session, the Party organization at the next higher level, when it deems necessary, may transfer or assign responsible members to the leading Party group at a lower level.

(6) When Party leading bodies at various levels make decisions on important issues related to lower organizations, under normal conditions they shall solicit the opinions of the latter. They shall ensure that lower organizations can normally exercise their function and powers. Unless under special conditions, the leading bodies at a higher level shall not interfere in matters which should be handled by lower organizations.

(7) Only the Party Central Committee has the right to decide on major issues of national policy; Party organizations of various departments and localities may put forward their suggestions to the Central Committee, but must not make decisions without authorization or publish their own proposals in public.

(8) Lower Party organizations must firmly carry out the decisions of higher organizations.

Lower organizations may request a change in the decision of the higher organization if they think it does not conform to conditions in their locality or department; if the higher organization insists on its original decision, the lower organizations must carry it out and shall not openly publicize differing opinions, but they have the right to report the matter to the organizations at a still higher level.

(9) The newspapers, magazines and other mass media of Party organizations at various levels must publicize the Party’s line, principles, policies and resolutions.

(10) In discussing and deciding issues, a Party organization must apply the principle of subordinating the minority to the majority. Decisions on important issues shall be put to the vote. Serious consideration shall be given to the different opinions of a few people. If a dispute over an important issue arises and the number of people on both sides is approximately the same, except when in an emergency the opinions of the majority must be carried out, finalizing a decision shall be deferred. Under special circumstances, a report of the case under dispute may be referred to the organization at the next higher level for a ruling.

(11) If an important proposal published by an individual Party member on behalf of a Party organization exceeds the scope of the original decision, the matter shall be submitted to the Party organization for discussion and decision, or instructions shall be sought from the Party organization at the next higher level. No Party member, whether of high or low position, can individually decide on a major issue; if, in an emergency, a decision must be made by an individual, the matter must be promptly reported to the Party organization afterwards.

IV. Organizations of the Party

1. Central organizations of the Party

(1) The National Party Congress and the Central Committee

The central leading organ of the Party is the National Party Congress and the Central Committee it elects. The Central Committee is accountable to and reports its work to the National Congress.

The National Party Congress, held once every five years, is convened by the Central Committee. If the Central Committee deems it necessary, or over one-third of the provincial-level organizations express a demand, the congress may be held ahead of schedule; and if there is no special situation, its convening shall not be postponed.

The number of delegates to the National Party Congress and the method of election are decided by the Central Committee.

The Central Committee is elected for a term of five years. If the National Congress is held ahead of schedule or deferred, its term of office shall be changed accordingly.

The functions and powers of the National Party Congress are:

1) To hear and examine the report of the Central Committee;

2) To hear and examine the report of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection;

3) To discuss and decide on major issues of the Party;

4) To revise the Party Constitution;

5) To elect the Central Committee; and

6) To elect the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

When the National Congress is not in session, the Central Committee implements the resolutions of the National Congress, leads all the work of the Party, and represents the CPC outside the Party.

Members and alternate members of the Central Committee must have a Party standing of at least five years.

The number of members and alternate members of the Central Committee is decided by the National Congress. If posts of members of the Central Committee fall vacant, the vacancies shall be filled in proper order by alternate members in accordance with the number of votes they gain.

A plenary session of the Central Committee is held at least once a year by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee.

(2) The Political Bureau, its Standing Committee, the General Secretary, the Central Military Commission and the Secretariat

The leading organs of the Central Committee are the Political Bureau, its Standing Committee and general secretary of the Central Committee.

The Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and the general secretary of the Central Committee are elected by the plenary session of the Central Committee.

The general secretary of the Central Committee must be elected from among members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee.

When the plenum of the Central Committee is not in session, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and its Standing Committee exercise the functions and powers of the Central Committee.

The general secretary of the Central Committee is responsible for calling sessions of both the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and its Standing Committee, and is in charge of the work of the Secretariat of the Central Committee.

The central military leading organ of the Party is the Central Military Commission.

Members of the Central Military Commission of the Party are decided on by the Central Committee.

The Secretariat of the Central Committee is the administrative body of the Political Bureau and its Standing Committee. Its members are nominated by the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and approved by the plenary session of the Central Committee.

Leading bodies and leaders of the Central Committee elected by each Central Committee shall continue to take charge of the day-to-day work of the Party while the next National Congress is in session, until a new central leading body and central leaders are elected by the next Central Committee.

2. Local organizations of the Party

Party congresses of various provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, cities with districts and autonomous prefectures are held once every five years.

Local Party congresses at various levels are called by Party committees at the same level. Under special conditions, they may be held ahead of time or postponed with approval from the committee at the next higher level.

The number of delegates of local Party congresses at various levels and the method of election are decided by the Party committees at the same level and reported to the Party committee at the next higher level for approval.

The functions and powers of local Party congresses at various levels are:

1) To hear and examine the report of the committee at the same level;

2) To hear and examine the report of the discipline inspection commission at the same level;

3) To discuss major issues within the scope of the region and pass resolutions; and

4) To elect Party committees and party discipline inspection commissions at the same level.

When congresses are not in session, local Party committees at various levels carry out directions of the Party organizations at the next higher level and the resolutions of Party congresses at the same level, lead the work of the locality, and report work regularly to the higher Party committee.

Party committees of various provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities under the Central Government, cities divided into districts and autonomous prefectures are elected for a term of five years. Members and alternate members of these committees must have a Party standing of at least five years.

Party committees of counties (banners), autonomous counties, cities without districts and districts under the jurisdiction of a city are elected for a term of five years. Members and alternate members of these committees must have a Party standing of at least three years.

If local Party congresses at various levels are held ahead of time or postponed, the term of office of the committees they elect shall be changed accordingly.

The number of members and alternate members of the local Party committees at various levels shall be decided respectively by the committee at the next higher level. Vacancies of the posts for members of local Party committees at various levels shall be filled in proper order by alternate members in accordance with the number of votes gained.

Plenary sessions of local Party committees at various levels shall be held at least twice a year.

The plenary sessions of local Party committees at various levels elect their standing committees, secretaries and deputy secretaries, and report the results to the Party committee at the next higher level for approval.

The standing committees of local Party committees at various levels exercise the functions and powers of the committees when the plenums of the committees are not in session.

They continue to be in charge of the day-to-day work while the next congress is in session, until the new standing committees are elected.

Regional Party committees and organizations equivalent to regional committees are Party agencies of provinces and autonomous regions within the scope of several counties, autonomous counties and cities. Authorized by provincial and autonomous regional committees, they lead the work of the areas concerned.

3. Grassroots organizations of the Party

A grassroots Party organization shall be set up in enterprises, rural areas, organizations, schools, scientific research institutes, neighborhoods, People’s Liberation Army companies and other basic units on the mainland in which there are three or more full Party members.

The grassroots Party organizations are combat bastions of the Party among grassroots social organizations and the foundation of all the Party’s work and combat effectiveness.

Grassroots Party organizations respectively set up grassroots Party committees, general Party branch committees and Party branch committees in accordance with the requirements of the work and the number of Party members, after approval by the next higher level Party organization. Grassroots Party committees are elected by meetings or congresses of Party members. General Party branch committees and Party branch committees are elected by meetings of Party members.

The grassroots Party committees are elected for a term of three or four years. The general Party branch committees and the Party branch committees are elected for a term of two or three years.

The names of the secretaries and deputy secretaries elected by grassroots Party committees, general branch committees and branch committees shall be submitted to the Party organization at the next higher level for approval.

4. Leading Party groups

A leading Party group can be established in the leading bodies of central and local state organs, people’s organizations, economic and cultural organizations and other non-Party organizations.

The tasks for the leading Party groups are to take as their main responsibility the realization of the Party’s line, principles and policies; discuss and decide on major issues of their own department; unite with non-Party officials and masses in fulfilling the tasks assigned by the Party and the state; and direct the work of the Party organizations of the organs and the work units directly under them.

Members of a leading Party group are appointed by the Party committee that approves the establishment of the leading Party group. The leading Party group consists of a secretary and deputy secretaries.

The leading Party group must follow the leadership of the Party committee which approves its establishment.

5. Discipline inspection organizations of the Party

Discipline inspection organizations of the Party consist of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, local Party commissions for discipline inspection at various levels and the grassroots Party commissions for discipline inspection.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection works under the leadership of the Party Central Committee.

The local Party commissions for discipline inspection at various levels and the grassroots Party commissions for discipline inspection work under the dual leadership of the Party committee at the same level and Party commission for discipline inspection at the next higher level.

The term of each Party commission for discipline inspection is the same as that of the Party committee at the same level.

The plenary session of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection elects its standing committee, secretary and deputy secretaries and reports this to the Party Central Committee for approval.

The plenary sessions of local Party commissions for discipline inspection at various levels elect the standing committee and secretary and deputy secretaries, and the results are passed by the Party committee at the same level and reported to the Party committee at the next higher level for approval.

Whether a discipline inspection commission or discipline inspection members for a grassroots Party committee shall be established or put into position is to be decided by a Party organization at the next higher level in light of specific conditions.

A general Party branch committee and a Party branch committee shall include discipline inspection members.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection may, if needed, accredit a discipline inspection group or discipline inspectors to central Party and state organs.

Leaders of the discipline inspection group or discipline inspectors may attend, as non-voting members, related conferences organized by Party leaders of the organ concerned.

Their work must be supported by the Party leaders and organizations of the organ concerned.

V. Party members

Members of the CPC are vanguard fighters of the Chinese working class with communist consciousness.

Chinese workers, farmers, soldiers, intellectuals and other revolutionaries at 18 full years of age, who accept the Party Program and Party Constitution, are willing to participate in one Party organization and actively work in it, carry out Party resolutions and pay regular Party dues, may apply for membership in the CPC.

Party members must be admitted through a Party branch according to the principles of admitting members individually only, without exception.

Under special circumstances, the Party Central Committee, and provincial, autonomous regional and municipal Party committees can directly accept Party members.

An applicant must fill in the form for Party membership and have two full Party members as sponsors. The applicant can become a full Party member only when his or her application has been passed by the Party branch meeting and approved by the Party organization at the next higher level, and only after assessment over a probationary period.

Each Party member, regardless of whether his or her post is high or low, must be entered into a Party branch, group or other specific organization, and must participate in the Party’s regular organizational activities.

Leading Party officials must also participate in democratic meetings of Party committees or leading Party groups.

Party members are free to withdraw from the Party. When a Party member asks to withdraw from the Party, following discussion at a general meeting of the Party branch concerned, his or her name must be declared struck from the rolls, and the matter reported to the next higher level Party organization for the record.

When a Party member neglects to perform the duties of a Party member and fails to meet the requirements for a Party member, the Party branch shall educate him or her and require that he or she correct his or her shortcomings within a time limit; if after education he or she still shows no change, the Party branch shall persuade him or her to withdraw from the Party. The matter of persuading a Party member to withdraw shall be discussed and decided by a general meeting of the Party branch concerned and reported to the Party organization at the next higher level for approval. If the Party member persists in refusing to withdraw from the Party after being advised, the matter shall be referred to the Party branch for discussion at a general meeting, a decision taken to have his or her name struck from the rolls, and a report made to the Party organization at the next higher level for approval.

When a Party member has a difference of opinion concerning a Party resolution or policy, he or she may declare reservations on the premise of resolute implementation, and may forward his or her opinion to a higher organization up to the Central Committee.

VI. CPC’s leadership of the country

CPC’s leadership over the country is mainly political, ideological and organizational, as reflected mainly in the following aspects:

First, organize and exercise leadership over the country’s legislative and law enforcement activities.

Second, maintain leadership over the armed forces.

Third, provide leadership and manage the work of officials.

Fourth, organize and mobilize the society, and

Fifth, give importance to ideological and political work.