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The
following is the full text of the Constitution of the Communist
Party of China (CPC) amended and adopted at the 17th CPC National
Congress on Oct. 21, 2007:
CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA
(Amended and adopted at the Seventeenth National Congress of the
Communist Party of China
on Oct. 21, 2007)
General Program
Chapter I
Membership
Chapter II
The Party's Organizational System
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 of China
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 highly 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; and 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 the country in their prolonged revolutionary struggle
against imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism, winning
victory in 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 successfully, 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
their chief representative, analyzed their experience, both positive
and negative, gained since the founding of the People's Republic,
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, consolidation and development of socialism
in China, and thus creating 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 stage
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 China
from victory to victory.
After 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, acquired a deeper understanding of what
socialism is, how to build it and what kind of 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 developments and 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 the Party, the
cornerstone for its governance and the source of its strength.
Since the Sixteenth National Congress, the Central Committee of the
Party has followed the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the
important thought of Three Represents and, by pooling the wisdom of
the whole Party to meet new requirements of development, formulated
the Scientific Outlook on Development, which puts people first and
calls for comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development. The
outlook is a scientific theory that is in the same line as
Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the
important thought of Three Represents and keeps up with the times.
It is an important guiding principle for China's economic and social
development and a major strategic thought that must be upheld and
applied in developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The fundamental reason behind all of China's achievements and
progress since the reform and opening up policy was introduced is,
in the final analysis, that the Party has blazed a path of socialism
with Chinese characteristics and established a system of theories of
socialism with Chinese characteristics. All Party members must
cherish the path and the system that the Party explored and created
after going through all the hardships, keep to the path and uphold
the system for a long time to come and constantly develop them. They
must hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese
characteristics and strive to fulfill the three historical tasks of
advancing the modernization drive, achieving national reunification,
and safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.
China is in the primary stage of socialism and will remain so for a
long time to come. This is a historical stage which cannot be
skipped in socialist modernization in China which is backward
economically and culturally. It will last for over a hundred years.
In socialist construction the Party must proceed from China's
specific conditions and take the path of 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, the
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. The Party must uphold and improve the basic
economic system, with public ownership playing a dominant role and
different economic sectors 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, achieve common prosperity, continuously meet the people's
ever-growing material and cultural needs on the basis of the growth
of production and social wealth and promote people's all-round
development. Development is the Party's top priority in governing
and rejuvenating the country. The general starting point and
criterion for judging all the Party's work should be how it benefits
development of the productive forces in China's socialist society,
adds to the overall strength of socialist China and improves the
people's living standards. The Party must respect work, knowledge,
talent and creation and ensure that development is for the people,
by the people and with the people sharing in its fruits. The
beginning of the new century marks China's entry into the new stage
of development of building a moderately prosperous society in all
respects and accelerating socialist modernization. The Party must
promote all-round economic, political, cultural and social
development in accordance with the overall arrangements for the
cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The strategic
objectives of economic and social development at this new stage in
the new century are to consolidate and develop the relatively
comfortable life initially attained, bring China into a moderately
prosperous 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 in the primary stage
of socialism is to lead the people of all ethnic groups in a
concerted, self-reliant and pioneering effort to turn China into a
prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious
modern socialist country by making economic development the central
task while upholding the Four Cardinal Principles and the reform and
opening up policy.
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 subordinate to and serve this central task. The Party
must lose no time in speeding up development, implement the strategy
of rejuvenating the country through science and education, the
strategy of strengthening the nation with trained personnel and the
strategy of sustainable development, and give full play to the role
of science and technology as the primary productive force. The Party
must take advantage of the advancement of science and technology to
improve the quality of workers and promote sound and rapid
development of the national economy.
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 the country. Throughout
the course of socialist modernization the Party must adhere to the
Four Cardinal Principles and combat bourgeois liberalization.
Reform and opening up are the path to a stronger China. The Party
must carry out fundamental reform of the economic structure that
hampers the development of the productive forces, and keep to and
improve the socialist market economy; it must also carry out
corresponding political restructuring and reform in other fields.
The Party must adhere to the basic state policy of opening up and
assimilate and exploit the achievements of all other cultures. It
must be bold in making explorations and breaking new ground in
reform and opening up, make its reform decisions more scientific,
better coordinate its reform measures and blaze new trails in
practice.
The Communist Party of China leads the people in developing the
socialist market economy. It unwaveringly consolidates and develops
the public sector of the economy and unswervingly encourages,
supports and guides the development of the non-public sector. It
gives play to the basic role of market forces in allocating
resources and works to set up a sound system of macroeconomic
regulation. The Party works to balance urban and rural development,
development among regions, economic and social development,
relations between man and nature, and domestic development and
opening to the outside world, adjust the economic structure, and
transform the pattern of economic development. It is dedicated to
building a new socialist countryside, taking a new path of
industrialization with Chinese characteristics, and making China an
innovative country and a resource-conserving, environment-friendly
society.
The Communist Party of China leads the people in promoting socialist
democracy. It integrates its leadership, the position of the people
as masters of the country, and the rule of law, takes the path of
political development under socialism with Chinese characteristics,
expands socialist democracy, improves the socialist legal system,
builds a socialist country under the rule of law, consolidates the
people's democratic dictatorship, and builds socialist political
civilization. It upholds and improves the system of people's
congresses, the system of multiparty cooperation and political
consultation under its leadership, the system of regional ethnic
autonomy, and the system of self-governance at the primary level of
society. It takes effective measures to protect the people's right
to manage state and social affairs as well as economic and cultural
programs. It respects and safeguards human rights. It encourages the
free airing of views and works to establish sound systems and
procedures of democratic election, decision-making, administration
and oversight. It strengthens state legislation and law enforcement
so as to bring all work of the state under the rule of law.
The Communist Party of China leads the people in developing an
advanced socialist culture. It promotes socialist cultural and
ethical progress, combines the rule of law and the rule of virtue in
running the country and works to raise the ideological and moral
standards and scientific and educational levels of the entire nation
so as to provide a powerful ideological guarantee, motivation and
intellectual support for reform, opening up and socialist
modernization. It adheres to Marxism as its guiding ideology,
fosters the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics,
promotes patriotism-centered national spirit and the spirit of the
times centering on reform and innovation and advocates the socialist
maxims of honor and disgrace. It works to enhance the people's sense
of national dignity, self-confidence and self-reliance, resist
corrosion by decadent capitalist and feudal ideas and wipe out all
social evils so that the people will have high ideals, moral
integrity, a good education and a strong sense of discipline. It
also needs to imbue its members with the lofty ideal of communism.
The Party strives to develop educational, scientific and cultural
programs, carry forward the fine traditional culture of the Chinese
nation, and develop a thriving socialist culture.
The Communist Party of China leads the people in building a
harmonious socialist society. In accordance with the general
requirements for democracy and the rule of law, equity and justice,
honesty and fraternity, vigor and vitality, stability and order, and
harmony between man and nature and the principle of all the people
building and sharing a harmonious socialist society, the Party
focuses its efforts on improving people's lives by solving the most
specific problems of the utmost and immediate concern to the people
and strives to create a situation in which all people do their best,
find their proper places in society and live together in harmony.
The Party strictly distinguishes between the two different types of
contradictions those between ourselves and the enemy and those among
the people and works to handle them correctly. It will strengthen
comprehensive measures to maintain law and order, and resolutely
combat criminal activities that endanger national security and
interests, social stability and economic development and bring
criminals to justice in accordance with the law, so as to maintain
lasting social stability.
The Communist Party of China persists in its leadership over the
People's Liberation Army and other armed forces of the people,
builds up the strength of the People's Liberation Army, ensures that
it accomplishes its historical missions at this new stage in the new
century, 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 socialist ethnic
relations based on equality, solidarity, mutual assistance and
harmony, actively trains and promotes cadres from among ethnic
minorities, helps ethnic minorities and ethnic autonomous areas with
their economic, cultural and social development, and ensures that
all ethnic groups work together for common prosperity and
development. The Party strives to fully implement its basic
principle for its work related to religious affairs, and rallies
religious believers in making contributions to economic and social
development.
The Communist Party of China rallies all workers, farmers and
intellectuals, and 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, all builders
of the cause of socialism and all patriots who support socialism or
who support the reunification of the motherland. The Party will
constantly strengthen the unity of all the Chinese people, including
the compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao special administrative
regions and in Taiwan as well as overseas Chinese. It will promote
long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao and
complete the great cause of reunifying the motherland in conformity
with the principle of "one country, two systems."
The Communist Party of China adheres to an independent foreign
policy of peace, follows the path of peaceful development and a
win-win strategy of opening up, takes both the domestic and
international situations into consideration, and vigorously develops
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 safeguards China's
independence and sovereignty, opposes hegemonism and power politics,
defends world peace, promotes human progress, and pushes for the
building of a harmonious world of lasting peace and common
prosperity. It develops relations between China and other countries
on the basis of the five principles of mutual respect for
sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual nonaggression,
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 its basic line, strengthen its
governance capability and vanguard nature, and comprehensively carry
forward the great new undertaking to build itself in a spirit of
reform and innovation. The Party must steadfastly build itself for
public interests, exercise governance for the people, practice
self-discipline, be strict with its members, and carry forward its
fine traditions 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 itself, the Party 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, thoroughly apply the Scientific Outlook on Development and
persevere in doing so for a long time to come. The Party must
integrate the reform and opening up policy with the Four Cardinal
Principles, carry out its basic line in all fields of endeavor,
implement in an all-round way its basic program for the primary
stage of socialism and combat all "Left" and Right erroneous
tendencies, maintaining vigilance against Right tendencies,
primarily against "Left" tendencies. The Party 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 reform, opening up
and the modernization drive, and train and cultivate millions upon
millions of successors to the cause of socialism, thus ensuring
organizationally the implementation of the Party's basic theory,
line, program and experience.
Second, persevering in emancipating the mind, seeking truth from
facts and keeping up 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. All Party members must adhere to this
ideological line, promote the truth-seeking and pragmatic spirit,
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, enrich and develop Marxism in
practice, and advance the endeavor to adapt Marxism to Chinese
conditions.
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, maintains the closest possible ties with
them, and persists in exercising power for them, showing concern for
them and working for their interests, and it does not allow any
member to become divorced from the masses or place himself or
herself 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 of "from the masses, to the masses," and
translating its correct views into action by the masses of their own
accord. The biggest political advantage of the 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. The Party will
establish a sound system for punishing and preventing corruption by
fighting it in a comprehensive way, addressing both its symptoms and
root cause and combining punishment with prevention, with the
emphasis on prevention. The Party will persistently oppose
corruption and step up efforts to improve its style of work and
uphold integrity.
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. The Party must fully expand
intra-Party democracy, safeguard the democratic rights of its
members, and give play to the initiative and creativity of Party
organizations at all levels as well as its members. Correct
centralism must be practiced so as to ensure the solidarity, unity
and 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. Oversight of leading Party organs and of Party
members holding leading positions must be strengthened and the
system of intra-Party oversight constantly improved. In its internal
political activities, the Party conducts criticism and
self-criticism in the correct way, waging ideological struggles over
matters of principle, 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 socialist modernization, persist in
scientific, democratic and law-based governance, 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
and promote all-round economic and social 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 laws of the country. 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 unison. The Party must
strengthen its leadership over trade unions, the Communist Youth
League, 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 governance capability. Party members
must work in close cooperation with non-Party persons 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 resolutions 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
any 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 Scientific Outlook on Development, study the Party's line,
principles, policies and resolutions, acquire essential knowledge
concerning the Party, obtain general, scientific, legal 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 negative phenomena.
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, take the lead in
putting into practice the socialist maxims of honor and disgrace,
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 resolution 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 resolution 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 out 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
through 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 or she is qualified for full membership. A probationary member
who conscientiously performs his or her 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 or her duties and is found
to be unqualified for full membership, his or her 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 or her
as a probationary member. The Party standing of a member begins from
the day he or she 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 oversight by the masses inside and outside the Party. Leading
Party cadres must attend democratic meetings held by the Party
committee or leading Party members' group. There shall be no
privileged Party members who do not participate in the regular
activities of the Party organization and do not accept oversight 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 or
her 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 or her to correct
his or her mistakes within a prescribed time. If the member remains
incorrigible after education, he or she 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 the said
member's 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
The Party's Organizational System
Article 10. The Party is an integral body organized under its
program and Constitution and on the basis of democratic centralism.
The Party's basic principles of democratic centralism 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 oversee
each other. Party organizations at all levels should increase
transparency in Party affairs in accordance with regulations to keep
Party members better informed of these affairs and to provide them
with more opportunities to participate in them.
5) Party committees at all levels function on the principle of
combining collective leadership with individual responsibility based
on division of work. 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 exercise their functions and powers in
accordance with the collective decisions taken and division of work.
6) The Party forbids all forms of personality cult. It is necessary
to ensure that the activities of the Party leaders are subject to
oversight by 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 local Party congresses at all levels 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.
A tenure system is adopted for delegates to Party congresses at all
levels.
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 organization.
When the congress of a local Party organization at any level or the
congress of a 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.
The Party's Central Committee and local Party committees at all
levels may send out their representative organs.
The Party's Central Committee and committees of provinces,
autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central
government implement the system of inspection tours.
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 resolutions 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 organization, 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 or her position, is
allowed to make decisions on major issues on his or her 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 or to
place himself or herself 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.
The Political Bureau reports its work to these sessions and accepts
their oversight.
When the National Congress is not in session, the Central Committee
carries out its resolutions, 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, autonomous prefecture, 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 adopt resolutions 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 all 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 all levels shall be determined by the next higher
committees. Vacancies on the local Party committees at all 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 all levels meet in plenary session at
least twice a year.
The local Party committees at all 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
resolutions 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. The local Party committees at all 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 the local Party committees
at all levels exercise the functions and powers 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.
The standing committees of the local Party committees at all levels
regularly report their work to plenary sessions of local Party
committees and accept their oversight.
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 prefecture 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 organs, schools, research institutes,
communities, social organizations, 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 meeting of
delegates, the committee of a general Party branch or a Party branch
is elected by a general membership meeting, and candidates for these
committees are nominated on the basis of extensively soliciting
opinions from Party members and non-Party persons.
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 of a
primary committee, general branch committee or branch committee of
the Party shall be reported to the next higher Party organization
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 resolutions of the Central Committee of the Party and
other higher Party organizations, and their own resolutions; to give
full play to the exemplary and vanguard role of Party members, and
to unite and organize the cadres and the rank and 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 and the
important thought of Three Represents, study the Scientific Outlook
on Development, study the Party's line, principles, policies and
resolutions, acquire essential knowledge concerning the Party and
obtain general, scientific, legal and professional knowledge.
3) To educate, manage, oversee and serve Party members; raise their
overall quality; strengthen their Party spirit; ensure that they
regularly participate in the activities of Party organizations, make
criticism and self-criticism, and maintain and observe Party
discipline; see that they truly fulfill their duties; protect their
rights from encroachment; and improve management of Party members
among the floating population.
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 creativity 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 reform,
opening up and socialist modernization.
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 oversees 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 oversees 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 oversight
overall 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, take the lead
in applying the Scientific Outlook on Development, 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 lofty 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
reform and opening up, devote themselves to the cause of
modernization, work hard to start undertakings in socialist
construction, foster a correct view on evaluating their performances
and make solid achievements that can stand the test of practice and
time to the satisfaction of the people.
3) Persist in emancipating their minds, seeking truth from facts,
keeping up 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
oversight by the Party and the masses, improve their moral
standards, 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 the 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 or
her mistake shall have his or her 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 or her posts
within the Party, to place such a person on probation within the
Party or to expel such a person from the Party must be approved by a
two thirds majority vote at a plenary meeting of the Party committee
to which he or she belongs. In special circumstances, the decision
may be taken 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 the 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 or herself and speak
in his or her own defense. If the member does not accept the
decision, he or she can appeal, and the Party organization concerned
must promptly deal with or forward his or her 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 resolutions 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 oversee 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
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 cadre management, to rally 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 of
China
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 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 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.
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