National governmental and political structure

China is a socialist country led by the working class and a people's democratic dictatorship based on the alliance of workers and peasants. The organs of state power include the People Congress, Chairman, State Council, Military Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Local People Congresses and Local Governments, Autonomous Organs in the nationality autonomous regions, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate. The system of the People Congress is a radical political system. The People's Congress of China is the supreme organ of state power and its permanent organization is the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of China. The Standing Committee exercises legislative power. The Local People Congresses at different levels are the state power organs at local level. The Local People Congress at county level or higher level set up the Standing Committees that forms the permanent organization at the corresponding local levels.

The Chairman of the country, according to the decision of the People's Congress and the Standing Committee, has the power to promulgate decrees, appoint and remove the Premier and Vice Premier of the State Council, as well as state members, Ministers, the Major auditor and the Secretary General, confer the state medals and glory titles, issue the decrees of special pardon, martial laws and mobilization order and proclaim the state of war. The State Council of China is the supreme administrative organ of the state and the executive organ of the supreme organ of state power. Local governments are the executive organs of the state power at different local levels and are the local administrative organs. Local governments are the administrative organs of state under the leadership of the State Council and obey the State Council.

The Military Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party leads the armed forces of the country. The Chairman of the commission holds the responsibility to the People's Congress and the Standing Committee of the congress.

People's Courts at different levels are the judicial organs of the country. The People's Courts at local levels, Special People's Courts and the Supreme People's Courts exercise the judicial authority. The People's Courts at local levels are divided into the Basic-Level Courts, Middle People's Courts and Higher People's Courts. The Special People's Courts include Military Courts, Railway Transportation Courts, Water Transportation Courts, Maritime Courts, Forest Courts and other Special Courts. The People's Procuratorates at local levels are the organs of law supervision of the state. The state sets up the Supreme, Local and Special People's Procuratorates. The Local People's Procuratorates include those of province, autonomous region and municipality, those of autonomous prefectures, cities under the jurisdiction of province and those of county, city, autonomous county and district under the jurisdiction of city. The Special People's Procuratorates include the military, railway transport, water transport and other ones.

China is a country with several political parties which practices multiparty cooperation and political consultative system under the leadership of the Communist Party. The democratic parties join the state power, the consultation of the policies and selecting leaders of the state, the formulation and practice of national policies and laws.


Figure. Organization of the Chinese Government

 

State Structure

The Party in Power
The Communist Party of China (CPC) is the party in power in the country. The CPC has both central and local organizations. At the top is the Central Committee and, while when it is not in session, the Political Bureau and its Standing Committee exercise the power of the Central Committee. Both the Political Bureau and its Standing Committee are elected by the plenary session of the Central Committee.

The Military
The Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China is the highest state military organ with the responsibility of commanding the entire armed forces in the country. Led by a chairman and consisting of vice chairmen and members, the Commission is elected for a term of five years and can stand for reelection.

The Head of the State
The president, as the head of the state, promulgates laws, appoints the premier, vice premiers, state councilors, ministers of various ministries and state commissions, the auditor-general, and the secretary-general of the State Council, according to decisions of the National People's Congress and its standing committee. The president also confers awards and honorary titles of the state, issues order of special amnesty, and martial law, declares state of war and announces order of general mobilization.
 
The Organ of State Power
The National People's Congress is the organ of supreme power in the People's Republic of China. Its permanent organ in office is the Standing Committee. Both the NPC and its Standing Committee are elected for a term of five years. They exercise the power of legislation, decision, supervision, election, appointment and dismissal.

The State Administrative Organ
The administrative branch of the state power is the Central People's Government and local people's governments. The State Council, another term for the Central People's Government, is the supreme administrative organ of state power.

The State Trial Organ
The people's courts are the trial organs of the state. The trial system consists of the Supreme People's Court, local people's courts and special people's courts such as the military court.

The State Prosecution Organ
The people's procuratorates are the legal supervision organs of the state. The prosecution system consists of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, local people's procuratorates and special people's procuratorates such as the military procuratorate.

The Political Consultative Organ
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference is a united front organization under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and an organ for various other political parties, mass organizations and personages of various social circles to take part in the running of the state.

Social Organizations
Mass organizations are an important component in the political life in China. Despite the fact that they are non-governmental organizations, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the Communist Youth League of China and the All-China Women's Federation exercise, to a fairly large extent, some of the functions of the government. As a result, the tasks, the organizational setup and posts of leaders of some mass organizations are decided by organs of the central authorities. For the same reason, these organizations receive appropriations from the state treasury for funding.