China+Institutions

CHINA INSTITUTIONS – PART 2

**I. POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS**
 * 1) **China** **has always operated under a Command Economy. What does this mean?** A command economy is also known as a centrally planned economy. In this type of economy, supply and price are regulated by the government. Also, what products will be produced and how much of them will be produced is also decided by the goverment. Command economies are characteristic of Communist regimes.
 * 2) **What is the formal name of the country?** The People’s Republic of China **How long in existence?** It has existed since 1949, so 62 years.
 * 3) **Does China operate under a Constitution?** Yes **What is the role of the Constitution?** The Constitution tells the people of China to concentrate on socialist modernization by developing socialism by Chinese principles. The country should follow the leadership of the CCP while also living by the guidance of Marxist-Leninist ideas.
 * 4) **What type of Government is the PRC?** The PRC is socialist with Chinese characteristics and unitary (nominally Communist). It is authoritarian as well.
 * 5) **What is the organizing principle of Chinese Communist Government?** Democratic Centralism
 * 6) **What type of government organization does the country operate under?** China is a unitary and socialist state with centralized power. However, there has been some modern devolution of powers because China is such a large country to control.
 * 7) **What do I mean by the concept that “the CCP and the government are 3 parallel hierarchies”? T**he CCP and the state government rule the country as an interlocked and connected institution. Representatives in the state government often hold positions in the party as well. Also, the PLA (many members are from the CMT) helps control people in China and aids the government.
 * 8) **Where does the real power lie in China?** The real power lies with the CCP, the Chinese Communist Party, which is the main political party in China.
 * 9) What is the **Guanxi**? Nomenklatura? The Guanxi in China, similar to the nomenklatura in the Soviet Union, are people who have connections to the government. In China, people believed the Guanxi were the only ones that benefited from Chinese reforms.
 * 10) **What is meant by the concept “the official truth” in China or the “government designated truth”?** The "official truth" is Marxism/Leninism, Maoism, Deng Theory, etc. In addition, the three represents theory is also apart of "the government designated truth" including the representation of China as productive, the orientation of Chinese culture, and focus on the interests of the overwhelming majority.
 * 11) **What is the “Mass Line” in Chinese politics?** The Mass Line is the principle developed by Mao and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during the Chinese Revolution. The idea stressed "learning from the masses."
 * 12) ** The 1980’s Mass Line was the “Four Modernizations ** ”? Explain Deng’s ideas here? The “Four Modernizations” were reforms focused in four areas including agriculture, industry, science, and the military. Deng was purposefully brought back from exile to become deputy prime minister under Zhou.
 * 13) **The 2000 Mass Line was Jiang’s “Three Represents”. Explain these ideas. T**he "Three Represents" stated by Jiang all relate to the support of the Chinese state over its history through revolution, reform, etc. Jiang believed the people supported the state due to representation of China's productive forces, orientation of Chinese culture (advancement compared to others), and interests of the overwhelming majority. The 2000 mass line focused on China working for the interests of its people.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**II.GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS**
 * Executive Branch**

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**A.) Head of State:**Hu Jintao, since March 2003, when he succeeded Jiang Zemin.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**14.) Title?** The head of state of China is the president.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**15.) qualifications?** Chinese citizen over the age of 45

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**16.) Term of office and term limits?** 5 year term of office with a limit of 2 consecutive terms.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**17.) Selection Process?** The president and vice president are both elected by the National People’s Congress (NPC) according to <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Articles 79–80 of the constitution.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**18.) Role / Powers / Function?** The president acts in state affairs and meets with foreign diplomatic leaders. Also, he has the power to appoint representatives that are abroad with the agreement of the NPC Standing Committee. Finally, the president ratifies treaties and important agreements with foreign countries.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">19.) Role of the Vice – President? **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The vice president acts as an assistant to the president and will take the president's role if he must leave office. The vice president can have any functions or powers of the president if allowed by him.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**B.)** **Head of Government:** Wen Jiabao

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**20.) Title?** Premier of the People's Republic of China

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**21.) Qualifications?** Must be member of Standing Committee

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**22.) Term of office and term limits?** Five years / no more than two consecutive terms

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**23.) Selection Process?** The premier is nominated by the president and then approved by the National People’s Congress. In practice, the Premier is recommended by the Politburo.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**24.) Role / Powers / Function?** The Premier is the highest administrative position in the Chinese government and is responsible for organizing and administering the Chinese civil bureaucracy. Therefore, he is also head of the State Council.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**25.) What is the Chinese Bureaucracy called?** State Council

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**26.) How is the State Council organized?** The Premier is the head of the State Council. Under the premier, there are 4 vice-premiers and 5 state councilors. There are 22 ministries and 4 commissions subordinate to the State Council.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**27.) What is the role of the State Council?** The State Council is the equivalent of a cabinet and is responsible for various ministries such as national defense, public security, and public health.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">**28.) How does the State Council help and hinder the formulation of policy?** The State Council is the functional center of state power at all levels and wields considerable influence over the National People’s Congress. Thus, it has the ability to greatly alter or stop proposals.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">C**.)** **The CMC – Central Military Commission**

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**29.)****What is it?** The Central Military Commission (CMC) is the highest military leading body of the Party under the leadership of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) Central Committee and is responsible for directing China's 2.5 million strong armed forces

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**30.)****Number of Members?** 11

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**31.)****Selection Process?** The commission members are decided by the CPC Central Committee.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**32.)****Role / Powers / Function?** issues directives relating to the PLA, including senior appointments, troop deployments and arms spending.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**33.)****Compare Chinese Military with US military?**Membership is open to all men who attain the age of 18; women may register for duty in the medical, veterinary, and other technical services at ages as young as 14. However, a draft in China has never been enforced due to large numbers of volunteers from China's huge population

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**34.)****What impact did Tiananmen Square have on the PLA? It** labeled the Army as harsh and unyielding

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**35.)****Why is Hu Jintao historic in reference to the Chinese political system?** He reintroduced state control in some sectors of the economy that were relaxed by the previous administration, and has been conservative with political reforms

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Legislative Branch** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**36.) Where is Chinese state authority formally vested?** National People’s Congress <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**37.) Key Idea is that the smallest groups within the larger institution or organization has the real power.** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**38.) What is the title / name of the top legislative body in the government? (The Highest Organ of State Power)** National People’s Congress <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**a.) Number of Members?** 2979 <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**b.) Selection Process?** Elections are conducted by the permanent body of the NPC, the Standing Committee, and normally are held at least two months before the end of the current NPC. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**c.) When does this group meet?** They meet annually for two or three weeks. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**d.) Term of Office? Limits on Terms?** 5 years / no more than 2 consecutive terms <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**e.) Role / Powers / Functions?** The NPC can amend and enforce the constitution, elect various positions, such as the president and vice president of the People’s Republic. It also has the ability to “decide” the premier of the State Council following the nomination by the premier. The NPC also examines economic and social development plans. It also has considerable influence over the decisions made by the Standing Committee. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**f.) How does the NPC work?** The NPC Standing Committee meets when the full NPC is not in session. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**g.) List and explain the hierarchical levels of the NPC.** The Standing Committee works under the NPC. Under the NPC there are other committees, such as Nationalities, Law, Education, and Public Health.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**The Judiciary**

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**39.) Describe the Chinese Judicial System.** refers to the nature, mission, organizational setup, principles and procedures of judicial organs and other judicial organizations. This system comprises sub-systems for investigation, prosecution, trial procedures, jails, judicial administration, arbitration, lawyers, public notaries and state compensation

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**40.) Name of the Highest Court?** Supreme People’s Court

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**41.) Selection Process?** They are selected by the Standing Committee of the People's Congress

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**42.) Qualifications?** A citizen of the People's Republic of China; At least 23 years of age; Supports the Constitution of the People's Republic of China; In good political, professional and moral standing; In good health; A graduate of law from an institution of higher learning, or a non-law graduate from an institution of higher learning with in-depth knowledge of law, with two years of working experience; or holders of a bachelor's degree in Juris Doctor with a full year of working experience; those holding a Master's or Ph.D. degree in JD are not subject to the working-experience limit described above

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**43.) Term of Office?** 4 years

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**44.) Role / Powers / Functions?** responsible for investigation, prosecution, trial and execution of cases, the prosecutors, the trial institutions and the custodial system

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**45.) What is the People’s Procuratorate?**the highest agency at the national level responsible for both prosecution and investigation in the People's Republic of China

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**46.) Does China have Rule of law?** yes

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**47.) How successful is the Chinese criminal justice system?** Not as successful as it could be due to the large population

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**48.) REFORMS TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM IN CHINA –How has the Chinese legal system been reformed in recent years? And Why?** Government tried to restrain abuses of official authority and revolutionary excesses also enforce that the state is supreme. They did this to strengthen the rule of law in China, and international trade and globalization spur transformations in various areas of Chinese domestic law.