|
The Communist Party of China is the vanguard both of
the Chinese working class and of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation.
It is the core of leadership for the cause of socialism with Chinese
characteristics and represents the development trend of China's
advanced productive forces, the orientation of China's
advanced culture and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority
of the Chinese people. The realization of communism is the highest ideal
and ultimate goal of the Party.
The Communist Party of China takes Marxism-Leninism,
Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three
Represents as its guide to action.
Marxism-Leninism brings to light the laws governing the
development of the history of human society. Its basic tenets are correct
and have tremendous vitality. The highest ideal of communism pursued by the
Chinese Communists can be realized only when the socialist society is fully
developed and very advanced. The development and improvement of the
socialist system is a long historical process. So long as the Chinese
Communists uphold the basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism and follow the road
suited to China's specific conditions and chosen by the Chinese people of their
own accord, the socialist cause in China
will be crowned with final victory.
The Chinese Communists, with Comrade Mao Zedong as
their chief representative, created Mao Zedong Thought by integrating the
basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism with the concrete practice of the Chinese
revolution. Mao Zedong Thought is Marxism-Leninism applied and developed in
China; it consists of a body of theoretical principles concerning the
revolution and construction in China
and a summary of experience therein, both of which have been proved correct
by practice; it represents the crystallized, collective wisdom of the
Communist Party of China. Under the guidance of Mao Zedong Thought, the
Communist Party of China led the people of all ethnic groups in their
prolonged revolutionary struggle against imperialism, feudalism and
bureaucrat-capitalism, winning victory for the new-democratic revolution
and founding the People's Republic of China,
a people's democratic dictatorship. After the founding of the People's
Republic, it led them in carrying out socialist transformation, completing
the transition from New Democracy to socialism, establishing the basic
system of socialism and developing socialism economically, politically and
culturally.
After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Party
Central Committee, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Deng Xiaoping as
the chief representative, summed up their experience, both positive and
negative, emancipated their minds, sought truth from facts, shifted the
focus of the work of the whole Party onto economic development and carried
out reform and opening to the outside world, ushering in a new era of
development in the cause of socialism, gradually formulating the line,
principles and policies concerning the building of socialism with Chinese
characteristics and expounding the basic questions concerning the building,
consolidating and developing of socialism in China, and thus founding Deng
Xiaoping Theory. Deng Xiaoping Theory is the outcome of the integration of
the basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism with the practice of contemporary
China and the features of the times, a continuation and development of Mao
Zedong Thought under new historical conditions; it represents a new period
of development of Marxism in China, it is Marxism of contemporary China and
it is the crystallized, collective wisdom of the Communist Party of China.
It is guiding the socialist modernization of our country from victory to
victory.
Since the Fourth Plenary Session of the Thirteenth
Party Central Committee and in the practice of building socialism with
Chinese characteristics, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Jiang Zemin
as their chief representative, have acquired a deeper understanding of what
socialism is, how to build it and what kind of a party to build and how to
build it, accumulated new valuable experience in running the Party and
state and formed the important thought of Three Represents. The important
thought of Three Represents is a continuation and development of
Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory; it reflects
new requirements for the work of the Party and state arising from the
changes in China and other parts of the world today; it serves as a
powerful theoretical weapon for strengthening and improving Party building
and for promoting self-improvement and development of socialism in China;
and it is the crystallized, collective wisdom of the Communist Party of
China. It is a guiding ideology that the Party must uphold for a long time
to come. Persistent implementation of the "Three Represents" is
the foundation for building our Party, the cornerstone for its governance
and the source of its strength.
China is at the primary stage of socialism and will remain so for a
long period of time. This is a historical stage which can not be skipped in
socialist modernization in China
that is backward economically and culturally. It will last for over a
hundred years. In socialist construction we must proceed from our specific
conditions and take the path to socialism with Chinese characteristics. At
the present stage, the principal contradiction in Chinese society is one
between the ever-growing material and cultural needs of the people and the
low level of production. Owing to both domestic circumstances and foreign
influences, class struggle will continue to exist within a certain scope
for a long time and may possibly grow acute under certain conditions, but
it is no longer the principal contradiction.
In building socialism, our basic task is to further
release and develop the productive forces and achieve socialist
modernization step by step by carrying out reform in those aspects and
links of the production relations and the superstructure that do not
conform to the development of the productive forces. We must uphold and
improve the basic economic system, with public ownership playing a dominant
role and diverse forms of ownership developing side by side as well as the
system of distribution under which distribution according to work is dominant
and a variety of modes of distribution coexist, encourage some areas and
some people to become rich first, gradually eliminate poverty and achieve
common prosperity, and continuously meet the people's ever-growing material
and cultural needs on the basis of the growth of production and social
wealth. Development is our Party's top priority in governing and
rejuvenating the country. The general starting point and criterion for
judging all our work should be how it benefits the development of the productive
forces in our socialist society, adds to the overall strength of our
socialist country and improves the people's living standards. The beginning
of the new century marks China's
entry into the new stage of development of building a well-off society in
an all-round way and accelerating socialist modernization. The strategic
objectives of economic and social development at the new stage in the new
century are to consolidate and develop the well-off standard of living
initially attained, bring China into a well-off society of a higher level
to the benefit of well over one billion people by the time of the Party's
centenary and bring the per capita GDP up to the level of moderately
developed countries and realize modernization in the main by the time of the
centenary of the People's Republic of China.
The basic line of the Communist Party of China at the
primary stage of socialism is to lead the people of all our ethnic groups
in a concerted, self-reliant and pioneering effort to turn China into a
prosperous, strong, democratic and culturally advanced modern socialist
country by making economic development our central task while adhering to
the Four Cardinal Principles and persevering in the reform and opening up.
In leading the cause of socialism, the Communist Party
of China must persist in taking economic development as the central task,
making all other work subordinated to and serve this central task. We must
lose no time in speeding up economic development, implement the strategy of
rejuvenating the country through science and education and that of
sustainable development, give full play to the role of science and
technology as the primary productive force. We must take advantage of the
advancement of science and technology to improve the quality of workers and
work hard to push forward the economy with good results, high quality and
high speed.
The Four Cardinal Principles - to keep to the socialist
road and to uphold the people's democratic dictatorship, leadership by the
Communist Party of China, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought - are
the foundation on which to build our country. Throughout the course of
socialist modernization we must adhere to the Four Cardinal Principles and
combat bourgeois liberalization.
Reform and opening up are the only way to make our
country strong. We must carry out fundamental reform of the economic
structure that hampers the development of the productive forces, and keep
and improve a socialist market economy; we must also carry out
corresponding political restructuring and reform in other fields. The
opening up means all-dimensional opening up, both externally and
internally. We must expand economic and technological exchanges and
cooperation with other countries, make more and better use of foreign
capital, resources and technologies, and assimilate and exploit the
achievements of all other cultures, including all the advanced modes of
operation and methods of management of developed countries in the West that
embody the laws governing modern socialized production. We must be bold in
blazing new trails in the practice of reform and opening up.
The Communist Party of China leads the people in
promoting socialist democracy and building socialist political
civilization. It keeps expanding socialist democracy, strengthens the
socialist legal system, rules the country by law, builds a socialist
country under the rule of law and consolidates the people's democratic
dictatorship. The system of people's congresses and the system of
multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of
the Communist Party of China should continue. The Party should encourage
the people to act as the masters of the country and take effective measures
to protect the people's right to run the affairs of the state and of society
and manage economic and cultural undertakings. It should encourage the free
airing of views and establish and improve systems and procedures of
democratic decision-making and supervision. State legislation and law
enforcement should be strengthened so as to gradually put all work of the
state on a legal footing. Comprehensive measures for keeping law and order
should be taken to maintain the long-term social stability. Efforts must be
made according to law to crack down on the criminal activities and
criminals that endanger national security and interests, social stability
and economic development. We should strictly distinguish between the two
different types of contradictions - those between ourselves and the enemy
and those among the people, so as to handle them properly.
The Communist Party of China leads the people in their
efforts to build spiritual civilization as well as material and political
civilizations and to combine ruling the country by law and ruling the
country by virtue. Socialist spiritual civilization provides a powerful
ideological driving force and intellectual support and helps create a good
social climate for economic development, reform and opening up. It is
essential to press ahead with education, science and culture, respect learning
and talented people, raise the ideological, moral, scientific and
educational levels of the entire nation, develop the fine national
traditional culture, and develop a thriving socialist culture. It is
essential to inspire the Party members and the people with the Party's
basic line, patriotism, community spirit and socialist ideology, enhance
their sense of national dignity, self-confidence and self-reliance, imbue
the Party members with lofty ideals of communism, resist corrosion by
capitalist and feudal decadent ideas and wipe out al lsocial evils so that
our people will have lofty ideals, moral integrity, a good education and a
strong sense of discipline.
The Communist Party of China persists in its leadership
over the People's Liberation Army and other people's armed forces, builds
up the strength of the People's Liberation Army, and gives full play to its
role in consolidating national defense, defending the motherland and
participating in the socialist modernization drive.
The Communist Party of China upholds and promotes
relations of equality, unity and mutual assistance among all ethnic groups
in the country, upholds and constantly improves the system of regional
ethnic autonomy, actively trains and promotes cadres from among ethnic
minorities, and helps them with economic and cultural development in the
areas inhabited by ethnic minorities so as to achieve common prosperity and
all-round progress for all ethnic groups.
The Communist Party of China unites with all workers,
farmers and intellectuals, and with all the democratic parties, personages
without party affiliation and the patriotic forces of all ethnic groups in
China in further expanding and fortifying the broadest possible patriotic
united front embracing all socialist workers and all patriots who support
socialism or who support the reunification of the motherland. We should
constantly work to strengthen the unity of all the Chinese people,
including our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao special administrative
regions and in Taiwan as well as overseas Chinese. We should accomplish the
great task of reunifying the motherland in conformity with the principle of
"one country, two systems".
The Communist Party of China stands for developing
relations with other countries in order to bring about a favorable
international environment for China's reform, opening up and modernization.
In international affairs, it adheres to the independent foreign policy of
peace, safeguarding China's independence and sovereignty, opposing
hegemonism and power politics, defending world peace, and promoting human
progress. It works to develop relations between China and other countries
on the basis of the five principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and
territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, noninterference in each
other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful
coexistence. It strives for the constant development of good-neighborly
relations between China and the surrounding countries and for the
strengthening of the unity and cooperation between China and other
developing countries. The Communist Party of China develops relations with
communist parties and other political parties in other countries in
accordance with the principles of independence, complete equality, mutual respect
and noninterference in each other's internal affairs.
In order to lead the people of all ethnic groups in
China in attaining the great goal of socialist modernization, the Communist
Party of China must adhere to the Party's basic line in strengthening and
improving Party building, persist in the principle that the Party exercises
self-discipline and is strict with its members, and carry forward its fine
tradition and style of work. It must constantly improve its art of
leadership and governance, raise its ability to resist corruption, prevent
degeneration and withstand risks, constantly strengthen its class
foundation, expand its mass base and enhance its creativity, cohesion and
combat effectiveness, so that it will stand forever in the forefront of the
times and make itself a strong nucleus that can lead all the Chinese people
in the unceasing march along the road of socialism with Chinese
characteristics. In building the Party, we must be determined to meet the
following four essential requirements:
First, adhering to the Party's basic line. The whole
Party must achieve unity in thinking and in action with Deng Xiaoping
Theory, the important thought of Three Represents and the Party's basic
line and will persevere in doing so for a long time to come. We must
integrate the reform and the open policy with the Four Cardinal Principles,
carry out the Party's basic line in all fields of endeavor, implement in an
all-round way the Party's basic program for the primary stage of socialism
and combat all "Left" or Right erroneous tendencies, maintaining
vigilance against Right tendencies, primarily against "Left"
tendencies. We must intensify the building of leading bodies at all levels,
selecting and promoting cadres who have scored outstanding achievements in
their public service and have won the trust of the masses in the reform,
opening up and the modernization drive, and train and cultivate millions of
successors to the cause of socialism, thus ensuring organizationally the
implementation of the Party's basic line and program.
Second, persevering in emancipating the mind, seeking
truth from facts and keeping pace with the times. The Party's ideological
line is to proceed from reality in handling all matters, to integrate
theory with practice, to seek truth from facts, and to verify and develop
the truth through practice. Partymembers must adhere to this ideological
line, explore new ways, boldly experiment with new methods, go in for
innovation, work creatively, constantly study new situations, review new experience
and solve new problems, and enrich and develop Marxism in practice.
Third, persevering in serving the people
wholeheartedly. The Party has no special interests of its own apart from
the interests of the working class and the broadest masses of the people.
At all times the Party gives top priority to the interests of the people,
shares weal and woe with them and keeps in closest contact with them, and
it does not allow any member to become divorced from the masses or place
himself above them. The Party follows the mass line in its work, doing
everything for the masses, relying on them in every task, carrying out the
principle "from the masses, to the masses", and translating its
correct views into conscious action of the masses. The biggest political
advantage of our Party lies in its close ties with the masses while the
biggest potential danger for it as a ruling party comes from its divorce
from them. The Party's style of work and its maintenance of ties with the
masses of the people are a matter of vital importance to the Party, and the
Party persistently opposes corruption, exerting great efforts to improve
its style of work and make itself clean and honest.
Fourth, upholding democratic centralism. Democratic
centralism is a combination of centralism on the basis of democracy and
democracy under centralized guidance. It is the fundamental organizational
principle of the Party and is also the mass line applied in the Party's
political activities. Within the Party, democracy and the initiative and
creativity of Party organizations at all levels as well as the vast number
of Party members must be given full play. Correct centralism must be
practiced so as to ensure concerted action in the whole Party and prompt
and effective implementation of its decisions. The sense of organization
and discipline must be strengthened, and all members are equal before Party
discipline. Supervision over leading organs of the Party and over Party
members holding leading positions must be strengthened and the system of inner-Party
supervision constantly improved. In its internal political activities, the
Party conducts criticism and self-criticism in the correct way, waging
ideological struggles over matters of principles, upholding truth and
rectifying mistakes. Diligent efforts must be made to create a political
situation in which there are both centralism and democracy, both discipline
and freedom, both unity of will and personal ease of mind and liveliness.
Leadership by the Party means mainly political,
ideological and organizational leadership. The Party must meet the
requirements of reform, opening up and the socialist modernization drive
and strengthen and improve its leadership. Acting on the principle that the
Party commands the overall situation and coordinates the efforts of all
quarters, the Party must play the role as the core of leadership among all
other organizations at the corresponding levels. It must concentrate on
leading economic development, organize and coordinate all forces in a
concerted effort to focus on economic development. The Party must practice
democratic and scientific decision-making; formulate and implement the
correct line, principles and policies; do its organizational, publicity and
educational work well and make sure that all Party members play an
exemplary and vanguard role. The Party must conduct its activities within
the framework of the Constitution and other laws. It must see to it that
the legislative, judicial and administrative organs of the state and the
economic, cultural and people's organizations work with initiative and
independent responsibility and in harmony. The Party must strengthen its
leadership over the trade unions, the Communist Youth League organizations,
the women's federations and other mass organizations, and give full scope
to their roles. The Party must adapt itself to the march of events and
changing circumstances, improving its system and style of leadership and
raising its governing capacity. Party members must work in close
cooperation with the vast number of non-Party people in the common endeavor
to build socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Chapter IMembership
Article 1 Any Chinese worker, farmer, member of the
armed forces, intellectual or any advanced element of other social strata
who has reached the age of eighteen and who accepts the Party's Program and
Constitution and is willing to join and work actively in one of the Party
organizations, carry out the Party's decisions and pay membership dues
regularly may apply for membership in the Communist Party of China.
Article 2 Members of the Communist Party of China are
vanguard fighters of the Chinese working class imbued with communist
consciousness.
Members of the Communist Party of China must serve the
people wholeheartedly, dedicate their whole lives to the realization of
communism, and be ready to make any personal sacrifices.
Members of the Communist Party of China are at all
times ordinary members of the working people. Communist Party members must
not seek personal gain or privileges, although the relevant laws and
policies provide them with personal benefits and job-related functions and
powers.
Article 3 Party members must fulfill the following
duties:
(1) To conscientiously study Marxism-Leninism, Mao
Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three
Represents, study the Party's line, principles, policies and decisions,
acquire essential knowledge concerning the Party, obtain general,
scientific and professional knowledge and work diligently to enhance their
ability to serve the people.
(2) To implement the Party's basic line, principles and
policies, take the lead in reform, opening up and socialist modernization,
encourage the people to work hard for economic development and social
progress and play an exemplary and vanguard role in production, work, study
and social activities.
(3) To adhere to the principle that the interests of
the Party and the people stand above everything else, subordinating their
personal interests to the interests of the Party and the people, being the
first to bear hardships and the last to enjoy comforts, working selflessly
for the public interests and working to contribute more.
(4) To conscientiously observe the Party discipline,
abide by the laws and regulations of the state in an exemplary way,
rigorously guard secrets of the Party and state, execute the Party's
decisions, and accept any job and actively fulfill any task assigned them
by the Party.
(5) To uphold the Party's solidarity and unity, be
loyal to and honest with the Party, match words with deeds, firmly oppose
all factions and small-clique activities and oppose double-dealing and
scheming of any kind.
(6) To earnestly engage in criticism and
self-criticism, boldly expose and correct shortcomings and mistakes in work
and resolutely combat corruption and other malpractices.
(7) To maintain close ties with the masses, disseminate
the Party's views among them, consult with them when problems arise, keep
the Party informed of their views and demands in good time and defend their
legitimate interests.
(8) To promote new socialist ways and customs and
advocate communist ethics. To step forward and fight bravely in times of
difficulty or danger, daring to make any sacrifice to defend the interests
of the country and the people. Article 4 Party members enjoy the following
rights:
(1) To attend relevant Party meetings, read relevant
Party documents, and benefit from the Party's education and training.
(2) To participate in the discussion of questions
concerning the Party's policies at Party meetings and in Party newspapers
and journals.
(3) To make suggestions and proposals regarding the
work of the Party.
(4) To make well-grounded criticism of any Party
organization or member at Party meetings, to present information or charges
against any Party organization or member concerning violations of
discipline or the law to the Party in a responsible way, to demand
disciplinary measures against such a member, or call for dismissal or
replacement of any incompetent cadre.
(5) To participate in voting and elections and to stand
for election.
(6) To attend, with the right of self-defense,
discussions held by Party organizations to decide on disciplinary measures
to be taken against themselves or to appraise their work and behavior;
other Party members may also bear witness or argue on their behalf.
(7) In case of disagreement with a Party decision or
policy, to make reservations and present their views to Party organizations
at higher levels even up to the Central Committee, provided that they
resolutely carry out the decision or policy while it is in force.
(8) To put forward any request, appeal, or complaint to
higher Party organizations even up to the Central Committee and ask the
organizations concerned for a responsible reply.
No Party organization, up to and including the Central
Committee, has the right to deprive any Party member of the above-mentioned
rights.
Article 5 New Party members must be admitted through a
Party branch, and the principle of individual admission must be adhered to.
An applicant for Party membership must fill in an
application form and be recommended by two full Party members. The
application must be accepted at a general membership meeting of the Party
branch concerned and approved by the next higher Party organization, and
the applicant must undergo observation for a probationary period before
being granted full membership.
Party members who recommend an applicant must make
genuine efforts to acquaint themselves with the applicant's ideology,
character, personal record and work performance and explain to each
applicant the Party's program and Constitution, qualifications for
membership and the duties and rights of members, and must make a
responsible report to the Party organization on the matter.
The Party branch committee must canvass the opinions of
persons concerned, inside and outside the Party, about an applicant for
Party membership and, after establishing the latter's qualification
following rigorous examination, submit the application to a general
membership meeting for discussion.
Before approving the admission of applicants for Party
membership, the next higher Party organization concerned must appoint
people to talk with them, in order to get to know them better and help
deepen their understanding of the Party.
In special circumstances, the Central Committee of the
Party or the Party committee of a province, autonomous region or municipality
directly under the Central Government may admit new Party members directly.
Article 6 A probationary Party member must take an
admission oath in front of the Party flag. The oath reads: It is my will to
join the Communist Party of China, uphold the Party's program, observe the
provisions of the Party Constitution, fulfill a Party member's duties,
carry out the Party's decisions, strictly observe Party discipline, guard
Party secrets, be loyal to the Party, work hard, fight for communism
throughout my life, be ready at all times to sacrifice my all for the Party
and the people, and never betray the Party.
Article 7 The probationary period of a probationary
member is one year. The Party organization should make serious efforts to
educate and observe the probationary members.
Probationary members have the same duties as full
members. They enjoy the rights of full members except those of
participating in voting and elections and standing for election.
Upon the expiration of the probationary period of a probationary
member, the Party branch concerned should promptly discuss whether he is
qualified for full membership. A probationary member who conscientiously
performs his duties and is qualified for full membership shall be granted
full membership as scheduled; if continued observation and education are
needed, the probationary period may be extended, but by no more than one
year; if a probationary member fails to perform his duties and is found to
be unqualified for full membership, his probationary membership shall be
annulled. Any decision to grant a probationary member full membership,
extend a probationary period, or annul a probationary membership must be
made through discussion held by the general membership meeting of the Party
branch concerned and approved by the next higher Party organization.
The probationary period of a probationary member begins
from the day the general membership meeting of the Party branch admits him
as a probationary member. The Party standing of a member begins from the
day he is granted full membership on the expiration of the probationary
period.
Article 8 Every Party member, irrespective of position,
must be organized into a branch, cell or other specific unit of the Party
to participate in the regular activities of the Party organization and
accept supervision by the masses inside and outside the Party. Leading
Party cadres must attend democratic meetings held by the Party committee or
leading Party members' groups. There shall be no privileged Party members
who do not participate in the regular activities of the Party organization
and do not accept supervision by the masses inside and outside the Party.
Article 9 Party members are free to withdraw from the
Party. When a Party member asks to withdraw, the Party branch concerned
shall, after discussion by its general membership meeting, remove his name
from the Party rolls, make the removal public and report it to the next
higher Party organization for the record.
The Party branch shall try to educate the Party member
who lacks revolutionary will, fails to fulfill the duties of a Party
member, or is not qualified for membership and require him to correct his
mistakes within the time. If he remains incorrigible after education, he
should be persuaded to withdraw from the Party. The case shall be discussed
and decided by the general membership meeting of the Party branch concerned
and submitted to the next higher Party organization for approval. If the
Party member being persuaded to withdraw refuses to do so, the case shall be
submitted to the general membership meeting of the Party branch concerned
for discussion to decide on the removal of his name from the Party rolls,
after which the decision shall be submitted to the next higher Party
organization for approval.
A Party member who fails to take part in regular Party
activities, pay membership dues or do work assigned by the Party for six
successive months without good reason is regarded as having given up
membership. The general membership meeting of the Party branch concerned
shall decide on the removal of such a person's name from the Party rolls
and report it to the next higher Party organization for approval.
Chapter II Organization System of the Party
Article 10 The Party is an integral body organized
under its program and Constitution on the principle of democratic
centralism. The basic principles of democratic centralism as practiced by
the Party are as follows:
(1) Individual Party members are subordinate to the
Party organization, the minority is subordinate to the majority, the lower
Party organizations are subordinate to the higher Party organizations, and
all the constituent organizations and members of the Party are subordinate
to the National Congress and the Central committee of the Party.
(2) The Party's leading bodies at all levels are
elected except for the representative organs dispatched by them and the
leading Party members' groups in non-Party organizations.
(3) The highest leading body of the Party is the
National Congress and the Central Committee elected by it. The leading
bodies of local Party organizations are the Party congresses at their
respective levels and the Party committees elected by them. Party
committees are responsible, and report their work, to the Party congresses
at their respective levels.
(4) Higher Party organizations shall pay constant
attention to the views of lower organizations and the rank-and-file Party
members, and solve in good time the problems they raise. Lower Party
organizations shall report on their work to, and request instructions from,
higher Party organizations; at the same time, they shall handle,
independently and in a responsible manner, matters within their
jurisdiction. Higher and lower Party organizations should exchange
information and support and supervise each other. Party organizations at
all levels should enable Party members to keep well informed of inner-Party
affairs and to have as many opportunities as possible to involve themselves
in them.
(5) Party committees at all levels function on the
principle of combining collective leadership with individual responsibility
based on division of labor. All major issues shall be decided upon by the
Party committees after discussion in accordance with the principle of
collective leadership, democratic centralism, individual consultations and
decision by meetings. The members of the Party committees should earnestly
perform their duties in accordance with the collective decisions taken and
division of labor.
(6) The Party forbids all forms of personality cult. It
is necessary to ensure that the activities of the Party leaders are subject
to the supervision of the Party and the people, and at the same time to
uphold the prestige of all the leaders who represent the interests of the
Party and the people.
Article 11 The election of delegates to Party
congresses and of members of Party committees at all levels should reflect
the will of the voters. Elections shall be held by secret ballot. The lists
of candidates shall be submitted to the Party organizations and voters for
full deliberation and discussion. The election procedure in which the
number of candidates nominated is greater than the number of persons to be
elected may be used directly in a formal election or this procedure may be
used first in a preliminary election in order to draw up a list of
candidates for the formal election. The voters have the right to inquire
about the candidates, demand a change or reject one in favor of another. No
organization or individual shall in any way compel voters to elect or not
to elect any candidate. If any violation of the Party Constitution occurs
in the election of delegates to a local Party congress or to Party
congresses at the primary level, the Party committee at the next higher
level, after investigation and verification, should decide to declare the
election invalid and take appropriate measures. The decision shall be
reported to the Party committee at the next higher level for checking and
approval before it is formally announced and implemented.
Article 12 When necessary, the Central Committee of the
Party and the local Party committees at all levels will convene conferences
of delegates to discuss and decide on major problems that require timely solution.
The number of delegates to such conferences and the procedure governing
their election shall be determined by the Party committees convening them.
Article 13 The formation of a new Party organization or
the dissolution of an existing one shall be decided upon by the higher
Party organizations.
The Central Committee of the Party and the local Party
committees at all levels may send out their representative organs.
When the congress of a local Party organization at any
level or the congress of Party organization at the primary level is not in
session, the next higher Party organization may, when it deems it
necessary, transfer or appoint responsible members of that organization.
Article 14 When making decisions on important questions
affecting the lower organizations, the leading bodies of the Party at all
levels should, under normal circumstances, solicit opinions of the lower
organizations. Measures should be taken to ensure that the lower
organizations can exercise their functions and powers normally. Except in
special circumstances, higher leading bodies should not interfere with
matters that ought to be handled by lower organizations.
Article 15 Only the Central Committee of the Party has
the power to make decisions on major policies of a nationwide character.
Party organizations of various departments and localities may make
suggestions with regard to such policies to the Central Committee, but
shall not make any decisions or publicize their views outside the Party
without authorization.
Lower Party organizations must firmly implement the
decisions of higher Party organizations. If lower organizations consider
that any decisions of higher organizations do not suit the specific
conditions in their localities or departments, they may demand modification.
If the higher organizations insist on their original decisions, the lower
organizations must carry out such decisions and refrain from publicly
voicing their differences, but retain the right to report to the next
higher Party organization.
Newspapers, journals and other means of publicity run
by Party organizations at all levels must disseminate the line, principles,
policies and decisions of the Party.
Article 16 When discussing and making decisions on any
matter, Party organizations must keep to the principle of subordination of
the minority to the majority. A vote must be taken when major issues are
decided on. Serious consideration should be given to the differing views of
a minority. In case of controversy over major issues in which supporters of
the two opposing views are nearly equal in number, except in emergencies
where action must betaken in accordance with the majority view, the
decision should be put off to allow for further investigation, study and
exchange of opinions followed by another vote. Under special circumstances,
the controversy may be reported to the next higher Party organization for a
ruling.
When, on behalf of the Party organization, an
individual Party member is to express views on major issues beyond the
scope of the existing decisions of the Party organizations, the content
must be referred to the Party organization for prior discussion and
decision, or referred to the next higher Party organization for
instructions. No Party member, whatever his position, is allowed to make
decisions on major issues on his own. In an emergency, when a decision by
an individual is unavoidable, the matter must be reported to the Party
organization immediately afterwards. No leader is allowed to take decisions
arbitrarily on his own or to place himself above the Party organization.
Article 17 The central, local and primary organizations
of the Party must all pay great attention to Party building. They shall
regularly discuss and examine the Party's work in publicity, education,
organization and discipline inspection, its mass work and united front
work. They must carefully study ideological and political developments
inside and outside the Party.
Chapter III Central Organizations of the Party
Article 18 The National Congress of the Party is held
once every five years and convened by the Central Committee. It may be
convened before the normally scheduled date if the Central Committee deems
it necessary or if more than one-third of the organizations at the
provincial level so request. Except under extraordinary circumstances, the
Congress may not be postponed.
The number of delegates to the National Congress of the
Party and the procedure governing their election shall be determined by the
Central Committee.
Article 19 The functions and powers of the National
Congress of the Party are as follows:
(1) To hear and examine the reports of the Central
Committee;
(2) To hear and examine the reports of the Central
Commission for Discipline Inspection;
(3) To discuss and decide on major questions concerning
the Party;
(4) To revise the Constitution of the Party;
(5) To elect the Central Committee; and
(6) To elect the Central Commission for Discipline
Inspection.
Article 20 The powers and functions of the National
Conference of the Party are as follows: to discuss and make decisions on
major questions; and to replace members and elect additional members of the
Central Committee and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. The
number of members and alternate members of the Central Committee to be
replaced or newly elected shall not exceed one-fifth of the respective
totals of members and alternate members of the Central Committee elected by
the National Congress of the Party.
Article 21 The Central Committee of the Party is
elected for a term of five years. However, when the next National Congress
is convened before or after its normally scheduled date, the term shall be
correspondingly shortened or extended. Members and alternate members of the
Central Committee must have a Party standing of five years or more. The
number of members and alternate members of the Central Committee shall be
determined by the National Congress. Vacancies on the Central Committee
shall be filled by its alternate members in the order of the number of
votes by which they were elected.
The Central Committee of the Party meets in plenary
session at least once a year, and such sessions are convened by its
Political Bureau.
When the National Congress is not in session, the
Central Committee carries out its decisions, directs the entire work of the
Party and represents the Communist Party of China in its external
relations. Article 22 The Political Bureau, the Standing Committee of the Political
Bureau and the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party are
elected by the Central Committee in plenary session. The General Secretary
of the Central Committee must be a member of the Standing Committee of the
Political Bureau.
When the Central Committee is not in session, the
Political Bureau and its Standing Committee exercise the functions and
powers of the Central Committee.
The Secretariat of the Central Committee is the working
body of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and its Standing
Committee. The members of the Secretariat are nominated by the Standing
Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and are subject
to endorsement by the Central Committee in plenary session.
The General Secretary of the Central Committee is
responsible for convening the meetings of the Political Bureau and its
Standing Committee and presides over the work of the Secretariat.
The members of the Military Commission of the Central
Committee are decided on by the Central Committee.
The central leading bodies and leaders elected by each
Central Committee shall, when the next National Congress is in session,
continue to preside over the Party's day-to-day work until the new central
leading bodies and leaders are elected by the next Central Committee.
Article 23 Party organizations in the Chinese People's
Liberation Army carry on their work in accordance with the instructions of
the Central Committee. The political work organ of the Military Commission
of the Central Committee is the General Political Department of the Chinese
People's Liberation Army; the General Political Department directs Party
and political work in the army. The organizational system and organs of the
Party in the armed forces are prescribed by the Military Commission of the
Central Committee.
Chapter IV Local Organizations of the Party
Article 24 The Party congress of a province, autonomous
region, municipality directly under the Central Government, city divided
into districts, or autonomous prefecture is held once every five years.
The Party congress of a county (banner), autonomous
county, city not divided into districts, or municipal district is held once
every five years.
Local Party congresses are convened by the Party
committees at the corresponding levels. Under extraordinary circumstances,
they may be held before or after their normally scheduled dates upon
approval by the next higher Party committees.
The number of delegates to the local Party congresses
at any level and the procedure governing their election are determined by
the Party committees at the corresponding levels and should be reported to
the next higher Party committees for approval.
Article 25 The functions and powers of the local Party
congresses at all levels are as follows:
(1) To hear and examine the reports of the Party
committees at the corresponding levels;
(2) To hear and examine the reports of the commissions
for discipline inspection at the corresponding levels;
(3) To discuss and decide on major issues in the given
areas; and
(4) To elect the Party committees and commissions for
discipline inspection at the corresponding levels.
Article 26 The Party committee of a province,
autonomous region, municipality directly under the Central Government, city
divided into districts, or autonomous prefecture is elected for a term of
five years. The members and alternate members of such a committee must have
a Party standing of five years or more.
The Party committee of a county (banner), autonomous
county, city not divided into districts, or municipal district is elected
for a term of five years. The members and alternate members of such a
committee must have a Party standing of three years or more.
When local Party congresses at various levels are
convened before or after their normally scheduled dates, the terms of the
committees elected by the previous congresses shall be correspondingly
shortened or extended.
The number of members and alternate members of the
local Party committees at various levels shall be determined by the next
higher committees. Vacancies on the local Party committees at various
levels shall be filled by their alternate members in the order of the
number of votes by which they were elected.
The local Party committees at various levels meet in
plenary session at least twice a year.
Local Party committees at various levels shall, when
the Party congresses of the given areas are not in session, carry out the
directives of the next higher Party organizations and the decisions of the
Party.
Congresses at the corresponding levels, direct work in
their own areas and report on it to the next higher Party committees at
regular intervals.
Article 27 Local Party committees at various levels
elect, at their plenary sessions, their standing committees, secretaries
and deputy secretaries and report the results to the higher Party
committees for approval. The standing committees of local Party committees
at various levels exercise the powers and functions of local Party
committees when the latter are not in session. They continue to handle the
day-to-day work when the next Party congresses at their levels are in
session, until the new standing committees are elected.
Article 28 A prefectural Party committee, or an
organization analogous to it, is the representative organ dispatched by a
provincial or an autonomous regional Party committee to a prefecture
covering several counties, autonomous counties or cities. It exercises
leadership over the work in the given region as authorized by the
provincial or autonomous regional Party committee.
Chapter V Primary Organizations of the Party
Article 29 Primary Party organizations are formed in
enterprises, rural areas, government departments, schools, scientific
research institutes, communities, mass organizations, intermediaries,
companies of the People's Liberation Army and other basic units, where
there are at least three full Party members.
In primary organizations, primary Party committees and
committees of general Party branches or Party branches are set up as the
work requires and according to the number of Party members, subject to
approval by the higher Party organizations. A primary Party committee is
elected by a general membership meeting or a delegate meeting. The
committee of a general Party branch or a Party branch is elected by a
general membership meeting.
Article 30 A Primary Party committee is elected for a
term of three to five years, while a general Party branch committee or a
Party branch committee is elected for a term of two or three years. Results
of the election of a secretary and deputy secretaries by a primary Party
committee, general branch committee or branch committee shall be reported
to the higher Party organizations for approval.
Article 31 The primary Party organizations are militant
bastions of the Party in the basic units of society, where all the Party's
work proceeds and they serve as the foundation of its fighting capacity.
Their main tasks are:
(1) To disseminate and carry out the Party's line,
principles and policies, the decisions of the Central Committee of the
Party and other higher Party organizations, and their own decisions; to
give full play to the exemplary, vanguard role of Party members, and to
unite and organize the cadres and the rank of file inside and outside the
Party to fulfill the tasks of their own units.
(2) To organize Party members to conscientiously study
Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important
thought of Three Represents, the Party's line, principles, policies and
decisions, acquire essential knowledge concerning the Party and obtain
general, scientific and professional knowledge.
(3) To educate and supervise Party members, raise the
overall quality of the Party membership, cultivate their Party spirit,
ensure their regular participation in the activities of the Party
organizations, make criticism and self-criticism, maintain and observe
Party discipline, see that Party members truly fulfill their duties and
protect their rights from encroachment.
(4) To maintain close ties with the masses, constantly
seek their criticisms and opinions regarding Party members and the Party's
work, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the masses and do
effective ideological and political work among them.
(5) To give full scope to the initiative and
creativeness of Party members and the masses and to discover, nurture and
recommend fine, talented people from among Party members and the masses and
encourage them to contribute their skills and learning to the reform,
opening up and the socialist modernization drive.
(6) To educate and train the activists who apply for
Party membership, attend to the routine work concerning the recruitment of new
members and attach great importance to recruiting Party members from among
those in the forefront of production and work and from among young people.
(7) To see to it that Party and non-Party cadres
strictly observe the law and administrative discipline and the financial
and economic statutes and personnel regulations of the state and that none
of them infringe on the interests of the state, the collective or the
masses.
(8) To encourage Party members and the masses to
conscientiously resist unhealthy practices and wage resolute struggles
against all illegal and criminal activities. Article 32 The primary Party
committees in communities, townships and towns and the Party organizations
in villages and communities provide leadership for the work in their
localities and assist administrative departments, economic institutions and
self-governing mass organizations in fully exercising their functions and
powers.
In a state-owned or collective enterprise, the primary
Party organization acts as the political nucleus and works for the
operation of the enterprise. The primary Party organization guarantees and
supervises the implementation of the principles and policies of the Party
and the state in its own enterprise and backs the meeting of shareholders,
board of directors, board of supervisors and manager (factory director) in
the exercise of their functions and powers according to law. It relies
wholeheartedly on the workers and office staff, supports the work of the
congresses of representatives of workers and office staff and participates
in making final decisions on major questions in the enterprise. It works to
improve its own organization and provides leadership over ideological and
political work, efforts for cultural and ethical progress and the trade unions,
the Communist Youth League and other mass organizations.
In a non-public economic institution, the primary Party
organization carries out the Party's principles and policies, provides
guidance to and supervises the enterprise in observing the laws and
regulations of the state, exercises leadership over the trade union, the
Communist Youth League organization and other mass organizations, rallies
the workers and office staff around it, safeguards the legitimate rights
and interests of all quarters and stimulates the healthy development of the
enterprise.
In an institution where the administrative leaders
assume full responsibility, the primary Party organization acts as the
political nucleus. In an institution where the administrative leaders
assume full responsibility under the leadership of the Party committee, the
primary Party organization discusses and decides on major issues and at the
same time ensures that the administrative leaders are able to fully
exercise their functions and powers.
In offices of the Party or the state at all levels, the
primary Party organizations assist the chief administrators in fulfilling
their tasks and improving their work. They exercise supervision over all
Party members, including the chief administrators who are Party members,
but do not direct the work of their units.
Chapter VI Party Cadres
Article 33 Party cadres are the backbone of the Party's
cause and public servants of the people. The Party selects its cadres
according to the principle that they should possess both political
integrity and professional competence, adheres to the practice of
appointing people on their merits and opposes favoritism; it exerts genuine
efforts to make the ranks of the cadres more revolutionary, younger in
average age, better educated and more professionally competent.
The Party attaches great importance to education,
training, selection and assessment of cadres, especially to the training
and selection of outstanding young cadres. The Party actively promotes the
reform of the cadre system.
The Party attaches great importance to the training and
promotion of women cadres and cadres from among the ethnic minorities.
Article 34 Leading Party cadres at all levels must show
exemplary performance in carrying out their duties as Party members
prescribed in Article 3 of this Constitution and must meet the following
basic requirements:
(1) Know Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng
Xiaoping Theory well enough to perform their duties, earnestly put the
important thought of Three Represents into practice, try hard to analyze
and solve practical problems with the stand, viewpoint and methods of
Marxism, keep stressing study, political awareness and integrity, and be
able to stand the test of all trials and tribulations.
(2) Have the grand ideal of communism and firm
conviction in socialism with Chinese characteristics, firmly implement the
Party's basic line, principles and policies, be determined to carry out the
reform and opening to the outside world, devote themselves to the cause of
modernization and work hard to start undertakings and make solid
achievements in socialist construction.
(3) Persist in emancipating their minds, seeking truth
from facts, keeping pace with the times and blazing new trails in a
pioneering spirit; conduct earnest investigations and studies so as to be
able to integrate the Party's principles and policies with the actual
conditions in their localities or departments and work efficiently; tell
the truth, do practical work, seek tangible results and oppose formalism.
(4) Be fervently dedicated to the revolutionary cause
and imbued with a strong sense of political responsibility, have practical
experience, and be qualified for leading posts in organizational ability,
general education and vocational knowledge.
(5) Properly exercise the power invested in them by the
people, handle matters according to law, be upright and clean and work
diligently for the people, set an example by their own actions, work hard
and live simply, maintain close ties with the masses, uphold the Party's
mass line, conscientiously accept the criticism and supervision of the
Party and the masses, exercise self-respect, self-examination, self-caution
and self-motivation, combat bureaucratism, and fight against malpractices
such as abuse of power for personal gain.
(6) Uphold the Party's system of democratic centralism,
maintain a democratic style of work, take the overall situation into
consideration, and be good at uniting and working with other comrades,
including those who hold differing opinions.
Article 35 Party cadres should be able to cooperate
with non-Party cadres, respect them and be open-minded in learning from
their strong points.
Party organizations at all levels must be good at
discovering and recommending talented non-Party cadres with practical
learning for leading posts, and ensure that the latter enjoy authority
commensurate with their posts and can fully play their roles.
Article 36 Leading Party cadres at all levels, whether
elected through democratic procedure or appointed by a leading body, are
not entitled to lifelong tenure, and they can be transferred from or
relieved of their posts.
Cadres no longer fit to continue working due to old age
or poor health should retire according to the regulations of the state.
Chapter VII Party Discipline
Article 37 Party discipline refers to the rules of
conduct that must be observed by Party organizations at all levels and by
all Party members. It is the guarantee that the unity and solidarity of the
Party are safeguarded and that the tasks of the Party are accomplished.
Party organizations must strictly observe and maintain Party discipline. A
Communist Party member must conscientiously act within the bounds of Party
discipline.
Article 38 Party organizations should criticize,
educate or take disciplinary measures against members who violate Party
discipline, depending on the nature and seriousness of their mistakes and
in the spirit of "learning from past mistakes to avoid future ones,
and curing the sickness to save the patient".
Party members who have seriously violated criminal law
shall be expelled from the Party.
It is strictly forbidden in the Party to take any
measures against a member that contravene the Party Constitution or the
laws of the state, or to retaliate against or frame a member. Any offending
organization or individual must be dealt with according to Party discipline
and the laws of the state.
Article 39 There are five measures for enforcing Party
discipline: warning, serious warning, removal from Party posts, probation
within the Party, and expulsion from the Party.
The period for which a Party member is placed on
probation shall not exceed two years. During that period, the Party member
concerned has no right to participate in voting or elections or stand for
election. A Party member who during that time truly rectifies his mistake
shall have his rights as a Party member restored. Party members who refuse
to mend their ways shall be expelled from the Party.
Expulsion is the ultimate Party disciplinary measure.
In deciding on or approving an expulsion, Party organizations at all levels
should study all the relevant facts and opinions and exercise extreme
caution.
Article 40 Any disciplinary measure to be taken against
a Party member must be discussed and decided on at a general membership
meeting of the Party branch concerned, and reported to the primary Party
committee concerned for approval. If the case is relatively important or
complicated, or involves the expulsion of a member, it shall be reported to
a Party commission for discipline inspection at or above the county level
for examination and approval, in accordance with the specific situation.
Under special circumstances, a Party committee or a commission for
discipline inspection at or above the county level has the authority to
decide directly on disciplinary measures to be taken against a Party
member.
Any decision to remove a member or alternate member of
the Central Committee or a local committee at any level from his posts
within the Party, to place such a person on probation within the Party or
to expel him from the Party must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote
at a plenary meeting of the Party committee to which he belongs. In special
circumstances, the decision may betaken first by the Standing Committee of
the Political Bureau of the Central Committee or the standing committee of
a local Party committee, pending confirmation at the plenary meeting of the
Party committee. Such a disciplinary measure against a member or alternate
member of a local Party committee is subject to approval by the higher
Party committee.
A member or alternate member of the Central Committee
who has seriously violated the criminal law shall be expelled from the
Party on decision by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee; a
member or alternate member of a local Party committee who has seriously
violated criminal law shall be expelled from the Party on decision by the
standing committee of the Party committee at the corresponding level.
Article 41 When a Party organization is deciding on a disciplinary measure
against a Party member, it should investigate and verify the facts in an
objective way. The Party member in question must be informed of a decision
regarding any disciplinary measure to be taken and of the facts on which it
is based. The person concerned must be given a chance to account for
himself and speak in his own defense. If the member does not accept the
decision, he can appeal, and the Party organization concerned must promptly
deal with or forward his appeal, and must not withhold or suppress it.
Those who cling to erroneous views and unjustifiable demands shall be
educated by criticism.
Article 42 If a Party organization fails to uphold
Party discipline, it must be investigated.
In case a Party organization seriously violates Party
discipline and is unable to rectify the mistake on its own, the next higher
Party committee should, after verifying the facts and considering the
seriousness of the case, decide on the reorganization or dissolution of the
organization, report the decision to the Party committee at the next higher
level for examination and approval, and then formally announce and carry out
the decision.
Chapter VIII Party Organs for Discipline Inspection
Article 43 The Party's Central Commission for
Discipline Inspection functions under the leadership of the Central
Committee of the Party. The Party's local commissions for discipline inspection
at all levels and primary commissions for discipline inspection function
under the dual leadership of the Party committees at the corresponding
levels and the next higher commissions for discipline inspection.
The Party's commissions for discipline inspection at
all levels serve a term of the same duration as the Party committees at the
corresponding levels.
The Party's Central Commission for Discipline
Inspection elects, in plenary session, its standing committee, secretary
and deputy secretaries and reports the results to the Central Committee for
approval. Local commissions for discipline inspection at all levels elect,
at their plenary sessions, their respective standing committees,
secretaries and deputy secretaries. The results of the elections are
subject to endorsement by the Party committees at the corresponding levels
and should be reported to the next higher Party committees for approval.
The question of whether a primary Party committee should set up a
commission for discipline inspection or simply appoint a discipline
inspection commissioner shall be determined by the next higher Party
organization in light of the specific circumstances. The committees of
general Party branches and Party branches shall have discipline inspection
commissioners.
The Party's Central Commission for Discipline
Inspection shall, when its work so requires, accredit discipline inspection
groups or commissioners to Party or state organs at the central level.
Leaders of the discipline inspection groups or discipline inspection
commissioners may attend relevant meetings of the leading Party
organizations in the said organs as non-voting participants. The leading
Party organizations in the organs concerned must support their work.
Article 44 The main tasks of the Party's commissions
for discipline inspection at all levels are as follows: to uphold the
Constitution and other statutes of the Party, to check up on the
implementation of the line, principles, policies and decisions of the Party
and to assist the respective Party committees in improving the Party's
style of work and in organizing and coordinating the work against
corruption. The commissions for discipline inspection at all levels shall
frequently provide education for Party members on their duty to observe Party
discipline and adopt decisions for the upholding of Party discipline; they
shall supervise Party members holding leading positions in exercising their
power; they shall examine and deal with relatively important or complicated
cases of violation of the Constitution or other statutes of the Party by
Party organizations or Party members and decide on or rescind disciplinary
measures against Party members involved in such cases; they shall deal with
complaints and appeals made by Party members; and they shall guarantee the
rights of Party members.
The commissions for discipline inspection at all levels
shall report to the Party committees at the corresponding levels on the
results of their handling of cases of special importance or complexity, as
well as on the problems encountered. The local commissions for discipline
inspection at all levels and primary commissions for discipline inspection
shall also present such reports to the higher commissions.
If a commission for discipline inspection at any level
discovers any violation of Party discipline by a member of the Party
committee at the corresponding level, it may take the initial step of
verifying the facts and, if it is necessary to put a case on file, it
should report to the Party committee at the corresponding level for
approval, and if a member of the standing committee of the Party committee
is involved, it should first report to the Party committee at the
corresponding level and then to the commission for discipline inspection at
the next higher level for approval.
Article 45 Higher commissions for discipline inspection
have the power to examine the work of the lower commissions and to approve
or modify their decisions on any case. If decisions so modified have
already been ratified by the Party committee at the corresponding level,
the modification must be approved by the next higher Party committee.
If a local commission for discipline inspection or a
primary commission for discipline inspection does not agree with a decision
made by the Party committee at the corresponding level in dealing with a
case, it may demand the commission at the next higher level to reexamine
the case; if a local or primary commission discovers cases of violation of
Party discipline by the Party committee at the corresponding level or by
its members, and if that Party committee fails to deal with them properly
or at all, it has the right to appeal to the higher commission for
assistance in dealing with such cases.
Chapter IX Leading Party Members' Groups
Article 46 A leading Party members' group may be formed
in the leading body of a central or local state organ, people's
organization, economic or cultural institution or other non-Party unit. The
group plays the role of the core of leadership. Its main tasks are: to see
to it that the Party's line, principles and policies are implemented, to
discuss and decide on matters of major importance in its unit, to do well
in managing affairs concerning cadres, to unite with the non-Party cadres
and the masses in fulfilling the tasks assigned by the Party and the state
and to guide the work of the Party organization of the unit and those
directly under it.
Article 47 The composition of a leading Party members'
group is decided by the Party organization that approves its establishment.
The group shall have a secretary and, if necessary, deputy secretaries.
A leading Party members' group must accept the leadership
of the Party organization that approves its establishment.
Article 48 Party committees may be set up in state
organs which exercise centralized leadership over their subordinate units.
The Central Committee of the Party shall provide the specific procedure for
their establishment and define their functions, powers and tasks.
Chapter XRelationship Between the Party and the
Communist Youth League
Article 49 The Communist Youth League of China is a
mass organization of advanced young people under the leadership of the
Communist Party of China; it is a school where a large number of young
people learn about socialism with Chinese characteristics and about
communism through practice; it is the Party's assistant and reserve force.
The Central Committee of the Communist Youth League functions under the
leadership of the Central Committee of the Party. The local chapters of the
Communist Youth League are under the leadership of the Party committees at
the corresponding levels and of the higher organizations of the League
itself.
Article 50 Party committees at all levels must
strengthen their leadership over the Communist Youth League organizations
and pay attention to selecting and training League cadres. The Party must
firmly support the Communist Youth League in the lively and creative
performance of its work to suit the characteristics and needs of young
people, and give full play to the League's role as a shock force and as a
bridge linking the Party with great numbers of young people.
Those secretaries of League committees at or below the
county level or in enterprises and institutions who are Party members may
attend meetings of Party committees at the corresponding levels and
meetings of their standing committees as non-voting participants.
Chapter XI Party Emblem and Flag
Article 51 The emblem of the Communist Party of China
is a design of sickle and hammer.
Article 52 The flag of the Communist Party of China is
a red flag highlighted by a golden Party emblem on it.
Article 53 The Party emblem and flag are the symbol and
sign of the Communist Party of China. Party organizations at all levels and
all Party members shall safeguard the sanctity of the Party emblem and
flag. Party emblems and flags should be made and used according to
regulations.
中国共产党第十六次全国代表大会秘书处负责人
就十六大通过的《中国共产党章程修正案》
答新华社记者问
修改后党章全文发布 16大秘书处就修正案答记者问
新华网北京１１月１８日电 ２００２年１１月１４日，中国共产党第十六次全国代表大会通过了《中国共产党章程修正案》，新华社记者就此采访了十六大秘书处负责人。
问：请你谈谈十六大修改党章的必要性和基本考虑。
答：现行党章是１９８２年９月党的十二大通过的。根据形势和任务的发展，１９８７年１１月，党的十三大对部分条文作了修改；１９９２年１０月，党的十四大对总纲和条文分别作了部分修改；１９９７年９月，党的十五大对总纲部分作了个别修改。
十五大以来，我国改革开放和社会主义现代化建设取得历史性进展，社会主义市场经济体制初步建立，现代化建设第二步战略目标顺利实现，人民生活总体上达到小康水平。跨入新世纪，我国进入了全面建设小康社会、加快推进社会主义现代化的新的发展阶段。在新世纪新阶段，党提出了新的发展目标和行动纲领，党章中的相关内容需要进行调整。
这些年来，我们党的自身建设也取得新的进展，积累了新的宝贵经验。特别是江泽民同志提出的“三个代表”重要思想，集中反映了当代世界和中国的发展变化对加强党的建设、推进中国特色社会主义伟大事业的根本要求，是对马克思主义建党学说的新发展。这也决定了有必要对党章进行修改，在党章中体现“三个代表”重要思想。
十六大修改党章遵循的总的原则是：坚持以马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想、邓小平理论和党的基本路线为指导，认真贯彻“三个代表”重要思想，把江泽民同志十六大报告中确立的重大理论观点和重大方针政策纳入党章，以适应新形势新任务对党的工作和党的建设提出的新要求。
现行党章是在全面总结我们党的历史经验的基础上，根据社会主义现代化建设的实际情况制定的，总体上能适应指导党的建设的需要。因此，对党章宜作小改，不作大改。对各方面提出的修改建议，坚持实践证明是成熟的就改，不成熟的不改。这次党章修改工作，突出了“三个代表”重要思想对新形势下党的工作和党的建设的指导作用，坚持了与时俱进和改革创新的精神，在保持党章整体框架不变的前提下，对一些内容作了适当修改或补充完善。这样做，有利于维护党章的权威性和保持内容的连续性，也有利于适应形势的发展，使党章能够更好地指导当前和今后一个时期党的工作和党的建设。
问：你刚才谈到十六大修改后的党章贯彻了“三个代表”重要思想，请作些具体介绍。
答：江泽民同志提出的“三个代表”重要思想已经在全党形成共识、深入人心。把“三个代表”重要思想写进党章，这是加强和改进党的建设、不断提高党的领导水平和执政水平的根本要求，是继续推进中国特色社会主义伟大事业的客观需要，也是全党同志的共同愿望。
党章总纲部分，增加了关于党的十三届四中全会以来历史进程的表述，阐述了“三个代表”重要思想的历史地位和重要作用。这次党章修改，对总纲第二段、第十九段作了补充，增写了第六段，充分肯定了十三届四中全会以来的十三年党的工作和党的建设取得的成就，阐述了“三个代表”重要思想形成的实践基础和理论渊源。十三届四中全会以来，以江泽民同志为主要代表的中国共产党人，在建设中国特色社会主义的实践中，加深了对什么是社会主义、怎样建设社会主义和建设什么样的党、怎样建设党的认识，积累了治党治国新的宝贵经验，形成了“三个代表”重要思想。总纲部分高度评价了“三个代表”重要思想的历史地位和重要作用，鲜明地指出，“三个代表”重要思想是对马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想、邓小平理论的继承和发展，反映了当代世界和中国的发展变化对党和国家工作的新要求，是加强和改进党的建设、推进我国社会主义自我完善和发展的强大理论武器，是中国共产党集体智慧的结晶，是党必须长期坚持的指导思想。始终做到“三个代表”，是我们党的立党之本、执政之基、力量之源。强调中国共产党以马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想、邓小平理论和“三个代表”重要思想作为自己的行动指南。全党同志要用邓小平理论、“三个代表”重要思想和党的基本路线统一思想、统一行动。
党章条文部分，在第三条关于党员必须履行的义务中，增加了认真学习“三个代表”重要思想的内容；在第三十一条关于党的基层组织的基本任务中，增加了组织党员认真学习“三个代表”重要思想的内容；在第三十四条关于党的各级领导干部必须具备的基本条件中，增加了认真实践“三个代表”重要思想的内容。
问：党章对党的性质是如何作进一步阐述的？
答：十六大修改后的党章，将党的性质进一步表述为：中国共产党是中国工人阶级的先锋队，同时是中国人民和中华民族的先锋队，是中国特色社会主义事业的领导核心，代表中国先进生产力的发展要求，代表中国先进文化的前进方向，代表中国最广大人民的根本利益。党的最高理想和最终目标是实现共产主义。这样表述党的性质，切合我们党的历史发展和现实状况，符合时代要求，有利于我们党始终坚持工人阶级先锋队的性质，增强党的阶级基础，有利于拓展党的工作的覆盖面，扩大党的群众基础，有利于全党同志更加深刻地认识和落实党所肩负的历史责任，团结和带领全国各族人民万众一心地建设中国特色社会主义。
问：党章如何结合中国实际对马克思列宁主义关于人类社会发展规律的表述作了新的概括？
答：根据我们党领导中国革命、建设和改革不断取得胜利的基本经验，从近一个世纪以来社会主义的实践出发，特别是对应于这若干年国内外形势发生的深刻变化，党章修正案对总纲第三段的内容作了改写。强调马克思列宁主义的基本原理是正确的，具有强大的生命力。强调中国共产党人追求的共产主义最高理想，只有在社会主义社会充分发展和高度发达的基础上才能实现。社会主义制度的发展和完善是一个长期的历史过程。强调坚持马克思列宁主义的基本原理，走中国人民自愿选择的适合中国国情的道路，中国的社会主义事业必将取得最终的胜利。这样阐述，把侧重点放到了中国共产党始终坚持马克思列宁主义的基本原理和党的最高纲领，同时始终坚持把马克思列宁主义的基本原理同中国的实际相结合，带领全国各族人民满怀信心地走自己的路，建设中国特色社会主义。
问：党章总纲中对我国新世纪新阶段经济和社会发展的战略目标和指导原则增加了哪些新内容？
答：党的十五大以来，改革开放不断深入，党确定的二十世纪末的奋斗目标已经实现。为了适应我国新世纪新阶段经济和社会发展的需要，党章总纲部分补充了如下新的内容。
一是确立了本世纪头二十年全面建设小康社会的奋斗目标。总纲第七段指出，发展是我们党执政兴国的第一要务。在新世纪新阶段，我国经济和社会发展的战略目标是，巩固和发展已经初步达到的小康水平，到建党一百年时，建成惠及十几亿人口的更高水平的小康社会。经过这个阶段的建设，再继续奋斗几十年，到建国一百年时，人均国内生产总值达到中等发达国家水平，基本实现现代化。
二是增写了我国社会主义初级阶段的基本经济制度和经济建设方面的内容。总纲第七段指出，我国正处于并将长期处于社会主义初级阶段，必须坚持和完善公有制为主体、多种所有制经济共同发展的基本经济制度，坚持和完善按劳分配为主体、多种分配方式并存的分配制度。在总纲第九段，增写了实施科教兴国战略和可持续发展战略的内容。在总纲第十一段，增写了坚持改革开放是我们的强国之路，要坚持和完善社会主义市场经济体制的内容。
三是增写了依法治国，建设社会主义法治国家的内容。党的十五大总结我们党的历史经验特别是十一届三中全会以来治理国家的经验，提出了依法治国的基本方略和建设社会主义法治国家的重要任务。十六大进一步提出了发展社会主义民主政治，建设社会主义政治文明；明确了党的领导、人民当家作主和依法治国的统一性，强调要坚持这三者的有机结合和辩证统一，不断把社会主义民主政治建设推向前进。总纲第十二段增写这一内容，表明中国共产党和中国人民对自己选择的政治发展道路充满信心，有利于全党进一步增强法制观念，树立依法执政意识，自觉地在宪法和法律范围内活动。
四是在总纲第十三段增写了中国共产党领导人民在建设物质文明、政治文明的同时，努力建设社会主义精神文明，实行依法治国与以德治国相结合的内容。
问：党章对党的建设和党的领导提出了哪些新要求？
答：在新的世纪，继续推进现代化建设，完成祖国统一大业，维护世界和平与促进共同发展，是我们党肩负的三大历史任务。为保证这些任务的实现，在党章总纲关于党的建设的基本目标和四项基本要求中增加了新的内容，明确规定，必须紧密围绕党的基本路线加强和改进党的建设；坚持党要管党、从严治党，不断提高党的领导水平和执政水平，提高拒腐防变和抵御风险的能力，不断增强党的阶级基础和扩大党的群众基础，不断提高党的创造力、凝聚力、战斗力，使我们党始终走在时代前列；全党要用邓小平理论、“三个代表”重要思想和党的基本路线统一思想，统一行动，并且毫不动摇地长期坚持下去；全党必须坚持解放思想、实事求是、与时俱进，依据党的思想路线，积极探索，大胆试验，开拓创新；我们党的最大政治优势是密切联系群众，党执政后的最大危险是脱离群众；加强对党的领导机关和党员领导干部的监督，不断完善党内监督制度。
在对党的领导的基本要求中，增加了党必须按照总揽全局、协调各方的原则，在同级各种组织中发挥领导核心作用，党必须适应形势的发展和情况的变化，完善领导体制，改进领导方式，增强执政能力的内容。同时，为了健全党委内部议事和决策的基本制度，提高决策科学化、民主化水平，对第二章党的组织制度第十条第五项的规定作了补充和完善，明确提出凡属重大问题都要按照集体领导、民主集中、个别酝酿、会议决定的原则，由党的委员会集体讨论，作出决定。
根据近几年来党组的设置和开展工作的实际情况，对党组的作用和任务作了新的规定。在第九章第四十六条中增加了党组发挥领导核心作用的规定，在党组的任务中增加了做好干部管理工作的内容。在第四十七条中，将“党组的成员，由批准成立党组的党的委员会指定”，“党组必须服从批准它成立的党的委员会领导”，改为“党组的成员，由批准成立党组的党组织决定”，“党组必须服从批准它成立的党组织领导”。
党章对党的建设和党的领导提出的这些新要求，贯彻了“三个代表”重要思想，科学总结了近年来的实践经验，适应形势发展的要求，有利于进一步把我们党建设好，从而保证党的基本路线的全面贯彻落实和中国特色社会主义事业的顺利发展。
问：党章对党员队伍和干部队伍建设提出了哪些新要求？
答：党章第一章第一条对关于申请入党对象的规定作了适当修改，表述为：“年满十八岁的中国工人、农民、军人、知识分子和其他社会阶层的先进分子，承认党的纲领和章程，愿意参加党的一个组织并在其中积极工作、执行党的决议和按期交纳党费的，可以申请加入中国共产党。”这有利于增强党的阶级基础和扩大党的群众基础，从而提高我们党在全社会的凝聚力和影响力。在第一章第三条第一项、第四项中明确把认真学习马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想、邓小平理论和“三个代表”重要思想，模范遵守国家的法律法规，纳入党员必须履行的义务。
在第六章第三十四条党的各级领导干部必须具备的基本条件中，明确规定要认真实践“三个代表”重要思想，坚持讲学习、讲政治、讲正气，经得起各种风浪的考验，具有共产主义远大理想和中国特色社会主义坚定信念，解放思想，与时俱进，开拓创新，卓有成效地开展工作，坚持依法办事，做到自重、自省、自警、自励。
党章充实的上述这些内容，更加符合时代发展的要求和党员队伍、干部队伍建设的实际。
问：党章对党的基层组织的有关规定作了哪些补充和修改？
答：党章根据新的工作实际，在第五章党的基层组织第二十九条、第三十条、第三十一条、第三十二条中提出了加强党的基层组织建设的新的任务和要求。
在第二十九条中，增写了在社区、社会团体、社会中介组织中成立党的基层组织的内容。这有利于党的组织、党的工作切实有效地覆盖全社会的各个领域。
在第三十条中，将党的基层委员会每届任期三年或四年改为三年至五年。作这样的规定，可以把乡镇党委和其他有关基层党委的任期与上级党委的任期衔接起来，有利于地方党委统筹安排工作。至于哪些类型的党的基层委员会执行五年任期，将另行规定。
在第三十一条第六项中，将“重视吸收在生产和工作第一线的工人、农民、知识分子中的优秀分子入党”，改为“重视在生产、工作第一线和青年中发展党员”。这样修改，突出了发展党员的重点，更符合发展党员工作的实际。
在第三十二条中，将村党支部改为村党组织，并相应增加了社区居委会党组织。主要考虑是，随着农村经济和社会的发展，一些地方根据工作需要和党员数量，调整了部分村党组织的具体设置形式，建立了一定数量的村党委、村党总支，将村党支部改为村党组织，更符合当前的实际情况。明确社区党组织对社区工作的领导作用，有利于打牢党在城市工作的组织基础。
在第三十二条中，将“全民所有制企业中党的基层组织”改为“国有企业和集体企业中党的基层组织”。为适应建立和完善现代企业制度的要求，把党的十五届四中全会对于国有企业党组织发挥政治核心作用的新要求充实进去，作为对国有企业和与之性质相近的集体企业党组织的基本要求，把党组织“支持厂长（经理）依法行使职权”改为“支持股东会、董事会、监事会和经理（厂长）依法行使职权”，并明确提出了国有企业和集体企业党组织领导精神文明建设。
在第三十二条中，还增加了非公有制经济组织中党的基层组织主要任务的规定。明确提出，非公有制经济组织中党的基层组织，贯彻党的方针政策，引导和监督企业遵守国家的法律法规，领导工会、共青团等群众组织，团结凝聚职工群众，维护各方的合法权益，促进企业健康发展。作这样规定的主要考虑是，非公有制经济组织已经成为我国经济和社会发展的一支重要力量，加强这一领域党的建设，是我们党坚持和完善社会主义初级阶段基本经济制度的需要，也是加强党同非公有制企业广大职工群众的联系，不断增强党的阶级基础和扩大党的群众基础的需要。
问：党章对党的纪律检查机关的职责和任务作了哪些补充规定？
答：坚决反对和防止腐败，是全党一项重大的政治任务。党章在第八章第四十四条关于党的各级纪律检查委员会的主要任务的规定中，增加了协助党委组织协调反腐败工作的内容，以便同在实际工作中形成的党委统一领导、党政齐抓共管、纪委组织协调、部门各负其责、依靠群众的支持和参与的反腐败领导体制和工作机制相一致。在党的纪律检查机关的经常性工作的规定中，增加了对党员领导干部行使权力进行监督和保障党员权利的内容。这样修改，使党的纪律检查工作更好地适应新形势新任务的要求，有利于进一步发扬党内民主，加强党内监督，把反腐败斗争引向深入。
问：党章对中国共产主义青年团的性质是如何作进一步表述的？
答：中国共产主义青年团是党的助手和后备军。为了激励广大青年把胸怀共产主义远大理想同坚定中国特色社会主义信念结合起来，在改革开放和现代化建设的伟大实践中，努力学习，扎实工作，经受锻炼，增长才干，在第十章第四十九条中，将共青团“是广大青年在实践中学习共产主义的学校”，改为“是广大青年在实践中学习中国特色社会主义和共产主义的学校”。
问：请你谈谈增写党徽党旗一章的问题。
答：十六大通过的党章增写了“党徽党旗”一章，作为第十一章。具体分为三条：第五十一条规定，中国共产党党徽为镰刀和锤头组成的图案。第五十二条规定，中国共产党党旗为旗面缀有金黄色党徽图案的红旗。第五十三条规定，中国共产党的党徽党旗是中国共产党的象征和标志。党的各级组织和每一个党员都要维护党徽党旗的尊严。要按照规定制作和使用党徽党旗。增写党徽党旗一章，对于维护党徽党旗的严肃性，发挥党徽党旗的感召力，增强党员的光荣感、使命感，增强党的凝聚力和影响力，都将起到重要的作用。
问：各级党组织和广大党员对这次修改党章提出了哪些意见和建议，请你谈谈对这些意见和建议的处理情况。
答：各级党组织和广大党员对这次党章修改非常关心。许多地区和部门的党组织及广大党员给中央和中央有关部门来信，对党章修改提出了意见和建议。党章修正案在党内一定范围征求了３０００多人的意见，收到了许多好的意见和建议。对这些意见和建议，都一一进行了认真研究，许多已经采纳。有的虽然在党章中没有采纳，但主要精神已体现在十六大报告中。有的意见和建议还需要在实践中进一步研究和探索，这次没有写入。还有些建议，将在党内其他法规中去规定。可以这样说，这次党章修改充分发扬了党内民主，集中了全党的智慧。（完）
|