[其他]中国共产党章程英文版

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CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA

(Amended and adopted at the Sixteenth National Congress of the Communist Party
of China on 14 November 2002)


General Program

The Communist Party of China is the vanguard both of the Chinese working class
and of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation. It is the core of leadershi
p for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and represents the d
evelopment trend of China's advanced productive forces, the orientation of Chi
na's advanced culture and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majori
ty of the Chinese people. The realization of communism is the highest ideal an
d 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 his
tory of human society. Its basic tenets are correct and have tremendous vitali
ty. The highest ideal of communism pursued by the Chinese Communists can be re
alized only when the socialist society is fully developed and very advanced. T
he development and improvement of the socialist system is a long historical pr
ocess. So long as the Chinese Communists uphold the basic tenets of Marxism-Le
ninism 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-Leninis
m 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 theo
retical principles concerning the revolution and construction in China and a s
ummary of experience therein, both of which have been proved correct by practi
ce; it represents the crystallized, collective wisdom of the Communist Party o
f China. Under the guidance of Mao Zedong Thought, the Communist Party of Chin
a led the people of all ethnic groups in their prolonged revolutionary struggl
e against imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism, winning victory fo
r 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 transit
ion from New Democracy to socialism, establishing the basic system of socialis
m and developing socialism economically, politically and culturally.

After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Party Central Committee, the C
hinese Communists, with Comrade Deng Xiaoping as the chief representative, sum
med 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 for
mulating the line, principles and policies concerning the building of socialis
m with Chinese characteristics and expounding the basic questions concerning t
he building, consolidating and developing of socialism in China, and thus foun
ding Deng Xiaoping Theory. Deng Xiaoping Theory is the outcome of the integrat
ion 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 Zed
ong Thought under new historical conditions; it represents a new period of dev
elopment of Marxism in China, it is Marxism of contemporary China and it is th
e crystallized, collective wisdom of the Communist Party of China. It is guidi
ng 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 Chine
se Communists, with Comrade Jiang Zemin as their chief representative, have ac
quired a deeper understanding of what socialism is, how to build it and what k
ind of a party to build and how to build it, accumulated new valuable experien
ce in running the Party and state and formed the important thought of Three Re
presents. The important thought of Three Represents is a continuation and deve
lopment of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory; it r
eflects 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 t
heoretical weapon for strengthening and improving Party building and for promo
ting self-improvement and development of socialism in China; and it is the cry
stallized, 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 implem
entation of the \"Three Represents\" is the foundation for building our Party, t
he 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 perio
d of time. This is a historical stage which cannot be skipped in socialist mod
ernization 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 characteristic
s. 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 lo
w level of production. Owing to both domestic circumstances and foreign influe
nces, 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 furt
her release and develop the productive forces and achieve socialist modernizat
ion step by step by carrying out reform in those aspects and links of the prod
uction relations and the superstructure that do not conform to the development
of the productive forces. We must uphold and improve the basic economic syste
m, with public ownership playing a dominant role and diverse forms of ownershi
p developing side by side as well as the system of distribution under which di
stribution according to work is dominant and a variety of modes of distributio
n coexist, encourage some areas and some people to become rich first, graduall
y eliminate poverty and achieve common prosperity, and continuously meet the p
eople'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 gove
rning and rejuvenating the country. The general starting point and criterion f
or judging all our work should be how it benefits the development of the produ
ctive forces in our socialist society, adds to the overall strength of our soc
ialist country and improves the people's living standards. The beginning of th
e new century marks China's entry into the new stage of development of buildin
g a well-off society in an all-round way and accelerating socialist modernizat
ion. The strategic objectives of economic and social development at the new st
age 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 le
vel 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 sociali
sm 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 o
ur 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 i
n taking economic development as the central task, making all other work subor
dinated to and serve this central task. We must lose no time in speeding up ec
onomic 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 ta
ke advantage of the advancement of science and technology to improve the quali
ty of workers and work hard to push forward the economy with good results, hig
h 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 ad
here to the Four Cardinal Principles and combat bourgeois liberalization.

Reform and opening up are the only way to make our country strong. We must car
ry out fundamental reform of the economic structure that hampers the developme
nt of the productive forces, and keep and improve a socialist market economy;
we must also carry out corresponding political restructuring and reform in oth
er fields. The opening up means all-dimensional opening up, both externally an
d internally. We must expand economic and technological exchanges and cooperat
ion with other countries, make more and better use of foreign capital, resourc
es and technologies, and assimilate and exploit the achievements of all other
cultures, including all the advanced modes of operation and methods of managem
ent of developed countries in the West that embody the laws governing modern s
ocialized 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 d
emocracy, strengthens the socialist legal system, rules the country by law, bu
ilds a socialist country under the rule of law and consolidates the people's d
emocratic dictatorship. The system of people's congresses and the system of mu
ltiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Co
mmunist 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 th
e people's right to run the affairs of the state and of society and manage eco
nomic 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. Comprehensiv
e 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 interest
s, social stability and economic development. We should strictly distinguish b
etween 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 spirit
ual civilization as well as material and political civilizations and to combin
e ruling the country by law and ruling the country by virtue. Socialist spirit
ual civilization provides a powerful ideological driving force and intellectua
l support and helps create a good social climate for economic development, ref
orm 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 natio
nal traditional culture, and develop a thriving socialist culture. It is essen
tial to inspire the Party members and the people with the Party's basic line,
patriotism, community spirit and socialist ideology, enhance their sense of na
tional dignity, self-confidence and self-reliance, imbue the Party members wit
h lofty ideals of communism, resist corrosion by capitalist and feudal decaden
t ideas and wipe out all social evils so that our people will have lofty ideal
s, moral integrity, a good education and a strong sense of discipline.

The Communist Party of China persists in its leadership over the People's Libe
ration Army and other people's armed forces, builds up the strength of the Peo
ple's Liberation Army, and gives full play to its role in consolidating nation
al defense, defending the motherland and participating in the socialist modern
ization 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 con
stantly improves the system of regional ethnic autonomy, actively trains and p
romotes cadres from among ethnic minorities, and helps them with economic and
cultural development in the areas inhabited by ethnic minorities so as to achi
eve common prosperity and all-round progress for all ethnic groups.

The Communist Party of China unites with all workers, farmers and intellectual
s, and with all the democratic parties, personages without party affiliation a
nd the patriotic forces of all ethnic groups in China in further expanding and
fortifying the broadest possible patriotic united front embracing all sociali
st workers and all patriots who support socialism or who support the reunifica
tion of the motherland. We should constantly work to strengthen the unity of a
ll the Chinese people, including our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao specia
l 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 countr
ies 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, a
nd promoting human progress. It works to develop relations between China and o
ther countries on the basis of the five principles of mutual respect for sover
eignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, noninterference in ea
ch other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexist
ence. It strives for the constant development of good-neighborly relations bet
ween China and the surrounding countries and for the strengthening of the unit
y and cooperation between China and other developing countries. The Communist
Party of China develops relations with communist parties and other political p
arties in other countries in accordance with the principles of independence, c
omplete 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 gre
at goal of socialist modernization, the Communist Party of China must adhere t
o the Party's basic line in strengthening and improving Party building, persis
t 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 streng
then its class foundation, expand its mass base and enhance its creativity, co
hesion and combat effectiveness, so that it will stand forever in the forefron
t 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 charact
eristics. In building the Party, we must be determined to meet the following f
our 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 th
e 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 prim
ary stage of socialism and combat all \" Left\" or Right erroneous tendencies, m
aintaining vigilance against Right tendencies, primarily against \"Left\" tenden
cies. We must intensify the building of leading bodies at all levels, selectin
g and promoting cadres who have scored outstanding achievements in their publi
c service and have won the trust of the masses in the reform, opening up and t
he modernization drive, and train and cultivate millions of successors to the
cause of socialism, thus ensuring organizationally the implementation of the P
arty's basic line and program.

Second, persevering in emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts and kee
ping pace with the times. The Party's ideological line is to proceed from real
ity in handling all matters, to integrate theory with practice, to seek truth
from facts, and to verify and develop the truth through practice. Party member
s must adhere to this ideological line, explore new ways, boldly experiment wi
th new methods, go in for innovation, work creatively, constantly study new si
tuations, 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 spec
ial 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 t
he 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 t
he 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 corre
ct 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 potentia
l 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 itsel
f clean and honest.

Fourth, upholding democratic centralism. Democratic centralism is a combinatio
n of centralism on the basis of democracy and democracy under centralized guid
ance. 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, d
emocracy and the initiative and creativity of Party organizations at all level
s 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 Pa
rty and prompt and effective implementation of its decisions. The sense of org
anization and discipline must be strengthened, and all members are equal befor
e Party discipline. Supervision over leading organs of the Party and over Part
y members holding leading positions must be strengthened and the system of inn
er-Party supervision constantly improved. In its internal political activities
, the Party conducts criticism and self-criticism in the correct way, waging i
deological struggles over matters of principles, upholding truth and rectifyin
g mistakes. Diligent efforts must be made to create a political situation in w
hich there are both centralism and democracy, both discipline and freedom, bot
h 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 th
e socialist modernization drive and strengthen and improve its leadership. Act
ing on the principle that the Party commands the overall situation and coordin
ates 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 force
s in a concerted effort to focus on economic development. The Party must pract
ice democratic and scientific decision-making; formulate and implement the cor
rect line, principles and policies; do its organizational, publicity and educa
tional work well and make sure that all Party members play an exemplary and va
nguard 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 har
mony. The Party must strengthen its leadership over the trade unions, the Comm
unist Youth League organizations, the women's federations and other mass organ
izations, and give full scope to their roles. The Party must adapt itself to t
he march of events and changing circumstances, improving its system and style
of leadership and raising its governing capacity. Party members must work in c
lose cooperation with the vast number of non-Party people in the common endeav
or to build socialism with Chinese characteristics.


Chapter I

Membership

Article 1 Any Chinese worker, farmer, member of the armed forces, intellectual
or any advanced element of other social strata who has reached the age of eig
hteen and who accepts the Party's Program and Constitution and is willing to j
oin 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 C
ommunist 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 ma
ke any personal sacrifices.

Members of the Communist Party of China are at all times ordinary members of t
he working people. Communist Party members must not seek personal gain or priv
ileges, although the relevant laws and policies provide them with personal ben
efits 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 Xiaopi
ng Theory and the important thought of Three Represents, study the Party's lin
e, principles, policies and decisions, acquire essential knowledge concerning
the Party, obtain general, scientific and professional knowledge and work dili
gently to enhance their ability to serve the people.

(2) To implement the Party's basic line, principles and policies, take the lea
d in reform, opening up and socialist modernization, encourage the people to w
ork hard for economic development and social progress and play an exemplary an
d 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 int
erests 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 workin
g to contribute more.

(4) To conscientiously observe the Party discipline, abide by the laws and reg
ulations of the state in an exemplary way, rigorously guard secrets of the Par
ty 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 th
e Party, match words with deeds, firmly oppose all factions and small-clique a
ctivities and oppose double-dealing and scheming of any kind.

(6) To earnestly engage in criticism and self-criticism, boldly expose and cor
rect shortcomings and mistakes in work and resolutely combat corruption and ot
her malpractices.

(7) To maintain close ties with the masses, disseminate the Party's views amon
g them, consult with them when problems arise, keep the Party informed of thei
r views and demands in good time and defend their legitimate interests.

( To promote new socialist ways and customs and advocate communist ethics. T
o step forward and fight bravely in times of difficulty or danger, daring to m
ake 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 bene
fit from the Party's education and training.

(2) To participate in the discussion of questions concerning the Party's polic
ies 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 Par
ty meetings, to present information or charges against any Party organization
or member concerning violations of discipline or the law to the Party in a res
ponsible way, to demand disciplinary measures against such a member, or call f
or 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 organ
izations 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 reservati
ons and present their views to Party organizations at higher levels even up to
the Central Committee, provided that they resolutely carry out the decision o
r policy while it is in force.

( To put forward any request, appeal, or complaint to higher Party organizat
ions 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 righ
t to deprive any Party member of the above- mentioned rights.

Article 5 New Party members must be admitted through a Party branch, and the p
rinciple of individual admission must be adhered to.

An applicant for Party membership must fill in an application form and be reco
mmended by two full Party members. The application must be accepted at a gener
al membership meeting of the Party branch concerned and approved by the next h
igher Party organization, and the applicant must undergo observation for a pro
bationary 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 Constitutio
n, qualifications for membership and the duties and rights of members, and mus
t make a responsible report to the Party organization on the matter.

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The Party branch committee must canvass the opinions of persons concerned, ins
ide 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 hi
gher Party organization concerned must appoint people to talk with them, in or
der to get to know them better and help deepen their understanding of the Part
y.

In special circumstances, the Central Committee of the Party or the Party comm
ittee of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Cent
ral 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 C
hina, uphold the Party's program, observe the provisions of the Party Constitu
tion, fulfill a Party member's duties, carry out the Party's decisions, strict
ly 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 sacrifi
ce 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 Pa
rty organization should make serious efforts to educate and observe the probat
ionary members.

Probationary members have the same duties as full members. They enjoy the righ
ts of full members except those of participating in voting and elections and s
tanding for election.

Upon the expiration of the probationary period of a probationary member, the P
arty 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 schedule
d; 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 probationar
y member full membership, extend a probationary period, or annul a probationar
y membership must be made through discussion held by the general membership me
eting of the Party branch concerned and approved by the next higher Party orga
nization.

The probationary period of a probationary member begins from the day the gener
al 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 members
hip 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 regu
lar activities of the Party organization and accept supervision by the masses
inside and outside the Party. Leading Party cadres must attend democratic meet
ings held by the Party committee or leading Party members' groups. There shall
be no privileged Party members who do not participate in the regular activiti
es of the Party organization and do not accept supervision by the masses insid
e and outside the Party.

Article 9 Party members are free to withdraw from the Party. When a Party memb
er asks to withdraw, the Party branch concerned shall, after discussion by its
general membership meeting, remove his name from the Party rolls, make the re
moval public and report it to the next higher Party organization for the recor
d.

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 rema
ins incorrigible after education, he should be persuaded to withdraw from the
Party. The case shall be discussed and decided by the general membership meeti
ng of the Party branch concerned and submitted to the next higher Party organi
zation for approval. If the Party member being persuaded to withdraw refuses t
o 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 fro
m the Party rolls, after which the decision shall be submitted to the next hig
her Party organization for approval.

A Party member who fails to take part in regular Party activities, pay members
hip dues or do work assigned by the Party for six successive months without go
od reason is regarded as having given up membership. The general membership me
eting of the Party branch concerned shall decide on the removal of such a pers
on's name from the Party rolls and report it to the next higher Party organiza
tion for approval.


Chapter II

Organization System of the Party

Article 10 The Party is an integral body organized under its program and Const
itution on the principle of democratic centralism. The basic principles of dem
ocratic centralism as practiced by the Party are as follows:

(1) Individual Party members are subordinate to the Party organization, the mi
nority is subordinate to the majority, the lower Party organizations are subor
dinate to the higher Party organizations, and all the constituent organization
s and members of the Party are subordinate to the National Congress and the Ce
ntral committee of the Party.

(2) The Party's leading bodies at all levels are elected except for the repres
entative organs dispatched by them and the leading Party members' groups in no
n-Party organizations.

(3) The highest leading body of the Party is the National Congress and the Cen
tral Committee elected by it. The leading bodies of local Party organizations
are the Party congresses at their respective levels and the Party committees e
lected by them. Party committees are responsible, and report their work, to th
e Party congresses at their respective levels.

(4) Higher Party organizations shall pay constant attention to the views of lo
wer 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 tim
e, they shall handle, independently and in a responsible manner, matters withi
n their jurisdiction. Higher and lower Party organizations should exchange inf
ormation and support and supervise each other. Party organizations at all leve
ls should enable Party members to keep well informed of inner-Party affairs an
d to have as many opportunities as possible to involve themselves in them.

(5) Party committees at all levels function on the principle of combining coll
ective leadership with individual responsibility based on division of labor. A
ll major issues shall be decided upon by the Party committees after discussion
in accordance with the principle of collective leadership, democratic central
ism, individual consultations and decision by meetings. The members of the Par
ty committees should earnestly perform their duties in accordance with the col
lective 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 th
e 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 Par
ty committees at all levels should reflect the will of the voters. Elections s
hall be held by secret ballot. The lists of candidates shall be submitted to t
he Party organizations and voters for full deliberation and discussion. The el
ection procedure in which the number of candidates nominated is greater than t
he number of persons to be elected may be used directly in a formal election o
r 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 anothe
r. No organization or individual shall in any way compel voters to elect or no
t 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 Pa
rty committee at the next higher level, after investigation and verification,
should decide to declare the election invalid and take appropriate measures. T
he 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 Pa
rty committees at all levels will convene conferences of delegates to discuss
and decide on major problems that require timely solution. The number of deleg
ates to such conferences and the procedure governing their election shall be d
etermined 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 level
s may send out their representative organs.

When the congress of a local Party organization at any level or the congress o
f Party organization at the primary level is not in session, the next higher P
arty organization may, when it deems it necessary, transfer or appoint respons
ible members of that organization.

Article 14 When making decisions on important questions affecting the lower or
ganizations, the leading bodies of the Party at all levels should, under norma
l circumstances, solicit opinions of the lower organizations. Measures should
be taken to ensure that the lower organizations can exercise their functions a
nd powers normally. Except in special circumstances, higher leading bodies sho
uld 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 decis
ions on major policies of a nationwide character. Party organizations of vario
us departments and localities may make suggestions with regard to such policie
s to the Central Committee, but shall not make any decisions or publicize thei
r 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 or
ganizations do not suit the specific conditions in their localities or departm
ents, they may demand modification. If the higher organizations insist on thei
r original decisions, the lower organizations must carry out such decisions an
d refrain from publicly voicing their differences, but retain the right to rep
ort to the next higher Party organization.

Newspapers, journals and other means of publicity run by Party organizations a
t all levels must disseminate the line, principles, policies and decisions of
the Party.

Article 16 When discussing and making decisions on any matter, Party organizat
ions must keep to the principle of subordination of the minority to the majori
ty. A vote must be taken when major issues are decided on. Serious considerati
on should be given to the differing views of a minority. In case of controvers
y over major issues in which supporters of the two opposing views are nearly e
qual in number, except in emergencies where action must be taken in accordance
with the majority view, the decision should be put off to allow for further i
nvestigation, study and exchange of opinions followed by another vote. Under s
pecial 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 ex
press views on major issues beyond the scope of the existing decisions of the
Party organizations, the content must be referred to the Party organization fo
r prior discussion and decision, or referred to the next higher Party organiza
tion for instructions. No Party member, whatever his position, is allowed to m
ake 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 organiz
ation immediately afterwards. No leader is allowed to take decisions arbitrari
ly 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 examin
e the Party's work in publicity, education, organization and discipline inspec
tion, its mass work and united front work. They must carefully study ideologic
al 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 an
d convened by the Central Committee. It may be convened before the normally sc
heduled date if the Central Committee deems it necessary or if more than one-t
hird of the organizations at the provincial level so request. Except under ext
raordinary circumstances, the Congress may not be postponed.

The number of delegates to the National Congress of the Party and the procedur
e 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 I
nspection;

(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 ar
e 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 mem
bers 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 Ce
ntral Committee elected by the National Congress of the Party.

Article 21 The Central Committee of the Party is elected for a term of five ye
ars. However, when the next National Congress is convened before or after its
normally scheduled date, the term shall be correspondingly shortened or extend
ed. Members and alternate members of the Central Committee must have a Party s
tanding 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 ye
ar, and such sessions are convened by its Political Bureau.

When the National Congress is not in session, the Central Committee carries ou
t its decisions, directs the entire work of the Party and represents the Commu
nist Party of China in its external relations.

Article 22 The Political Bureau, the Standing Committee of the Political Burea
u 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 Cent
ral Committee must be a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bure
au.

When the Central Committee is not in session, the Political Bureau and its Sta
nding 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 o
f the Central Committee and are subject to endorsement by the Central Committe
e in plenary session.

The General Secretary of the Central Committee is responsible for convening th
e meetings of the Political Bureau and its Standing Committee and presides ove
r 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 e
lected by the next Central Committee.

Article 23 Party organizations in the Chinese People's Liberation Army carry o
n their work in accordance with the instructions of the Central Committee. The
political work organ of the Military Commission of the Central Committee is t
he General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army; the G
eneral Political Department directs Party and political work in the army. The
organizational system and organs of the Party in the armed forces are prescrib
ed 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 d
irectly under the Central Government, city divided into districts, or autonomo
us prefecture is held once every five years.

The Party congress of a county (banner), autonomous county, city not divided i
nto districts, or municipal district is held once every five years.

Local Party congresses are convened by the Party committees at the correspondi
ng levels. Under extraordinary circumstances, they may be held before or after
their normally scheduled dates upon approval by the next higher Party committ
ees.

The number of delegates to the local Party congresses at any level and the pro
cedure governing their election are determined by the Party committees at the
corresponding levels and should be reported to the next higher Party committee
s for approval.

Article 25 The functions and powers of the local Party congresses at all level
s are as follows:

(1) To hear and examine the reports of the Party committees at the correspondi
ng levels;

(2) To hear and examine the reports of the commissions for discipline inspecti
on 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 autonom
ous 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 the
ir normally scheduled dates, the terms of the committees elected by the previo
us congresses shall be correspondingly shortened or extended.

The number of members and alternate members of the local Party committees at v
arious levels shall be determined by the next higher committees. Vacancies on
the local Party committees at various levels shall be filled by their alternat
e 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 t
he 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 rep
ort on it to the next higher Party committees at regular intervals.

Article 27 Local Party committees at various levels elect, at their plenary se
ssions, their standing committees, secretaries and deputy secretaries and repo
rt the results to the higher Party committees for approval. The standing commi
ttees of local Party committees at various levels exercise the powers and func
tions of local Party committees when the latter are not in session. They conti
nue to handle the day-to-day work when the next Party congresses at their leve
ls 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 region
al Party committee to a prefecture covering several counties, autonomous count
ies or cities. It exercises leadership over the work in the given region as au
thorized 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 P
arty 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 organi
zations. 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 bran
ch is elected by a general membership meeting.

Article 30 A Primary Party committee is elected for a term of three to five ye
ars, while a general Party branch committee or a Party branch committee is ele
cted 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 ap
proval.

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 se
rve as the foundation of its fighting capacity. Their main tasks are:

(1) To disseminate and carry out the Party's line, principles and policies, th
e decisions of the Central Committee of the Party and other higher Party organ
izations, and their own decisions; to give full play to the exemplary, vanguar
d 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 Represent
s, the Party's line, principles, policies and decisions, acquire essential kno
wledge concerning the Party and obtain general, scientific and professional kn
owledge.

(3) To educate and supervise Party members, raise the overall quality of the P
arty membership, cultivate their Party spirit, ensure their regular participat
ion in the activities of the Party organizations, make criticism and self-crit
icism, maintain and observe Party discipline, see that Party members truly ful
fill their duties and protect their rights from encroachment.

(4) To maintain close ties with the masses, constantly seek their criticisms a
nd opinions regarding Party members and the Party's work, safeguard the legiti
mate rights and interests of the masses and do effective ideological and polit
ical 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 skil
ls and learning to the reform, opening up and the socialist modernization driv
e.

(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 p
roduction 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 personne
l regulations of the state and that none of them infringe on the interests of
the state, the collective or the masses.

( To encourage Party members and the masses to conscientiously resist unheal
thy practices and wage resolute struggles against all illegal and criminal act
ivities.

Article 32 The primary Party committees in communities, townships and towns an
d the Party organizations in villages and communities provide leadership for t
he work in their localities and assist administrative departments, economic in
stitutions and self-governing mass organizations in fully exercising their fun
ctions 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 p
rimary Party organization guarantees and supervises the implementation of the
principles and policies of the Party and the state in its own enterprise and b
acks the meeting of shareholders, board of directors, board of supervisors and
manager (factory director) in the exercise of their functions and powers acco
rding to law. It relies wholeheartedly on the workers and office staff, suppor
ts the work of the congresses of representatives of workers and office staff a
nd participates in making final decisions on major questions in the enterprise
. It works to improve its own organization and provides leadership over ideolo
gical and political work, efforts for cultural and ethical progress and the tr
ade unions, the Communist Youth League and other mass organizations.

In a non-public economic institution, the primary Party organization carries o
ut the Party's principles and policies, provides guidance to and supervises th
e enterprise in observing the laws and regulations of the state, exercises lea
dership over the trade union, the Communist Youth League organization and othe
r mass organizations, rallies the workers and office staff around it, safeguar
ds the legitimate rights and interests of all quarters and stimulates the heal
thy 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 instituti
on where the administrative leaders assume full responsibility under the leade
rship of the Party committee, the primary Party organization discusses and dec
ides on major issues and at the same time ensures that the administrative lead
ers are able to fully exercise their functions and powers.

In offices of the Party or the state at all levels, the primary Party organiza
tions assist the chief administrators in fulfilling their tasks and improving
their work. They exercise supervision over all Party members, including the ch
ief 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 serva
nts of the people. The Party selects its cadres according to the principle tha
t they should possess both political integrity and professional competence, ad
heres to the practice of appointing people on their merits and opposes favorit
ism; it exerts genuine efforts to make the ranks of the cadres more revolution
ary, younger in average age, better educated and more professionally competent
.

The Party attaches great importance to education, training, selection and asse
ssment of cadres, especially to the training and selection of outstanding youn
g cadres. The Party actively promotes the reform of the cadre system.

The Party attaches great importance to the training and promotion of women cad
res 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 en
ough to perform their duties, earnestly put the important thought of Three Rep
resents into practice, try hard to analyze and solve practical problems with t
he stand, viewpoint and methods of Marxism, keep stressing study, political aw
areness and integrity, and be able to stand the test of all trials and tribula
tions.

(2) Have the grand ideal of communism and firm conviction in socialism with Ch
inese characteristics, firmly implement the Party 's basic line, principles an
d policies, be determined to carry out the reform and opening to the outside w
orld, devote themselves to the cause of modernization and work hard to start u
ndertakings and make solid achievements in socialist construction.

(3) Persist in emancipating their minds, seeking truth from facts, keeping pac
e with the times and blazing new trails in a pioneering spirit; conduct earnes
t investigations and studies so as to be able to integrate the Party's princip
les and policies with the actual conditions in their localities or departments
and work efficiently; tell the truth, do practical work, seek tangible result
s 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 qualifie
d for leading posts in organizational ability, general education and vocationa
l 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, se
t an example by their own actions, work hard and live simply, maintain close t
ies 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 u
niting and working with other comrades, including those who hold differing opi
nions.

Article 35 Party cadres should be able to cooperate with non- Party cadres, re
spect 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 ensu
re 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 democra
tic procedure or appointed by a leading body, are not entitled to lifelong ten
ure, 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 observ
ed by Party organizations at all levels and by all Party members. It is the gu
arantee that the unity and solidarity of the Party are safeguarded and that th
e tasks of the Party are accomplished. Party organizations must strictly obser
ve and maintain Party discipline. A Communist Party member must conscientiousl
y 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 mi
stakes 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 th
at 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 d
ealt with according to Party discipline and the laws of the state.

Article 39 There are five measures for enforcing Party discipline: warning, se
rious warning, removal from Party posts, probation within the Party, and expul
sion from the Party.

The period for which a Party member is placed on probation shall not exceed tw
o years. During that period, the Party member concerned has no right to partic
ipate 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 t
he Party.

Expulsion is the ultimate Party disciplinary measure. In deciding on or approv
ing an expulsion, Party organizations at all levels should study all the relev
ant 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 inspec
tion 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 a
uthority to decide directly on disciplinary measures to be taken against a Par
ty member.

Any decision to remove a member or alternate member of the Central Committee o
r a local committee at any level from his posts within the Party, to place suc
h a person on probation within the Party or to expel him from the Party must b
e approved by a two- thirds majority vote at a plenary meeting of the Party co
mmittee to which he belongs. In special circumstances, the decision may be tak
en first by the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Comm
ittee or the standing committee of a local Party committee, pending confirmati
on 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

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