Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Political action in China

The Chinese political system is a complicated amalgam of the Communist Party, representative government bodies, and bureaucratic agencies.

How well could your students explain the place in the regime of the actions and the actors described in the Xinhua articles below, all published on the same day?

10th NPC Standing Committee concludes last session, with law amended, deputies confirmed

"BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, concluded its 32nd session here on Thursday...



"The top legislature passed an amended water pollution law, getting tough on corporate executives responsible for causing severe pollution by imposing hefty fines on them...

"The Standing Committee also approved the draft agenda of the upcoming First Session of the 11th NPC, candidate lists for the presidium and a work report by the 10th NPC Standing Committee...

"Attending the meeting were Wang Zhaoguo, Li Tieying, Ismail Amat, He Luli, Ding Shisun, Cheng Siwei, Xu Jialu, Jiang Zhenghua, Gu Xiulian, Raidi, Lu Yongxiang, Wuyunqimuge and Han Qide, all vice chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee..."


CPC session ends, vows to deepen political reform



"The Second Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) closed on Wednesday with a pledge to deepen political reform.

"Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered an important speech at the session, which was held from Feb. 25 to 27 in Beijing. Participants included 204 members of the CPC Central Committee and 167 alternate members.

"A communique issued after the session... said that the CPC must hold higher the banner of democracy, stressing, 'It is a constant goal for the Party to advance socialist democracy.'...

"According to the communique, the session approved two lists of candidates for state leaders and leading members of the country's top political advisory body...

"The CPC session also approved two documents on deepening the country's administrative system reform and the institutional restructuring of the State Council...

"The general goal of administrative reform was to establish a simplified and efficient socialist administrative system with Chinese characteristics by 2020...

"The session also expressed concerns over social issues in education, social welfare and health care, and pledged to try hard to promote social harmony and ensure social stability..."


China issues white paper on "Promoting Rule of Law"

"A White Paper on "China's Efforts and Achievements in Promoting the Rule of Law" was issued here on Thursday by the Information Office of the State Council, the cabinet.

"The paper... covers such topics as the historical course of building a socialist country under the rule of law, legislation and a legal system with Chinese characteristics, legal systems to respect and safeguard human rights, and other social and economic issues...

"In conclusion, the white paper says: 'China's legal construction is still facing some problems' and adds that 'the task still remains onerous to strengthen education in the rule of law and enhance the awareness of law and the concept of the rule of law among the public.'..."

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