You are a popular senator from the Republic of China who is assisged to evaluate the political system. The Republic of China is a democracy.
 
 
 

Party and Government: A unitary and "socialist state of the dictatorship of the proletariat," based on
Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought, led by 46-million-member Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Political
processes guided by party Constitution and state Constitution, both promulgated in 1982; constitutions stress principle of
democratic centralism (see Glossary), under which representative organs of both party and state are elected by lower
bodies and they in turn elect their administrative arms at corresponding levels. Within representative and executive bodies
minority must abide by decisions of majority; lower bodies obey orders of higher level organs. In theory, National Party
Congress highest organ of power of party, but real power lies in Political Bureau of CCP Central Committee and, still
more, in select Standing Committee of Political Bureau. National People's Congress highest government organ of state
power; approves CCP policies and programs. Reforms implemented in early 1980s allowed more serious review and
deliberations concerning government programs in National People's Congress. State Council serves as equivalent of
cabinet; key members also hold positions in important party organs.

Administrative Divisions: Divided into three tiers. In 1987 twenty-nine provincial-level units comprise twenty-one
provinces, five autonomous regions, and three centrally governed special municipalities; middle tier consists of autonomous
prefectures, counties, autonomous counties, cities, and municipal districts; and basic level comprises townships, and
villages.

Justice:Four-level court system. Supreme People's Court in Beijing; higher people's courts in provinces, autonomous
regions and special municipalities; intermediate people's courts at prefecture level and also in parts of provinces,
autonomous regions, and special municipalities; basic people's courts in counties, towns, and municipal districts. Special
courts handle matters affecting military, railroad transportation, water transportation, and forestry. Court system paralleled
by hierarchy of prosecuting organs called people's procuratorates; at apex stands Supreme People's Procuratorate.

Foreign Affairs: As of late 1980s, China pursued independent foreign policy and sought friendly relations and trade with
many countries despite political differences. China regards itself as developing country and member of Third World.
China, however, has close cooperative relations, including economic, technological, political, and limited military
cooperation, with United States, Japan, and other industrially developed nations. Earlier strains in Chinese relations with
Soviet Union, long considered by Beijing as main threat of war, somewhat ameliorated by late 1980s but still fell short of
full normalization.
 
 
 
 
 
 

democratic centralism
     A system through which the people influence the policies of the government and party members influence the policies of the party; while the government and party maintain centralized administrative power to carry out the policies demanded by their constituents. Within both representative and executive organizations, the minority must abide by the decisions of the majority, and lower bodies must obey the orders of the higher level organizations. The concept, derived from the organizing principles of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, was called for as early as 1928 by Mao Zedong.