List of political parties in the People's Republic of China
Encyclopedia
The People's Republic of China
(PRC) is formally a multi-party state under the leadership of the Communist Party of China
(CPC) in a United Front
similar to the popular fronts of former Communist-era Eastern European countries such as the National Front of Democratic Germany
.
Under the one country, two systems
scheme, the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong
and Macau
, which were previously colonies of Europe
an powers, operate under a different political system to the rest of the PRC. Currently, both Hong Kong and Macau possess multi-party systems.
. This means that only one political party, the CPC, holds effective power at the national level. Eight minor parties also participate in the political system under the leadership of the major party. The PRC political system allows for the participation of some non-party members and minor parties in the National People's Congress
(NPC), but they are vetted by the CPC.
Although opposition parties are not formally banned in mainland China (the PRC), the CPC maintains control over the political system in several ways.
Firstly, the PRC political system is composed of a series of indirect elections in which one people's congress appoints the members of the next higher congress, and in which only the lowest people's congresses are subject to direct popular vote. This means that although independent members can theoretically, and occasionally in practice, get elected to the lowest level of congress, it is impossible for them to organize to the point where they can elect members to the next higher people's congress without the approval of the CPC or to exercise oversight over executive positions at the lowest level in the hierarchy. This lack of effective power also discourages outsiders from contesting the people's congress elections even at the lowest level.
Second, although PRC law has no formal provision for banning a non-religious organization, it also has no provision which would give non-CPC political parties any corporate status. This means that a hypothetical opposition party would have no legal means to collect funds or own property in the name of the party. More importantly, PRC law also has a wide range of offenses which can and have been used against the leaders of efforts to form an opposition party such as the China Democracy Party
and against members of organizations that the CPC sees as threatening its power. These include the crimes of subversion
, sedition
, and releasing state secret
s. Moreover, the control that the Party has over the legislative and judicial processes means that the Party can author legislation that targets a particular group.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
(PRC) is formally a multi-party state under the leadership of the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
(CPC) in a United Front
United Front (PRC)
The United Front in the People's Republic of China is a nominally popular front led by the Communist Party of China. It is managed by the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and besides the communist party it consists of eight minor parties and the...
similar to the popular fronts of former Communist-era Eastern European countries such as the National Front of Democratic Germany
National Front (East Germany)
The National Front of the German Democratic Republic was an alliance of political parties and mass organisations in East Germany...
.
Under the one country, two systems
One country, two systems
"One country, two systems" is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping, then Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China , for the reunification of China during the early 1980s...
scheme, the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
, which were previously colonies of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an powers, operate under a different political system to the rest of the PRC. Currently, both Hong Kong and Macau possess multi-party systems.
Relationships with the Communist Party
The dominance over the political system is such that China is effectively a single-party stateSingle-party state
A single-party state, one-party system or single-party system is a type of party system government in which a single political party forms the government and no other parties are permitted to run candidates for election...
. This means that only one political party, the CPC, holds effective power at the national level. Eight minor parties also participate in the political system under the leadership of the major party. The PRC political system allows for the participation of some non-party members and minor parties in the National People's Congress
National People's Congress
The National People's Congress , abbreviated NPC , is the highest state body and the only legislative house in the People's Republic of China. The National People's Congress is held in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China; with 2,987 members, it is the...
(NPC), but they are vetted by the CPC.
Although opposition parties are not formally banned in mainland China (the PRC), the CPC maintains control over the political system in several ways.
Firstly, the PRC political system is composed of a series of indirect elections in which one people's congress appoints the members of the next higher congress, and in which only the lowest people's congresses are subject to direct popular vote. This means that although independent members can theoretically, and occasionally in practice, get elected to the lowest level of congress, it is impossible for them to organize to the point where they can elect members to the next higher people's congress without the approval of the CPC or to exercise oversight over executive positions at the lowest level in the hierarchy. This lack of effective power also discourages outsiders from contesting the people's congress elections even at the lowest level.
Second, although PRC law has no formal provision for banning a non-religious organization, it also has no provision which would give non-CPC political parties any corporate status. This means that a hypothetical opposition party would have no legal means to collect funds or own property in the name of the party. More importantly, PRC law also has a wide range of offenses which can and have been used against the leaders of efforts to form an opposition party such as the China Democracy Party
China Democracy Party
Democracy Party of China is a political party that started in the People's Republic of China, and was banned by the Communist Party of China . The history of the DPC and its foundation date is unclear because it has many historical paths under different groups of founders...
and against members of organizations that the CPC sees as threatening its power. These include the crimes of subversion
Subversion (politics)
Subversion refers to an attempt to transform the established social order, its structures of power, authority, and hierarchy; examples of such structures include the State. In this context, a "subversive" is sometimes called a "traitor" with respect to the government in-power. A subversive is...
, sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
, and releasing state secret
State Secret
State Secret is a 1950 British drama film directed by Sidney Gilliat and starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Jack Hawkins, Glynis Johns and Herbert Lom. It was released in the United States under the title The Great Manhunt.-Cast:...
s. Moreover, the control that the Party has over the legislative and judicial processes means that the Party can author legislation that targets a particular group.
The parties
- Communist Party of ChinaCommunist Party of ChinaThe Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
(中国共产党) More than 70 million members,
- The eight registered minor parties under CPC direction:
- Revolutionary Committee of the KuomintangRevolutionary Committee of the KuomintangThe Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang is one of eight registered minor political parties in the People's Republic of China....
(中国国民党革命委员会 or 民革). Formed by leftist members of the KuomintangKuomintangThe Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
(KMT) who did not escape to Taiwan. 82,000 members. It is considered "second" in status to the Communist Party of China. Thus it has 30% of the seats in the People's Political Consultative Conference. - China Democratic LeagueChina Democratic LeagueThe China Democratic League is one of the eight legally recognised political parties in the People's Republic of China.The party was established in 1939 and took its present name in 1944. At its formation, it was a coalition of three pro-democracy parties and three pressure groups...
(中国民主同盟 or 民盟). Originally a league of pro-democracy parties. Formed by 144,000 members, mainly middle-level and senior intellectuals. - China Democratic National Construction AssociationChina Democratic National Construction AssociationThe China Democratic National Construction Association is one of the eight legally recognised political parties in the People's Republic of China that follow the direction of the Communist Party of China and are member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference...
(中国民主建国会 or 民建). Entrepreneurs from the manufacturing, financial or commercial industries, in both private and state sectors. - China Association for Promoting DemocracyChina Association for Promoting DemocracyThe China Association for Promoting Democracy is one of the eight legally recognised political parties in the People's Republic of China that follow the direction of the Communist Party of China and is a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference...
(中国民主促进会 or 民进). Intellectuals, mostly in the education, technology and publishing sectors. Some 117,500 members. - Chinese Peasants' and Workers' Democratic PartyChinese Peasants' and Workers' Democratic PartyThe Chinese Peasants' and Workers' Democratic Party is one of the eight non-communist, legally recognised political parties in the People's Republic of China that follow the direction of the Communist Party of China and is a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.The...
(中国农工民主党 or 农工党). Most of its 65,000 members work in the fields of public health, culture and education, science and technology. - Zhigongdang of China (中国致公党). Returned overseas Chinese, relatives of overseas Chinese, and noted figures and scholars who have overseas ties.
- Jiusan SocietyJiusan SocietyThe Jiusan Society is one of the eight legally recognised political parties in the People's Republic of China that follow the direction of the Communist Party of China and are members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference...
(九三学社). Most of its 68,000 members are high- and medium level intellectuals in the fields of science, technology, education, culture and medicine. - Taiwan Democratic Self-Government LeagueTaiwan Democratic Self-Government LeagueThe Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League is one of the eight legally recognised political parties in the People's Republic of China that follow the direction of the Communist Party of China and are member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference...
(台湾民主自治同盟 or 台盟). 1,600 people, most of whom are prominent people that are from Taiwan or are of Taiwanese heritage, but now reside on the Mainland.
- Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang
Actively suppressed political parties
The following parties are ones which have been and are currently still being actively suppressed in the People's Republic of China. Due to the censorship and suppression, they most likely have their headquarters outside of the Chinese mainland:- The China Democracy PartyChina Democracy PartyDemocracy Party of China is a political party that started in the People's Republic of China, and was banned by the Communist Party of China . The history of the DPC and its foundation date is unclear because it has many historical paths under different groups of founders...
(中国民主党) was founded by participants of the 1978 Chinese Democracy Wall MovementDemocracy WallThe Democracy Wall was a long brick wall on Xidan Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, which became the focus for democratic dissent. Beginning in December 1978, in line with the Communist Party of China's policy of "seeking truth from facts," activists in the Democracy movement—such as Xu...
and the 1989 Democracy MovementTiananmen Square protests of 1989The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
. It was made illegal in 1998 by the CCP on mainland soil. - The China New Democracy PartyChina New Democracy PartyNew Democracy Party of China is a political party that started in the People's Republic of China, and banned by the Communist Party of China . It is established by Mr. Guo Quan, a professor at Nanjing Normal University in 2007 after he published an open letter to the leaders of China. The second...
(中国新民党) was founded by Guo QuanGuo QuanGuo Quan is a Chinese human rights activist. He founded the China New Democracy Party. He is a State Owned Enterprise cadre, secretary of the Nanjing Economic Restructuring Commission and Nanjing People's Court cadre....
in Nanjing at the end of 2007. - Union of Chinese NationalistsUnion of Chinese NationalistsThe Union of Chinese Nationalists , sometimes referred to in English as the Pan-Blue Alliance of Chinese Nationalists, Chinese Pan-Blue Alliance, or China Pan-Blue Alliance, is an unregistered political group in the People's Republic of China that supports the goals of the Kuomintang and the ideals...
(中国泛蓝联盟) aspires to the ideals of the Pan-Blue coalitionPan-Blue CoalitionThe Pan-Blue Coalition 泛藍聯盟 or Pan-Blue Force is a political alliance in the Republic of China , consisting of the Kuomintang , the People First Party , and the New Party . The name comes from the party colours of the Kuomintang...
on TaiwanRepublic of ChinaThe Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. As such, its values include establishing a liberal democracy in accordance with the Three Principles of the PeopleThree Principles of the PeopleThe Three Principles of the People, also translated as Three People's Principles, or collectively San-min Doctrine, is a political philosophy developed by Sun Yat-sen as part of a philosophy to make China a free, prosperous, and powerful nation...
. The group originated from an internet forum discussion in August 2004 and was declared to be an illegal organization in September 2006.
See also
- Chinese political partiesChinese political partiesThe first major political party in China was the Kuomintang which moved to Taiwan in 1949. It was founded in Guangdong Province on August 25, 1912 from a union of several revolutionary groups. The Republic of China was founded by Kuomintang's leader Dr. Sun Yat-sen later that year...
- List of political parties
- List of political parties in the Republic of China before and after 1949
- List of political parties in Hong Kong
- List of political parties in Macau
External links
- List of Democratic Parties - People's Daily
- Profile of Democratic Parties - Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference