1. People’s Republic of China

2. Political Background
China has a political history over 5,000 years old, but its present constitution is only about 60 years old
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) was born in 1949
It was established by Mao Zedong after his Communists defeated Chiang Kai-shek and his Nationalists
The United States supported Chiang Kai-shek, but the long ignored peasants backed Mao Zedong and the Communists
Mao Zedong
Chiang Kai-shek
Taiwan
China

3. China Under Mao
Mao turned to central planning and Five Year Plans to boost agricultural production
Frequent and drastic changes often led to chaos
Cultural Revolution in the mid-1960’s sought to purge China of the Four Olds:
Old Thoughts
Old Culture
Old Customs
Old Habits
Red Guards attacked teachers, intellectuals, and anyone who lacked “revolutionary fervor”
Many artists and scholars were sent to camp to be “re-educated”
Mao abandoned the effort in 1968 after seeing the havoc it wreaked.

4. Reform and Repression Mao dies in 1976 Deng Xiaoping comes to power
Loosens government control on economy
Allows for some forms of private enterprise
Still does not allow any political dissent
Tiananmen Square (1989)
Students and workers hold demonstrations calling for democracy
Soldiers attack protesters with guns and tanks
Thousands are killed outraging the world community
Deng Xiaoping

5. Chinese Constitution Adopted in 1954
Unlike U.S. Constitution, it is not a fundamental law, but rather is intended to reflect current government policies
China has had four constitutions since 1954

6. China’s Communist Party
China’s Communist Party has 58 million members and is the world’s largest political party
Top-ranking members hold the highest positions in government and the military
The Communist Party of China is the de-facto government of China
National Party Congress (1,900 members)– meets every five years to elect a Central Committee
Central Committee (300 members) elects the Politburo
Politburo (20 members) makes party policy
Secretariat makes day-to-day decisions
Politburo (20)
Central Committee (300)
National Party Congress (1,900)

7. The National Government
National People’s Congress (3,000 deputies) holds little real power
State Council (main body of the executive branch)
Headed by the Premier (chosen by the Central Committee of the Communist Party)
Standing Committee has decision-making authority and decisions have the force of law

8. The Judicial System
Nationwide system of “people’s courts” supervised by the Supreme People’s Court.
Capital punishment is used for many crimes (bribery, embezzlement, drug dealing)
Guarantees of a fair trial are largely non-existent

9. Local Political Divisions
Unitary government with central government exerting control over local subdivisions
22 provinces and 5 autonomous regions (including Hong Kong which was ceded to China from the United Kingdom in 1997).

10. Taiwan Taiwan is also known as the Republic of China
It is consider by mainland (communist) People’s Republic of China to be a renegade province
The United States has changed its position on China, recognizing communist China as the one China but also vowing to protect Taiwan against communist Chinese aggression.