1. Trivia People in China enjoy the same level of Internet freedom as North Americans. True or False?

2. Trivia False! – China’s Government carefully monitors internet usage – Techniques such as DNS blocking prevents users from accessing certain sites – E.g. Google.cn results re-directed to Baidu – Government determines which sites are deemed “prohibited”

3. Trivia The Chinese Communist Party is the sole political party in China. True or False?

4. Trivia False (But also true) 8 Registered minor parties – Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang – China Democratic League – China Democratic National Construction League – China Association for Promoting Democracy – Chinese Peasants’ and Workers’ Democratic Party – China Zhi Gong Party – September 3 Society – Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League Serve as a formality, essentially run by the CCP

5. The Setting: Political Communist State - Chinese Communist Party - Founded in 1921 - Marxist-Leninist foundation - Centralization - Conformity of ministries - Eliminating opposition - Ruling political party - Ultimate control over state affairs and legislation

6. The Chinese Communist Party

7. The National Party Congress – Supreme legislative power – Meets every 5 years – Major issues e.g. constitutional revisions The Central Committee – 5 year turn-over intervals – Elected by NPC to carry out its mandate The Politburo Standing Committee – Decision and law-making body – Highest ranking officials of government ministries

8. The Government 3 Major bodies – President – State Council – National People’s Congress Communist Party is the ruling party and essentially controls at every level

9. The Government -Hu Jintao -President – Head of State -Figurehead, elected by the National People’s Congress -General Secretary of the Communist Party -Highest ranking official -Head of the Politburo -Chairman of the Central Military Commission

10. The Government -State Council -Wen Jiabao (premier) appointed by the president -Administrative body -Consists of the heads of each ministry and department

11. The Government National People’s Congress – Wu Bangguo (Chairman) – Legislative body Rubber Stamp? – Communist party is the majority, other parties make up the minority However minor parties are all “registered” parties with the CCP

12. References http://www.china.org.cn/english/archiveen/27750.htm http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/03/-ldquo-the-connection-has-been-reset-rdquo/6650/ http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/Q589.aspx http://www.cfr.org/publication/14482/ http://www.index-china.com/index-english/Politics-gov-s.html http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/state_structure/64735.htm http://www.economicexpert.com/a/General:Secretary:of:the:Communist:Party:of:China.htm http://is.china-embassy.org/eng/xwdt/W020060101209907667507.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Wen_Jiabao_-_Annual_Meeting_of_the_New_Champions_Tianjin_2008_1.jpg http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-03/11/xin_5603041116577201609817.jpg http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/24/xin_1920305111522062108142.jpg