Guiding Principles of the current System
In China, there are various principles (some found in the State's constitution) that guide the current system.
These principles include:
Equal opportunity: the policy of treating employees and others without discrimination, especially on the basis of their sex, race, or age.
Equal opportunity in China is much like equal opportunity in the United States when concerning nationalities and race. In China, however, gender inequalities have increased since their constitution was put in place. After China embarked on economic reforms in the 90's and 2000's, gender inequalities became more prevalent in the labor markets.
Separation of Powers:
In China, the separation of powers is not exactly like that of the United States. Despite both countries having three branches, China rejects the notion of separation of powers. While it notes that there is a separation of functions, overall the National People's Congress is the top of China's political structure, overruling the other branches, even though all the power is not completely held by the NPC.
Checks and Balances:
Popular sovereignty: the principle that the authority of the government is created a sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives, who are the source of all political power.
More principles that guide China's current political system can be found in Chapter 1 of the Chinese Constitution.
These principles include:
Equal opportunity: the policy of treating employees and others without discrimination, especially on the basis of their sex, race, or age.
- All nationalities in the PRC are equal.
- The State protects the lawful rights and interests of the minority nationalities and upholds and develops a relationship of equality, unity, and mutual assistance among all nationalities.
- The State assists areas inhabited by minority nationalities in accelerating their economic and cultural development according to the characteristics and needs of the various minority nationalities.
Equal opportunity in China is much like equal opportunity in the United States when concerning nationalities and race. In China, however, gender inequalities have increased since their constitution was put in place. After China embarked on economic reforms in the 90's and 2000's, gender inequalities became more prevalent in the labor markets.
Separation of Powers:
- The power of legislation is not held by a single power organ or one person.
- China’s legislative power is carried out by two or more power organs.
In China, the separation of powers is not exactly like that of the United States. Despite both countries having three branches, China rejects the notion of separation of powers. While it notes that there is a separation of functions, overall the National People's Congress is the top of China's political structure, overruling the other branches, even though all the power is not completely held by the NPC.
Checks and Balances:
- China’s political structure is not one of checks and balances where the legislation, administration, and the court stand independently to restrain one another.
- For example, China’s president and premier of the State Council both come from the Congress. The president, publicizes laws (after the decision of the Congress), but the premier does not have the right to approve or reject those laws, so unlike the United States, checks and balances are almost completely nonexistent in China.
Popular sovereignty: the principle that the authority of the government is created a sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives, who are the source of all political power.
- In the current Chinese Constitution, popular sovereignty is present, like it is in the United States.
- The Constitution states that all of the power in the People’s Republic of China belongs to the people.
- The congresses at all levels represent the people in exercising state power, which demonstrates the principle of popular sovereignty.
More principles that guide China's current political system can be found in Chapter 1 of the Chinese Constitution.