VI. Unswervingly Developing Socialist Democracy

People's democracy is the lifeblood of socialism. The Party has been consistently pursuing the goal of developing socialist democracy. Since China began its reform and opening up, we have made vigorous yet steady efforts to promote political restructuring, and socialist democracy has demonstrated greater vitality in the country. As an important part of the overall reform, political restructuring must be constantly deepened along with economic and social development to adapt to the growing enthusiasm of the people for participation in political affairs. We must keep to the path of political development under socialism with Chinese characteristics, and integrate the leadership of the Party, the position of the people as masters of the country, and the rule of law. We must uphold and improve the system of people's congresses, the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC, the system of regional ethnic autonomy, and the system of self-governance at the primary level of society. All this will promote continuous self-improvement and development of the socialist political system.

In deepening political restructuring, we must keep to the correct political orientation. On the basis of ensuring the people's position as masters of the country, we will expand socialist democracy, build a socialist country under the rule of law and develop socialist political civilization to enhance the vitality of the Party and the state and arouse the initiative of the people. We must uphold the Party's role as the core of leadership in directing the overall situation and coordinating the efforts of all quarters, and improve its capacity for scientific, democratic and law-based governance to ensure that the Party leads the people in effectively governing the country. We must ensure that all power of the state belongs to the people, expand the citizens' orderly participation in political affairs at each level and in every field, and mobilize and organize the people as extensively as possible to manage state and social affairs as well as economic and cultural programs in accordance with the law. We must uphold the rule of law as a fundamental principle and adopt the socialist concept of law-based governance to ensure that all work of the state is based on the law and that the legitimate rights and interests of citizens are safeguarded. We must maintain the features and advantages of the socialist political system and define institutions, standards and procedures for socialist democracy to provide political and legal guarantees of lasting stability for the Party and the country.

1. Expand people's democracy and ensure that they are masters of the country. The essence and core of socialist democracy are that the people are masters of the country. We need to improve institutions for democracy, diversify its forms and expand its channels, and we need to carry out democratic election, decision-making, administration and oversight in accordance with the law to guarantee the people's rights to be informed, to participate, to be heard, and to oversee. We must support people's congresses in performing their functions pursuant to law and effectively turn the Party's propositions into the will of the state through legal procedures. We must ensure that deputies to people's congresses exercise their functions and powers in accordance with the law and maintain close ties with the general public.We propose that both urban and rural areas gradually adopt the same ratio of deputies to the represented population in elections of deputies to people's congresses. We must strengthen the institutions of standing committees of people's congresses and improve their membership composition in terms of intellectual background and age. We will support the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in performing its functions centered on the two major themes of unity and democracy and improve the system of political consultation, democratic oversight, and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs. We will incorporate political consultation in decision-making procedures, improve democratic oversight and ensure that the CPPCC participates in the deliberation and administration of state affairs more effectively. The CPPCC is encouraged to improve itself and play its important role in coordinating relations, pooling strengths, making proposals and serving the overall interests of the country. We must ensure equality among all ethnic groups and guarantee the right of ethnic autonomous areas to exercise autonomy pursuant to law. To ensure scientific and democratic decision-making, we will improve the information and intellectual support for it, increase its transparency and expand public participation in it. In principle, public hearings must be held for the formulation of laws, regulations and policies that bear closely on the interests of the public. We need to step up education about citizenship and establish socialist concepts of democracy, the rule of law, freedom, equality, equity and justice. We support trade unions, the Communist Youth League, women's federations and other people's organizations in functioning in accordance with the law and their respective charters, participating in social management and public services and helping protect the people's legitimate rights and interests.

2. Develop primary-level democracy and ensure that the people enjoy democratic rights in a more extensive and practical way. The most effective and extensive way for the people to be masters of the country is that they directly exercise their democratic rights in accordance with the law to manage public affairs and public service programs at the primary level, practice self-management, self-service, self-education and self-oversight, and exercise democratic oversight over cadres. Such practices must be emphasized and promoted as the groundwork for developing socialist democracy. We need to improve the dynamic mechanism of people's self-governance at the primary level under the leadership of primary Party organizations, expand the scope of self-governance, and improve the institution for democratic management, with a view to turning urban and rural neighborhoods into communities of social life that are well managed, supported by complete services, and filled with civility and harmony. We must rely wholeheartedly on the working class, improve the democratic management system in enterprises and public institutions with workers' conferences as its basic form and increase transparency in factory affairs to support workers' participation in management and to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests. We need to deepen institutional reforms at the town and township level to strengthen government authorities there and improve the systems for transparency in government and village affairs to bring about effective connection and beneficial interaction between government administration and primary-level self-governance. We also encourage social organizations to help expand the participation by the public and report on their petitions to improve the self-governance capability of society.

3. Comprehensively implement the rule of law as a fundamental principle and speed up the building of a socialist country under the rule of law. The rule of law constitutes the essential requirement of socialist democracy. We must persist in scientific and democratic legislation to improve the socialist law system with Chinese characteristics. We will strengthen the enforcement of the Constitution and laws, ensure that all citizens are equal before the law, and safeguard social equity and justice and the consistency, sanctity and authority of the socialist legal system. We need to carry out government administration in accordance with the law. We need to deepen the reform of the judiciary system, optimize the distribution of judicial functions and powers, standardize judicial practices, and build a fair, efficient and authoritative socialist judiciary system to ensure that courts and procuratorates exercise their respective powers independently and impartially in accordance with the law. We need to improve the overall quality of judicial, procuratorial and public security personnel to ensure that law enforcement is strict, impartial and civilized. We need to step up the education campaign to increase public awareness of law, and promote the spirit of the rule of law, creating a social environment in which people study, abide by and apply laws of their own accord. We must respect and safeguard human rights, and ensure the equal right to participation and development for all members of society in accordance with the law. Party organizations at all levels and all Party members must act under the Constitution and laws on their own initiative and take the lead in upholding the authority of the Constitution and laws.

4. Expand the patriotic united front and unite with all forces that can be united. Promoting harmony in relations between political parties, between ethnic groups, between religions, between social strata, and between our compatriots at home and overseas plays an irreplaceable role in enhancing unity and pooling strengths. Acting onthe principle of long-term coexistence, mutual oversight, sincerity, and sharing of both good and bad times, we will strengthen our cooperation with the democratic parties, support them and personages without party affiliation in better performing their functions of participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs and democratic oversight, and select and recommend a greater number of outstanding non-CPC persons for leading positions. Keeping in mind the objective of all ethnic groups working together for common prosperity and development, we must guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of ethnic minorities, and strengthen and develop socialist ethnic relations based on equality, solidarity, mutual assistance and harmony. We will fully implement the Party's basic principle for its work related to religious affairs and bring into play the positive role of religious personages and believers in promoting economic and social development. We encourage members of emerging social strata to take an active part in building socialism with Chinese characteristics. We will conscientiously follow the Party's policy on overseas Chinese affairs and support overseas Chinese nationals, returned overseas Chinese and their relatives in caring about and participating in the modernization drive and the great cause of peaceful reunification of the motherland.

5. Accelerate the reform of the administrative system and build a service-oriented government. The administrative reform is an important part of the efforts to deepen China's overall reform. We must lose no time in working out a master plan for it, with the focus on changing functions, straightening out relations, optimizing the setup and raising efficiency, and bring about a system which matches powers with responsibilities, divides work in a rational way, fosters scientific decision-making, and ensures smooth enforcement and effective oversight. We need to improve the government responsibility system and the public service system, promote e-government and strengthen social management and public services. We will accelerate the separation of the functions of the government from those of enterprises, state assets management authorities, public institutions and market-based intermediaries, standardize administrative practices, strengthen administrative law-enforcement agencies, reduce the number of matters requiring administrative examination and approval and standardize such procedures, and reduce government intervention in microeconomic operations. We will standardize the relationship between local departments directly under central government organs and local governments. We will step up our efforts to streamline government organs, explore ways to establish greater departments with integrated functions, and improve the mechanism of coordination and collaboration between government departments. We will downsize and standardize various organs for deliberation and coordination and their working offices, cut down levels of administration, minimize its costs, and address the problems of overlapping organizations and functions and conflicting policies from different departments. We will give overall consideration to the setup of Party committees and governments as well as that of people's congresses and CPPCC committees, reduce the number of their leading positions and strictly control their staffing. We will step up the restructuring of different categories of public institutions.

6. Improve the mechanism of restraint and oversight and ensure that power entrusted by the people is always exercised in their interests. Power must be exercised in the sunshine to ensure that it is exercised correctly. We must have institutions to govern power, work and personnel, and establish a sound structure of power and a mechanism for its operation in which decision-making, enforcement and oversight powers check each other and function in coordination. We will improve organic laws and rules of procedure to ensure that state organs exercise their powers and perform their functions and responsibilities within their statutory jurisdiction and in accordance with legal procedures. We will improve the open administrative system in various areas and increase transparency in government work, thus enhancing the people's trust in the government. We will focus on tightening oversight over leading cadres and especially principal ones, over the management and use of human, financial and material resources, and over key positions. We will improve the systems of inquiries, accountability, economic responsibility auditing, resignation and recall. We will implement the intra-Party oversight regulations, strengthen democratic oversight and give scope to the oversight role of public opinion, pooling forces of oversight from all sides to make it more effective.

Democracy will keep developing along with the progress of socialism. In the historical course of developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, Chinese Communists and the Chinese people will surely advance socialist democracy that is full of vitality.

 

 六、坚定不移发展社会主义民主政治

人民民主是社会主义的生命。发展社会主义民主政治是我们党始终不渝的奋斗目标。改革开放以来，我们积极稳妥推进政治体制改革，我国社会主义民主政治展现出更加旺盛的生命力。政治体制改革作为我国全面改革的重要组成部分，必须随着经济社会发展而不断深化，与人民政治参与积极性不断提高相适应。要坚持中国特色社会主义政治发展道路，坚持党的领导、人民当家作主、依法治国有机统一，坚持和完善人民代表大会制度、中国共产党领导的多党合作和政治协商制度、民族区域自治制度以及基层群众自治制度，不断推进社会主义政治制度自我完善和发展。

深化政治体制改革，必须坚持正确政治方向，以保证人民当家作主为根本，以增强党和国家活力、调动人民积极性为目标，扩大社会主义民主，建设社会主义法治国家，发展社会主义政治文明。要坚持党总揽全局、协调各方的领导核心作用，提高党科学执政、民主执政、依法执政水平，保证党领导人民有效治理国家；坚持国家一切权力属于人民，从各个层次、各个领域扩大公民有序政治参与，最广泛地动员和组织人民依法管理国家事务和社会事务、管理经济和文化事业；坚持依法治国基本方略，树立社会主义法治理念，实现国家各项工作法治化，保障公民合法权益；坚持社会主义政治制度的特点和优势，推进社会主义民主政治制度化、规范化、程序化，为党和国家长治久安提供政治和法律制度保障。

（一）扩大人民民主，保证人民当家作主。人民当家作主是社会主义民主政治的本质和核心。要健全民主制度，丰富民主形式，拓宽民主渠道，依法实行民主选举、民主决策、民主管理、民主监督，保障人民的知情权、参与权、表达权、监督权。支持人民代表大会依法履行职能，善于使党的主张通过法定程序成为国家意志；保障人大代表依法行使职权，密切人大代表同人民的联系，建议逐步实行城乡按相同人口比例选举人大代表；加强人大常委会制度建设，优化组成人员知识结构和年龄结构。支持人民政协围绕团结和民主两大主题履行职能，推进政治协商、民主监督、参政议政制度建设；把政治协商纳入决策程序，完善民主监督机制，提高参政议政实效；加强政协自身建设，发挥协调关系、汇聚力量、建言献策、服务大局的重要作用。坚持各民族一律平等，保证民族自治地方依法行使自治权。推进决策科学化、民主化，完善决策信息和智力支持系统，增强决策透明度和公众参与度，制定与群众利益密切相关的法律法规和公共政策原则上要公开听取意见。加强公民意识教育，树立社会主义民主法治、自由平等、公平正义理念。支持工会、共青团、妇联等人民团体依照法律和各自章程开展工作，参与社会管理和公共服务，维护群众合法权益。

（二）发展基层民主，保障人民享有更多更切实的民主权利。人民依法直接行使民主权利，管理基层公共事务和公益事业，实行自我管理、自我服务、自我教育、自我监督，对干部实行民主监督，是人民当家作主最有效、最广泛的途径，必须作为发展社会主义民主政治的基础性工程重点推进。要健全基层党组织领导的充满活力的基层群众自治机制，扩大基层群众自治范围，完善民主管理制度，把城乡社区建设成为管理有序、服务完善、文明祥和的社会生活共同体。全心全意依靠工人阶级，完善以职工代表大会为基本形式的企事业单位民主管理制度，推进厂务公开，支持职工参与管理，维护职工合法权益。深化乡镇机构改革，加强基层政权建设，完善政务公开、村务公开等制度，实现政府行政管理与基层群众自治有效衔接和良性互动。发挥社会组织在扩大群众参与、反映群众诉求方面的积极作用，增强社会自治功能。

（三）全面落实依法治国基本方略，加快建设社会主义法治国家。依法治国是社会主义民主政治的基本要求。要坚持科学立法、民主立法，完善中国特色社会主义法律体系。加强宪法和法律实施，坚持公民在法律面前一律平等，维护社会公平正义，维护社会主义法制的统一、尊严、权威。推进依法行政。深化司法体制改革，优化司法职权配置，规范司法行为，建设公正高效权威的社会主义司法制度，保证审判机关、检察机关依法独立公正地行使审判权、检察权。加强政法队伍建设，做到严格、公正、文明执法。深入开展法制宣传教育，弘扬法治精神，形成自觉学法守法用法的社会氛围。尊重和保障人权，依法保证全体社会成员平等参与、平等发展的权利。各级党组织和全体党员要自觉在宪法和法律范围内活动，带头维护宪法和法律的权威。

（四）壮大爱国统一战线，团结一切可以团结的力量。促进政党关系、民族关系、宗教关系、阶层关系、海内外同胞关系的和谐，对于增进团结、凝聚力量具有不可替代的作用。要贯彻长期共存、互相监督、肝胆相照、荣辱与共的方针，加强同民主党派合作共事，支持民主党派和无党派人士更好履行参政议政、民主监督职能，选拔和推荐更多优秀党外干部担任领导职务。牢牢把握各民族共同团结奋斗、共同繁荣发展的主题，保障少数民族合法权益，巩固和发展平等团结互助和谐的社会主义民族关系。全面贯彻党的宗教工作基本方针，发挥宗教界人士和信教群众在促进经济社会发展中的积极作用。鼓励新的社会阶层人士积极投身中国特色社会主义建设。认真贯彻党的侨务政策，支持海外侨胞、归侨侨眷关心和参与祖国现代化建设与和平统一大业。

（五）加快行政管理体制改革，建设服务型政府。行政管理体制改革是深化改革的重要环节。要抓紧制定行政管理体制改革总体方案，着力转变职能、理顺关系、优化结构、提高效能，形成权责一致、分工合理、决策科学、执行顺畅、监督有力的行政管理体制。健全政府职责体系，完善公共服务体系，推行电子政务，强化社会管理和公共服务。加快推进政企分开、政资分开、政事分开、政府与市场中介组织分开，规范行政行为，加强行政执法部门建设，减少和规范行政审批，减少政府对微观经济运行的干预。规范垂直管理部门和地方政府的关系。加大机构整合力度，探索实行职能有机统一的大部门体制，健全部门间协调配合机制。精简和规范各类议事协调机构及其办事机构，减少行政层次，降低行政成本，着力解决机构重叠、职责交叉、政出多门问题。统筹党委、政府和人大、政协机构设置，减少领导职数，严格控制编制。加快推进事业单位分类改革。

（六）完善制约和监督机制，保证人民赋予的权力始终用来为人民谋利益。确保权力正确行使，必须让权力在阳光下运行。要坚持用制度管权、管事、管人，建立健全决策权、执行权、监督权既相互制约又相互协调的权力结构和运行机制。健全组织法制和程序规则，保证国家机关按照法定权限和程序行使权力、履行职责。完善各类公开办事制度，提高政府工作透明度和公信力。重点加强对领导干部特别是主要领导干部、人财物管理使用、关键岗位的监督，健全质询、问责、经济责任审计、引咎辞职、罢免等制度。落实党内监督条例，加强民主监督，发挥好舆论监督作用，增强监督合力和实效。

社会主义愈发展，民主也愈发展。在发展中国特色社会主义的历史进程中，中国共产党人和中国人民一定能够不断发展具有强大生命力的社会主义民主政治。