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China: Single-Party State Administration
5.1 CPC and State Structures
China's political-administrative system is unique: the Communist Party of China (CPC) (96+ million members) controls the state apparatus at all levels. Key institutions:
| Institution | Role |
|---|---|
| National People's Congress (NPC) | Legislature — 3,000 deputies; meets once/year; formally the highest organ of state power |
| State Council | Cabinet equivalent; led by Premier; oversees 26 ministries; highest executive organ |
| President (国家主席) | Head of State; currently Xi Jinping (also CPC General Secretary and Chair of Central Military Commission — holds triple power) |
| CPC Politburo Standing Committee | Real decision-making body — 7 members; ranks above NPC and State Council |
| Central Military Commission (CMC) | Controls armed forces; Chair = Xi Jinping |
5.2 China's Civil Service
Historical base: The Chinese imperial civil service examination system (Keju, 科举) lasted from 605 AD to 1905 — the world's longest-running standardised civil service examination, influencing subsequent systems globally.
Modern civil service:
- Civil Servant Law 2005 (revised 2018): Defines civil servants; provides for recruitment, promotion, dismissal; emphasises CPC loyalty.
- National Civil Service Examination (国考, Guokao): The most competitive exam in the world — typically 2–3 million applicants for ~30,000 positions annually.
- Dual leadership: All state organs have both a government head and a CPC party secretary — the party secretary typically holds more real power.
5.3 Administrative Levels
China has a five-tier administrative hierarchy:
- National (Central) — State Council, ministries
- Provincial (省) — 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 direct-controlled municipalities (Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing)
- Prefecture-level cities (地级市) — ~333 units
- County level (县) — ~2,800 units
- Township/Village — grassroots level
Special Administrative Regions (SARs): Hong Kong and Macao operate under "One Country, Two Systems" policy — their own legal, administrative, and economic systems until at least 2047.
5.4 Key Features of Chinese Administration
- Cadre System (干部制度): CPC members who hold leadership positions; cadre assessment is based on economic performance, social stability, and party loyalty.
- Guanxi (关系): Personal relationships/networks that facilitate bureaucratic dealings — a cultural feature of Chinese administration.
- Anti-Corruption Campaign (2012–present): Xi Jinping's major initiative; investigated over 4 million officials; Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) is the enforcement body.
- Social Credit System: Emerging system rating citizens and businesses on economic and social behaviour — significant governance implications.