Politics in China

The politics of the People's Republic of China take place in a framework of a single party socialists republic. The leadership of the Communist Party is stated in the Constitution of Peoples Republic of China. State power within the People's Republic of China (PRC) is exercised through the Communist party of China, the Central Peoples Government and their provincial and local counterparts. Under the dual leadership system, each local bureau or office is under the theoretically coequal authority of the local leader and the leader of the corresponding office, bureau or ministry at the next higher level. People's Congress members at the county level are elected by voters. These county level People's Congresses have the responsibility of oversight of local government, and elect members to the Provincial (or Municipal in the case independent municipalities ) People's Congress. The Provincial People's Congress in turn elects members to the National People's Congress that meets each year in March in Beijing. The ruling Communist Party committee at each level plays a large role in the selection of appropriate candidates for election to the local congress and to the higher levels. Although the country has a constitution and claims to be a champion of democracy, the CCP continues to be an authoritarian party.