The Chinese political system is the subject of much media and popular comment in part because China supports an economy with an apparently inexorable dynamic and impressive record of achievement. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to China’s political system, outlining the major features of the Chinese model and highlighting its claims and challenges. It explores the central role of the Communist Party in the country’s politics and the way in which the Party controls most elements of the political system. The book also draws parallels with previous historical periods in China’s history. Finally, it addresses the question of what kind of role the People's Republic of China will play in global politics as a whole, the implications for the West and the rebalancing of relations between China and its neighbours.

Since its founding in 1949, the People's Republic of China has been a one-party state in which the Chinese Communist Party holds a monopoly of political power. Many Western students are unfamiliar with the structures, institutions, and ideologies by which the Party exercises this power. The Government of China examines those issues in depth. It also details the historical development of China's Communist government and explores recent trends, including signs that a more responsive, open system may be developing. This volume is essential reading for students who wish to understand one of the world's most important countries.

The Constitution of the Republic of China is the fifth and current constitution of the Republic of China, ratified by the Kuomintang during the Constituent National Assembly session on 25 December 1946, in Nanjing, and adopted on 25 December 1947. The constitution, along with its Additional Articles, remains effective in Chinese-controlled territories.