The Common Program of the People's Republic of China 1949-1954
Common
Program
Article 13
Article 13
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference is the organisational form of the people's democratic united front. It shall be composed of the representatives of the working class, the peasantry, members of the revolutionary armed forces, intellectuals, the petty bourgeoisie, the national bourgeoisie, national minorities, the overseas Chinese and other patriotic democratic elements.
Pending the convocation of the All-China People's Congress elected by universal franchise,
the Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference shall exercise
the functions and powers of the All-China People's Congress, enact the Organic Law of the
Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, elect the Central People's
Government Council of the People's Republic of China and vest it with the authority to
exercise state power.
After the convocation of the All-China People's Congress elected by universal franchise,
the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference may submit proposals on fundamental
policies relating to national construction work and on other important measures to the
All-China People's Congress or to the Central People's Government.
Before the first National People's Congress was established, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference acted as an interim legislature, fulfilling the powers of the NPC. Its national committee met periodically to pass laws and discuss national issues. After the NPC was founded in 1954, the CPPCC's role shifted from a legislative body to an advisory one, primarily serving the United Front policy.
|2|Introduction...
Before the universal suffrage for the National People's Congress (NPC) was held, the plenary session of the CPPCC shall perform the functions and powers of the NPC. According to the Organic Law of the CPPCC, the CPPCC is divided into three levels: the plenary session, the National Committee and the Standing Committee.
While the plenary session of the CPPCC can carry out the functions and powers of the NPC, it is not itself the highest organ of state power. Once the Central People's Government Committee is elected, it will cease to exercise this authority. The CPPCC gave room to the Minzhu Dangpai to exercise some power.
Their shared features, ideological orientations, and internal challenges of the Minzhu Dangpai are crucial for understanding their historical roles. These organizations were characterized by small, limited memberships, a heavy emphasis on leadership rather than broad-based organization, and a tendency toward elitism. Although politically more liberal and often sympathetic to Western ideas, the MPGs also exhibited traits that aligned them with both the Communists and the Nationalists. Their leaders were typically members of the intellectual elite, often educated abroad or at Western-style universities within China. Many were distinguished scholars and social activists, representing the highest levels of educational attainment in a society where education was rare and highly esteemed. This background conferred prestige and social status, which could be leveraged for political influence and offered a degree of protection. Personal relationships (guanxi)—whether rooted in teacher–student ties, school networks, or regional associations—played a crucial role in shaping these groups’ cohesion and operations. However, as seen in Part 3 their influence is very limited.
After the closing of the first CPPCC plenary session, no CPPCC plenary session was held until the 2nd CPPCC in 1954.
The characteristics of the members of the CPPCC are already been discussed inPart 4 and Part 6.
Representatives of the 1st CPPCC
June 14 - June 23 1950 2nd Session of the 1st CPPCC
|3|CPPCC National Committee...
Fig. 13.1 Structure of government September 1949-September 1954
In the period from 1950 until 1954 the CPPCC National Committee convened in June 1950, October 1951, and February 1953. Its functions and powers are describes in article 13 of the organic law of the CPPCC. During the June 1950 meeting, the draft of the Land Reform law was passed and it was decided to designate the week of July 1-7 as "Peace Signature Movement Week".(See Article 54)
At the October 1951 meeting, 18 additional members from the later "liberated" areas (for example Tibet) were elected by the First National Committee with two seats being kept open for Taiwan.
At the meeting of February 1953, Mao Zedong emphasized the need to intensify the struggle in Korea (See Article 54 ), to intensify learning from the SU, and to combat bureaucratism in the leadership organs at all levels and among all leading cadres. (See Article 18 )
CPPCC
|4|United Front....
United Front Work Conferences were held in March 1950, January 1951, June 1952, June 1953 and March 1954. Li Weihan , the political leader of the United Front Work Department of the CCP Central Committee, repeatedly explained the United Front's role in the consolidation of CCP rule: it would assist in eliminating enemies, help revive and develop a new economy and culture and help establish the conditions needed to enter the socialist stage.
Frequently, political leaders emphasized the United Front policy. In his speech of March 26, 1951, Deng Xiaoping reflected on the importance of United Front policy.
"The Central Committee of the Party and Chairman Mao have pointed out time and again and made it very clear that united front work should be improved. Our victory in the revolution is inseparable from the united front work we did. Without the united front we could not have fought battles so successfully; even though we may be victorious, we still cannot do our work well without it. The entire party should attach more importance to united front work."
After the establishment of the NPC in September 1954, the role of the CPPCC changed. The CPPCC could be considered as the constituent assembly, secondly as the national legislator, and thirdly as the institutional structure of the United Front policy. The first 2 tasks disappear after the founding of the NPC. The third part will still be important. In December 1954, the first session of the 2nd CPPCC was held. After the election of the NPC, the political role of the CPPCC is more or less finished.
On December 25, 1954, the second CPPCC formulated its new tasks:
"I) to solve, in co-operation with the Government, social problems arising from the
inter-relationships between different classes;
2) to keep in close touch with the people and bring their opinions and suggestions to the attention of the governmental bodies;
3) to solve, by way of consultation, problems affecting co-operation
within the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and between any of the different parties,
groups and organizations affiliated to it;
4) to exchange views on the nomination of candidates to the
National People's Congress and local people's congresses, and the Political Consultative Conferences at all levels;
5) to make arrangements for members to study Marxism-Leninism and remould their way of thinking; and
6) to exchange views on international affairs."