The Critical Obstacles of the Chinese Communist Party’s Internal Elections

Abstract

At present, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is experiencing numerous problems in conducting its intraparty elections. Based on empirical studies, the article discusses nine major obstacles regarding the CCP’s election system, including arbitrary nomination system, prohibition from public campaign, restrictions on multicandidate elections, less secret voting and public counting, limited elections on chief officers, fewer direct elections of party representatives, confined election, incomplete terms for elected officers, and no mechanisms of challenging, removing, or impeaching the elected officers. The article argues that effective reform of the election system and a checks and balances system should contain the power within the cage of the legal system, and build separation of power among the decision making, executive, and supervisory power.