Democratic Centralism

Democratic centralism is a fundamental principle that guides the exercise of organizational and leadership responsibilities in China’s governance structure. It calls for a fully democratic process in collective deliberation that ensures the unrestricted expression of wishes and views of the people and the collection of useful ideas and suggestions. Decision-making is done collectively on the basis of such a process, so that people’s expectations and needs can be satisfied. Democratic centralism also calls for respecting the opinions of the majority while protecting minority rights. It rejects anarchic democracy on the one hand and any tendency to allow the will of any individual to override collective wisdom on the other. It defines the relationship between officials and the public, between superiors and subordinates, between parts and the whole, and between organizations and individuals. Ultimately, it is vital for the unity of the CPC and the nation in furtherance of China’s goals.

民主集中制

民主集中制是中國國家政權的根本組織原則和領導原則。實行民主集中制，就是要求充分發揚民主，集體議事，使人民的意愿和要求得到充分表達和反映，在此基礎上集中正確意見，集體決策，使人民的意愿和要求得以落實和滿足。實行民主集中制，還要求“尊重多數，保護少數”，反對無政府主義的“大民主”，反對把個人意志凌駕于集體之上。民主集中制規定了領導和群眾、上級和下級、部分和整體、組織和個人的正確關系，是維護黨和國家團結統一、推進事業發展的重要保證。