The "Three-Thirds System"

An organizational form of the democratic political power in the anti-Japanese base areas during the New-Democratic Revolution.

Mao Zedong pointed out that during the period of the Anti-Japanese War, the nature of the political power to be established should be the Anti-Japanese National United Front government. It was the political power of all who supported both resistance and democracy, i.e., the joint democratic dictatorship of several revolutionary classes over the traitors and reactionaries. In the sharing of the political power, it was stipulated that Communists should control the one third power, representing the proletariat and the poor peasants; one-third to the left progressives, representing the petty bourgeoisie; and the remaining one-third to the middle and other elements, representing the middle bourgeoisie and the enlightened gentry. Traitors and anti-communist elements were the only people disqualified from participation in these organs of political power. This general rule for the allocation of seats was necessary, or otherwise it would not be possible to maintain the principle of united front political power.

In this political system, one third of the CPC members which exercise the power of one-third portion, must guarantee the leadership and the role of the Party with the correct policies and their exemplary work, instead of controlling everything and issuing orders to the non-Party left progressives, and to the middle and other elements, which control one-third respectively. The aim of such political system was to implement the strategic policy of "developing progressive forces, winning over the middle forces and isolating die-hards", so as to consolidate and expand the Anti-Japanese National United Front. Therefore, Mao Zedong emphasized: This "Three-Thirds System" represent the genuine policy of our Party and must be carried out conscientiously; there must be no half-heartedness about it.

On March 6, 1940, the CPC Central Committee issued the “Directive on the Question of Political Power in Anti-Japanese Base Areas”, and stipulated to establish the "Three-Thirds System" of power regime in North and Central China and in other major anti-Japanese base areas. The establishment and development of this democratic political power system promoted the continuous expansion and consolidation of the Anti-Japanese National United Front and played an important role in ensuring the development of the anti-Japanese base areas and the final victory of the Anti-Japanese War.