Socialist Deliberative Democracy (Consultation System)

The unique form and unique advantages of China's socialist democratic politics are an important manifestation of the mass line of the Communist Party of China in the political field. The people exercise their rights through elections and voting, and all parties within the people conduct full consultations before major decisions to reach consensus on common issues as much as possible. These are two important forms of socialist democracy in China. These two forms of democracy together constitute the system characteristics and advantages of China's socialist democratic politics. Deliberative democracy originated from the Chinese nation’s long-standing political culture, such as the whole world as one community, inclusiveness, and seeking common ground while reserving differences; from the actual process of Chinese political development after modern times; from the long-term practice of the Communist Party of China leading the people to carry out revolution, construction and reform; from the great creation of all parties, organizations, nationalities, strata, and people from all walks of life in the political system after the founding of New China; and from China’s continuous innovation in the political system since the Reform and Opening-up, which has a profound cultural, theoretical, practice and system foundation. In 2012, the 18th CPC National Congress put forward the task of improving the socialist deliberative democracy system and advancing the development of a broad and multi-layered system of deliberative democracy. In 2013, the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee proposed to build a democratic system of consultation with reasonable procedures and complete links, and to broaden the consultation channels for state power organs, CPPCC organizations, Party groups, grassroots organizations, and social organizations. In-depth development of legislative consultation, administrative consultation, democratic consultation, political participation consultation, and social consultation. It is emphasized that under the leadership of the Party, extensive consultations should be carried out throughout the society and consultations should be carried out before and during decision-making, centering around major economic and social development issues and practical issues involving the vital interests of the masses. In 2015, the “Opinions of the Central Committee of the CPC on Strengthening the Construction of Socialist Deliberative Democracy” regulated the channels and procedures of socialist consultative democracy, requiring continued focus on strengthening Party consultations, government consultations, and CPPCC consultations, actively carrying out consultations at people’s congresses, people's organization consultations, and grassroots consultation, and gradually exploring social organization consultations. Give full play to the advantages of each consultation channel, do a good job in linking and cooperation, and continuously improve the socialist democratic consultation system. It is required to start from reality, and in accordance with the requirements of scientificity and rationality, standardization and orderliness, simplicity and operability, and democratic centralization, to formulate a consultation plan, clarify the consultation topics and content, determine the consultation personnel, carry out consultation activities, pay attention to the feedback of the consultation results, and ensure that the consultation activities are effective, pragmatic and efficient.

Socialist deliberative democracy not only upholds the leadership of the CPC, but also gives full play to the active role of all parties; not only upholds the dominant position of the people, but also implements the leadership system and organizational principles of democratic centralism; not only upholds the principles of people’s democracy, but also implements the requirements of unity and harmony. It enriches the form of democracy, expands the channels of democracy, and deepens the connotation of democracy.