Political Discipline and Political Rules

Political discipline and political rules are political conduct norms and rules that the Party organizations at all levels and all Party members must abide by; and important embodiment and reliable guarantee of the Party's cohesiveness and combat effectiveness. Since its founding, the CPC has attached great importance to political discipline, requiring every Party member and every person who wants to join the Party to recognize the Party's program and constitution and support the Party's political views. In 1927, the 5th CPC National Congress clearly stated for the first time in the “Resolution of Organizational Issues” that "intra-Party discipline is of great importance, but we must also pay close attention to political discipline".

The “Several Norms of Intra-Party Political Life” adopted at the 5th Plenary Session of the Eleventh CPC Central Committee in February 1980 specifically stipulated the Party's political discipline, emphasizing that “adherence to the Party's political line and ideological line is the most fundamental one among the guidelines for intra-Party political activities”. The report of the 17th CPC National Congress in 2007 once again clearly pointed out: "All comrades in the Party must resolutely safeguard the Party's centralization and unity, consciously abide by the Party's political discipline, always stay aligned with the CPC Central Committee, resolutely safeguard the authority of the CPC Central Committee, and effectively ensure smooth implementation of decrees of the CPC Central Committee.

Xi Jinping pointed out: “Of all Party discipline and rules, political discipline and rules should be given top priority”. Party discipline mainly consists of political and organizational discipline and discipline regarding integrity, the public, work, and life. Of all Party discipline, political discipline is the primary and the general one. As Party officials, no matter where you work and what post you take, you should strengthen consciousness of the Party and of political guidelines, so as to stand turbulence and tests and avoid taking a wrong path politically. To obey the rules is an important test of Party members and cadres’ engagement with the Party, as well as their loyalty to the Party.

The Party discipline include four aspects:First, the Party constitution, the overriding statute all Party members must observe; Second, mandatory and binding Party discipline, especially the political discipline all Party members must abide by on political direction, stance, words and actions; Third, state laws, from which no Party member or official is exempt; Fourth, the traditions and working practices developed by the Party over the years. Of all Party discipline, political rules are the most important, affecting the line and stance of the Party and the rise and fall of the Party. Strict adherence to political rules means: what the CPC Central Committee advocates, you must act upon; what the CPC Central Committee decides, you must implement; and what the CPC Central Committee prohibits, you must not do.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, according to the new situation of Party building, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core has put forward the requirements of "five musts" to abide by political discipline and political rules: (1) Firstly, we must uphold the authority of the CPC Central Committee. All Party members, especially officials, must make sure their thinking, their actions, and their political stance all maintain a high degree of unity with the CPC Central Committee, and follow its command, at all times and under all conditions. Party members must not feign compliance while acting in opposition and doing things their own way. They must not pass irresponsible comment on the CPC Central Committee's policies or make remarks in public against its guidelines; (2) Secondly, we must safeguard the unity of the Party. No one is permitted to foster private forces within the Party. We need to unite with everyone loyal to the Party regardless of their origin and background. We need to unite with the great majority, rather than differentiate people in light of personal preference and forge any form of factions; (3) Thirdly, we must abide by organizational procedures. No one is permitted to make a decision without authorization or act arbitrarily. Concerning major issues, one should request instructions or report as required. No one is permitted to act beyond his or her authority or without prior approval; (4) Fourthly, we must obey the decisions of the Party organization, and no one is permitted to carry out activities it bans or haggle with it. When one is confronted with problems beyond one's capacity to handle, then one seeks help from and relies on the Party organization, instead of lying to or opposing it; (5) Fifthly, we must rein in our relatives and immediate staff, and we should never allow them to intervene in official matters, influence policy formulation and personnel matters, meddle in daily work, or use their connections to seek personal gain.

In October 2016, Xi Jinping emphasized in his speech at the 6th Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee that leading organs and leading cadres at all levels of the Party, especially senior cadres, should follow the Party constitution and rules as a model and strictly abide by the Party's political discipline and political rules.

The Plenary Session pointed out that resolutely safeguarding the authority of the CPC Central Committee and ensuring the strict enforcement of orders and prohibitions within the whole Party determine the future and destiny of the Party and country. They are the fundamental interests of the people across the country, and the important purpose of strengthening and standardizing the Intra-Party political activities. To ensure the strict enforcement of orders and prohibitions, the whole Party must consciously maintain a high degree of ideological and political unity with the CPC Central Committee. And the political discipline and political rules must be firmly followed. There are things that should never be done politically. Those who violate will pay a price. No one may play with political discipline and political rules.