Communist Party of China - Organization

Organization

The party's organizational structure was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and rebuilt afterwards by Deng Xiaoping, who subsequently initiated "Socialism with Chinese characteristics" and brought all state apparatuses back under the rule of the CPC.

Theoretically, the party's highest body is the National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which meets at least once every five years. The primary organs of power in the Communist Party which is detailed in the party constitution include:

• Central Committee, which includes:
  • The General Secretary, which is the highest-ranking official within the Party and usually the Chinese de facto paramount leader.
  • The Politburo, presently consisting of 25 full members (including the members of the Politburo Standing Committee); see current members of the Politburo for a complete list.
  • The Politburo Standing Committee, which currently consists of seven members; see current members of the Politburo Standing Committee for a complete list.
  • The Secretariat, the principal administrative mechanism of the CPC, headed by the General Secretary of the Central Committee;
  • The Central Military Commission (a parallel organization of the government institution of the same name);
• The Central Discipline Inspection Commission, which is directly under the National Congress and on the same level with the Central Committee, charged with rooting out corruption and malfeasance among party cadres.