An Exploration of the Political System in Taiwan

Abstract

The governmental structure in Taiwan is based on the Constitution of the Republic of China (ROC). This constitution was greatly influenced by Dr. Sun Yat-sen and his lectures of 1924, known as The Three Principles of the People. Sun's three fundamental Principles were these of Nationalism, ”Democracy,” and ”People's Livelihood.” In the ROC Constitution, the rights and duties of the people, national prerogatives, and the organzation of the central and local govnments are prescibed. According to Dr. Sun, the founder of ROC, there are two kinds of power: the people's and the government's. The people exerxise popular control over the government, while the government possesses the authority to administer public policies. Only with poltical control in the hands of the people, who entrust adminstrative powers to the government for managing national affairs, can truly democratic rule and an omnificent govenment be established. Through four political rights (suffrage, recall, initiative and referendum), the people are able to exercise popular control over government. By these rights, the general public can not only elect and recall governmental offficials, but they can also initiate and vote on legislation. The purpose of this paper is to describe the true meaning of Sun's ”omnificent government” and examine the political system in Taiwan.