People's Congress Research Articles

Evolution and decline: transformation of social movements in Nigeria

ABSTRACT Despite the rising academic scholarship on democracy, particularly the role played by social movements in entrenching democracy in Africa, few studies have explored the transformation of social movements after they have achieved (or come close to achieving) their stated goals. Using a case study of the Oodua Peoples Congress in Nigeria, this study argues that social movements in Africa lack the capacity to transform and often become partisan or disintegrate. The study concludes that the unique characteristics of African politics, coupled with the inability of social movements to maintain public support after initial gains, eventually weaken the movements.

Multidimensional Analysis on the Construction of Inner-Party Supervision System

In the new era, it is necessary to build a comprehensive, authoritative and efficient supervision system. We will further develop the basic theoretical system of the party's internal supervision, explore specific ways to improve its supervision ability and quality, and thoroughly study and implement the important spirit of the 19th national people's Congress. The key to the construction of the operation mechanism system of the party's internal supervision lies in taking Marxism and the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics as the "point" and the historical experience and practical application of the party's internal supervision as the "line". In the process of the research on the combination of point and line, the basic contents of the theory of the party's internal supervision and operation organization in the new era are more specific. When encountering new situations and problems, we carefully analyze and solve them. In the process of practice, effective experience is screened out to realize the link between the theoretical system and the construction of the system model.

The Decision of the National People's Congress on Improving the Election System of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region—Corrigendum

An abstract is not available for this content. As you have access to this content, full HTML content is provided on this page. A PDF of this content is also available in through the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Analysis on the financing Status of New Agricultural Business Entities Based on the Perspective of Rural Revitalization—Take Lanxi City, Zhejiang Province as An Example

As a traditional agricultural country, the Third Session of the Thirteenth National People's Congress clearly stated that it should vigorously support the development of new rural agricultural business entities. With the proposal of the rural revitalization strategy, conditions have been provided for the development of this emerging group. This article takes rural revitalization as a perspective, taking Lanxi City, Zhejiang Province as an example. From the perspectives of new business entities, banks and other financial institutions, and government policies, the current situation of financing of new agricultural business entities is analyzed. On this basis, it puts forward feasible suggestions that are in line with the local area, hoping to give new enlightenment to modern agriculture and rural revitalization.

The Decision of the National People's Congress on Improving the Election System of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

In 2021, Hong Kong's electoral system underwent its most significant reform since the People's Republic of China (PRC) resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1, 1997. By a decision adopted on March 11, 2021 to “improve the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and develop a democratic system suited to the actual situation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” (HKSAR), the National People's Congress (NPC) decided to amend the methods of selecting the Chief Executive of the HKSAR and forming the Legislative Council of the HKSAR (LegCo). The existing Election Committee would be reformed and given a pivotal role in the elections of the Chief Executive and LegCo members. A new candidate qualification review committee would be established to qualify all candidates. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) was empowered to amend the first two annexes of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (Basic Law), which specify the methods for selecting the Chief Executive and forming the LegCo. The HKSAR would amend local election laws to implement the reforms and organize future elections in accordance with the law. The Chief Executive would submit timely reports to the Central People's Government. The NPC Decision was adopted with 2,895 votes in favor and one abstention.

Laser Challenge of China

Chinese President Xi Jinping, at a meeting with delegates of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) during the last session of the National People's Congress (NPC), demanded the introduction of scientific discoveries and innovative technologies in the army. Xi Jinping noted that new technologies are the key to modernizing the Armed Forces. The Chinese leader discussed with the military how to achieve the goals set in the field of national defense and army development and the implementation of the 13th five-year plan for the development of the armed forces. It is safe to say that Laser Weapons (LW) are on the agenda of China/1/

Author Response

Author Response

The Black Pacific and the Shapes of Global Black Power

The Black Pacific and the Shapes of Global Black Power

Do stock prices react to announcements of corporate executives’ first-time elections as congress deputies? New evidence from the Chinese political system

We propose a new and direct measure of firms’ political connections under the Chinese political system, namely, the first-time elections of corporate executives as deputies to the National People's Congress. We use the event study methodology to estimate the value of political connections and firm value in China. We find that an executive's first-time election as a deputy is associated with positive abnormal returns following the announcement of elections, and such abnormal returns are more significant for private firms than for state-owned firms. Our results provide new evidence on the value of political connections.

ВЕХИ СТАНОВЛЕНИЯ КОНСТИТУЦИОННОГО ЗАКОНОДАТЕЛЬСТВА КИТАЯ: ВЗГЛЯД ЧЕРЕЗ СТО ЛЕТ СО ДНЯ СОЗДАНИЯ КПК

This article highlights the chronology of the formation of Chinese constitutional legislation under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and on this basis analyzes the active role of the CCP in this process. The author studied the development of the Chinese Constitution and the related legislation. This process has gone through a thorny path: inception (1927-1949), formation (1949-1966), stagnation (1966-1978), further development (1978-2012), and finally improvement (2012 - present). The main research methods were formal-legal (used to study the texts of the laws of China from 1927 to the present). The author identified the advantages and disadvantages of rule-making activities in the field of public law in China. In the course of the study, the author found that the creation of the CPC was a landmark event in the history of both the country and the whole world in 1921. In 2021, the CPC celebrates its centennial anniversary. As this difficult century has shown, comprehensive governance of the state on a legal basis is a key guarantee, essential for the commitment to this path and for its development, an indispensable condition for the modernization of the system and the potential of state governance. It is established that, under the leadership of the CPC, China tirelessly sought new solutions and invested great efforts in creating a rich and strong state, reviving the Chinese nation, and improving the people's well-being. During the founding of the People's Republic of China, in the period of reform and openness that followed, and in the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the party played a key, decisive role in fulfilling all the tasks associated with the formation of these laws. As a result of the analysis, the author concludes that the party leadership, the people as the rightful owner of their country and the government of the state on the basis of law are closely related to each other and constitute an organism characterized by internal unity. As the experience of creating constitutional legislation shows, China needs to adhere to the organic unity of these three elements in practice. It is necessary to improve the system of implementation, control and guarantee of legal governance, to protect the authority of constitutional legislation. It is necessary to maintain and improve the institutional framework of the National People's Congress, continuously modernize the technique of lawmaking and improve its quality, and continue to deepen and develop scientific and democratic legislative work, recognize the importance of China's own conditions and national specifics, and study the fruits and experience of creating foreign constitutional legislation.

Underrepresented outperformers: Female legislators in the Chinese Congress

This paper presents one of the first studies of the political behavior of female members of China's national legislature---the National People's Congress (NPC). Female legislators have consistently held about 20% of seats in the NPC in the past two decades because of a gender quota, but they sponsor about 44% of all legislative bills and more than half of bills relevant to women's rights and interests in the 12th NPC. Among sponsors, women on average sponsor more bills (4.8 bills) than men (3.1 bills). We propose three potential mechanisms that drive women's comparative productiveness: (i) women are more collaborative than their male colleagues; (ii) the gender quota and non-Communist Party quota produce a particularly active female group; and (iii) female leadership encourages female participation. We next analyze 2,365 bills submitted during the 12th NPC and show that female legislators are not only more engaged in women's issues; they are also disproportionately more active than men in the traditionally male-dominated'' areas including economics and finance, foreign affairs, rural affairs and environmental issues. Our findings suggest that a socialist legacy alone does not narrow the political gender gap; underrepresented regime outsiders (women) have strategically used the ``double-quota'' system and collaborated to carve out a place to amplify their voices, outperform insiders, and shape the policy debate.

United States Terminates Hong Kong's Special Status Due to National Security Law Imposed by Beijing

In June 2019, protests erupted in Hong Kong after its government proposed an extradition agreement with mainland China. Alarmed by the protests, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party announced that it would consider new national security measures for Hong Kong. On June 30, 2020, China's National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) passed the “Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.” While the law was under consideration, the United States responded by declaring that Hong Kong was no longer significantly autonomous from mainland China and beginning the process of ending Hong Kong's special status under U.S. law. The United States and its allies continue to criticize Hong Kong's deteriorating autonomy from China, pointing to the postponement of elections in Hong Kong as further evidence.

«…В ТОМ, ЧТО БУДЕТ КАБАРДИНСКАЯ АО, Я УБЕЖДЕН И БУДУ ПОДДЕРЖИВАТЬ ВОЛЮ ТРУДЯЩИХСЯ». ДОКУМЕНТЫ И МАТЕРИАЛЫ О ВЫХОДЕ КАБАРДИНСКОГО ОКРУГА ИЗ ГОРСКОЙ АССР В 1921 г.

The published documents were found in the archives of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. These are the materials of the meetings of the Soviet and party authorities of the Mountain Republic, which were devoted to the discussion of the problem of Kabarda's secession from the polyethnic mountain autonomy. The Kabardian problem was discussed several times by the leadership of the Mountain Republic in June 1921 before and after the congress of the peoples of Kabarda that took place this month. The minutes of the meetings have not yet been published in the published thematic collections of documents dedicated to the history of the nation-building of the peoples of the North Caucasus. The documents contribute to the understanding of the position of the statesmen of the Mountain Republic on the formation of new autonomous units and the identification of the concrete historical content of these processes. The protocols make it possible to reconstruct the process of not only the disintegration of the collective mountain statehood, but also make it possible to clarify important points in the history of its creation. Party and Soviet leaders often returned to the problems of the initial stage of the formation of the Mountain Republic. Further study of the problems of the formation of a system of national autonomies in the North Caucasus in recent times will largely depend, including on the introduction of new documents into scientific circulation and their interpretation by a wide range of researchers. In this regard, the published documents and materials are of great scientific interest.

The National Security Law of the HKSAR: A Contextual and Legal Study

The adoption by the PRC National People Congress in May 2020 of a Decision on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and the enactment shortly thereafter by the Standing Committee of the National People Congress of the HKSAR National Security Law (NSL), marked a new era in the implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” (OCTS) policy. This paper attempts to understand the nature, significance and implications of the NSL. Part I situates the Chinese action within the relevant constitutional, legal, political and historical contexts. Part II examines the NSL in the light of Chinese law relating to matters of national security. Part III concludes by considering the impact of the NSL on Hong Kong’s existing law, and commenting on the significance and implications of the NSL in the context of the evolution of the OCTS policy and changing circumstances in Hong Kong.

The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (NSL) was passed on June 30, 2020 by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC). It did not have immediate direct effect in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). After consulting the Committee for the Basic Law of the HKSAR (BLC) and the Government of the HKSAR (HKSARG), the NPCSC added the NSL to Annex III of The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (Basic Law) before the Chief Executive of the HKSAR (Chief Executive) promulgated the NSL for local application. All this happened on June 30, enabling the NSL to enter into force at 11 p.m., just ahead of the twenty-third anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR on July 1, 2020.

Early Identity, Environment, and Experience

Josefina Fierro de Bright served as a political and social activist in the 1930s and 1940s through her participation in the Mexican Defense Committee, El Congreso (the National Congress of Spanish-Speaking Peoples), and the Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee, as well as her important efforts to end the violent attacks on ethnic Mexicans in Los Angeles during the Zoot Suit Riots. Fierro participated in organizations focused on human, civil, women’s, and labor rights. She contributed to a cross-cultural “politics of opposition” determined to create a world where true equality might flourish. She used American nationalist and transnationalist approaches. In the United States, Fierro networked with activists, celebrities, and political leaders who supported many of the same causes that she did. Her transnational approach materialized in the form of collaboration with the Mexican consulate, which also sought to secure the human rights of ethnic Mexicans living in the United States during a time of strong anti-Mexican sentiment. In order to understand why and how Fierro emerged as a leader willing to challenge the racism undergirding the segregation and mistreatment of ethnic Mexicans in California in the 1930s and 1940s, this study examines her family’s history of social activism, the fluid sociocultural environment of an American Left in which women played central roles, and her bold and charismatic leadership style.

Дискуссии о государственном суверенитете России на первом съезде народных депутатов РСФСР

This article is devoted to the Declaration on State Sovereignty of Russia. The main result of the first Congress of People's Deputies was the assertion of Russian sovereignty, ensuring economic independence. The issue of sovereignty is one of the most acute and painful topics of the Soviet and post-Soviet times. In the RSFSR, the question of the realization of its sovereignty became aggravated by the end of perestroika, when it became clear that, in comparison with other republics, Russia did not even have limited statehood. Most republics of the Soviet Union had their own communist parties and their nomenclatures, which were quite autonomous in exercising power and their interests. The RSFSR did not have this. With a policy of publicity and open elections, the concept of sovereignty came to the fore in election campaigns and became central to the work of the first congress of people's deputies of the RSFSR.

Participation of the Republic of Mordovia in the Finno-Ugric Movement as a Factor in the Formation of Russian Identity

Introduction. The relevance of the problem of forming and strengthening the Russian identity in various aspects is not in doubt today. In this regard it is important to study the various factors that affect this process. The purpose of this research is to analyze the influence of the Republic of Mordovia’s participation in the Finno-Ugric movement on the process of forming Russian identity. Research objectives: to characterize the involvement of the Republic of Moldova in the Finno-Ugric movement in the Russian and international directions; to show this participation in realization of state national policy in the Republic; to identify opportunities and risks the further participation of Mordovia in Finno-Ugric movement for the formation and strengthening of the Russian identity. Materials and Methods. The choice of research methodology is dictated by the strategic goals of the state national policy of modern Russia, aimed at creating civil unity under the condition of mandatory preservation and further development of the country’s ethnic and cultural diversity. The combination of civil and ethno-cultural components in the formation and consolidation of Russian identity implies an organic methodology of the nation-building process, which denies the unification of ethnic diversity. The research uses materials from the websites of the Advisory Committee of Finno-Ugric peoples and “The information center of Finno-Ugric peoples”, as well as scientific works of Russian scientists containing data on various aspects of the participation of the Republic of Mordovia in the Finno-Ugric movement. Historical, phenomenological, institutional approaches, and document analysis were used to solve the tasks set in the article. Results and Discussion. The results of the study showed that the Finno-Ugric movement, aimed primarily at solving ethno-cultural problems, actively participates in the process of preserving and developing the ethno-cultural specificity of the peoples of the Russian Federation, implementing the strategic line of state national policy at the present stage. The Republic of Mordovia has made a significant contribution to the organizational and ideological design of the Finno-Ugric movement. At the IV and V congresses of the Finno-Ugric peoples of Russia held in Mordovia, the strategy of the movement was defined – the strengthening of all-Russian civil unity as a condition for the successful development of the ethnic identity of the Finno-Ugric and other peoples of Russia within the framework of a single state. The viability of ideological and institutional approaches to the development and implementation of the state national policy of the Russian Federation in the Republic, aimed at preserving cultural diversity, has been recognized throughout the Finno-Ugric world. The documents of the world Congress of Finno-Ugric peoples indicate the role of the Finno-Ugric movement in understanding the ethno-cultural specifics as great opportunities for countries and regions in cultural and socio-economic development. However, the implementation of ethnic policy, including through participation in the Finno-Ugric movement, there are the problems (insufficient use of the potential of ethno-tourism, youth participation in the development of Finno-Ugric peoples, the dependent position of some public Finno-Ugric organizations, the prevalence of threats and weaknesses over strengths and development opportunities of ethno-national space of modern Russia). Conclusion. The participation of the Republic of Mordovia in the Finno-Ugric movement, included in the implementation of the state national policy, is a factor in the formation of Russian identity. Recognition throughout the Finno-Ugric world of Mordovia’s positive experience in implementing state national policy has made the Republic its “heart”. Positive experience and unresolved problems in the field of Ethnopolitics point to the opportunities and risks of further participation of the Republic of Moldova in the Finno-Ugric movement for the formation of Russian identity. Opportunities are associated with the use of diverse cooperation within the Finno-Ugric movement to increase the ethnic identity of the Mordovians, and threats are associated with politicization and dependence on anti-Russian forces that weaken the all-Russian civil unity. Strengthening opportunities and preventing threats is possible on the basis of an organic methodology of nation-building, which means strengthening all-Russian civil unity as a condition for the successful development of the ethnic identity of the Finno-Ugric and other peoples of Russia within a single state.

Proposed Amendments to the Wildlife Protection Law of the People's Republic of China

The outbreak of COVID-2019 has focused public attention on China's wildlife-related legal regimes, such as the regulatory regime for wildlife hunting and trade and the animal epidemic prevention regime, which is complex, with the Wildlife Protection Law as the core. On February 24, the standing committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) issued an emergency legal document, the Decision, which has the effect of banning wildlife consumption, guiding public awareness, and regulating the overall legal system, and directly initiates the revision of the Wildlife Protection Law. On 21 October 2020, the Wildlife Protection Law (draft amendment) was announced. Based on the Decision and the Draft, this paper believes that in future revisions of the Wildlife Protection Law the main focus should be on changing the form of state ownership, establishing a pluralistic protection system, increasing legal penalty, coordinating with other legislation, and concern for individual animal welfare.

Ecopolitical discourse: Authoritarianism or democracy? - Evidence from China.

From the discourse analysis perspective, ecopolitics has experienced a discourse change from authoritarianism to democracy. This study uses theory of authoritarianism and democracy in ecopolitics to explore the impact of authoritarian ecopolitical discourse (AED) and democratic ecopolitical discourse (DED) on environmental quality in China. After analysis using panel data and comparison of three main regions, results suggest a negative relationship between AED of the central government and environmental quality. By contrast, a positive relationship exists between AED of local governments and environmental quality. A positive relationship exists between DED, which measures the proposals of People’s Congress deputies and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and environmental quality. Nevertheless, the positive effect of DED is weaker than that of AED. The impact is also different among the regions. Our interpretations are as follows. China’s current governance mechanism is a top–down decision-making mechanism, rather than a bottom–up information transmission mechanism. The concentration of power keeps decision-making power and resources away from levels with considerably accurate information and capabilities in problem solving. Therefore, we suggest that governments should change their decision-making process and exert effort to be transparent to the entire society. A bottom–up mechanism of information collection and transmission should be established, such as environmental inspection mechanism and checking on cadres’ achievements with green GDP.