Party Discipline Study and Education

Study of the original text of "Regulations of the Communist Party of China on Disciplinary Actions"

(Source: Website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission)

What behaviors constitute failure to implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee? What are the relevant disciplinary provisions?

Articles 56, 57, and 61 of the "Regulations of the Communist Party of China on Disciplinary Actions" stipulate the behaviors of not implementing the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, and the types and extent of applicable punishments. These can be divided into three categories:

1. Failure to implement the major policies and guidelines of the Party Central Committee
Article 56 of the "Regulations" stipulates three types of behaviors that constitute failure to implement the major policies and guidelines of the Party Central Committee: leading Party members acting independently in their areas of jurisdiction or departments, engaging in factionalism, refusing to implement the major policies and guidelines determined by the Party Central Committee, or even doing things behind the back of the Party Central Committee; only paying lip service to the implementation of the Party Central Committee's decisions and deployments, or failing to resolutely implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, cutting corners, and bending rules, causing negative political impact or serious consequences; ignoring the overall interests of the Party and the country and engaging in departmental or local protectionism.

Among them, the severity of the first two behaviors differs: the behavior of refusing to implement the major policies and guidelines determined by the Party Central Committee is more harmful and egregious, and once it exists, it will be punished by revocation of party membership, probation, or expulsion from the Party; the behavior of only paying lip service to the implementation of the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, or failing to resolutely implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, cutting corners, and bending rules, causing negative political impact or serious consequences, will be punished with a warning up to and including expulsion from the Party, depending on the severity of the circumstances. Those who ignore the overall interests of the Party and the country and engage in departmental or local protectionism will also be punished with a warning up to and including expulsion from the Party, depending on the severity of the circumstances.

2. Misplaced performance appraisal, violating the new development concept and deviating from the requirements of high-quality development

Article 57 of the "Regulations" stipulates: Leading Party members who have a misplaced performance appraisal, violate the new development concept and deviate from the requirements of high-quality development, causing substantial losses to the interests of the Party, the state, and the people, will be punished with a warning or a serious warning; those whose circumstances are relatively serious will be punished with the revocation of their party posts or probation; and those whose circumstances are serious will be punished with expulsion from the Party.

In practice, some leading Party members have fallen behind or deviated in implementing the requirements of high-quality development. Some are due to lack of ability or problems in their work style, while others are caused by a misplaced performance appraisal. Some leading Party members tie their work to personal gain, driven by selfish thoughts, obsessed with gaining promotion capital, emphasizing immediate results over long-term results, emphasizing appearance over substance, seeking quick success and instant benefits, deviating from political requirements in implementing the new development concept and promoting high-quality development, causing serious harm. This provision in the "Regulations" helps to encourage leading Party members to earnestly implement the Party Central Committee's requirements, earnestly practice the correct performance appraisal concept, and effectively implement the new development concept and the requirements of high-quality development.
In addition, this article also specifically stipulates the punishment for "image projects" and "performance projects" that waste manpower and material resources, making it clear that those who engage in such behaviors will be punished more severely or with heavier penalties.

3. Failure to report important matters as required

Article 61 of the "Regulations" stipulates that those who do not report important matters to the organization as required, for those directly responsible and those who bear leadership responsibility, if the circumstances are relatively serious, will be given a warning or serious warning; if the circumstances are serious, they will be given a revocation of their party post or probation.

Important matters refer to important matters and situations that exceed the scope of authority of Party organizations and Party members and leading cadres, or that, although within their scope of authority, concern the overall situation and have a wide-ranging impact, including Party organizations' implementation of the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the decisions of higher-level Party organizations, the management of economic and social development affairs, the implementation of the responsibility of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, and the important matters and situations of Party members performing their duties, exercising their rights, and leading cadres exercising their power and assuming responsibility.
For cadres, especially leading cadres, it is a must-follow rule to report to the organization according to regulations when it comes to major issues and important matters. The "Several Guiding Principles on Intra-Party Political Life Under the New Situation" makes clear stipulations on the system of reporting, and the "Regulations of the Communist Party of China on Reporting Important Matters" further establishes the work system and mechanism of reporting. The "Regulations" ensure the implementation of the relevant Party regulations on the system and requirements of reporting through strict disciplinary constraints.

What are the disciplinary provisions for political affiliation?

The newly revised "Regulations of the Communist Party of China on Disciplinary Actions" adds disciplinary provisions for those who are disloyal and dishonest to the Party and undermine the Party's unity, adding provisions on the punishment for engaging in political affiliation in Article 54, further clarifying the bottom line requirements for adhering to political discipline and political rules.

Engaging in political affiliation refers to seeking refuge with powerful people in order to seek promotion or other political interests, essentially building relationships and finding patrons in politics, and seeking personal attachment. Engaging in political affiliation goes against the nature and purpose of the Party, and is incompatible with the identity of Party members and cadres.

In the work of supervision and discipline, attention should also be paid to distinguishing between political affiliation and running for office. Political affiliation is a violation of political discipline involving the intertwining of political and economic interests; while running for office refers to the behavior of scheming to obtain official positions and power through connections and backdoors, a manifestation of the malignant inflation of individualistic thoughts, and a bad style in cadre selection and appointment work, usually not involving economic interests, and those involving economic interests may constitute violations of discipline such as buying and selling official positions and political affiliation.

In addition, the disciplinary provisions for engaging in political affiliation are newly added content in this revision, but this does not mean that "engaging in political affiliation" did not constitute a violation of discipline before January 1, 2024. In the past, such behaviors were usually handled in accordance with Article 69 and Article 76, paragraph 1, of the 2018 "Regulations of the Communist Party of China on Disciplinary Actions", or Article 62 and Article 73, paragraph 1, of the 2015 "Regulations of the Communist Party of China on Disciplinary Actions", and were qualified according to the nature of running for office or violating the Party's political rules.