The Communist Party of China (CPC) says in a document published in Beijing Sunday (Sept. 26) it will constantly push forward socialist democracy and expand channels for citizens to participate in political affairs in an orderly way.

A decision on enhancing the Party's governance capability, passed on Sept. 19 in the Fourth Plenum of the 16th CPC Central Committee, says the Party will promote the institutionalization, standardization and regularization of socialist democracy and guarantee the people's status of master of the country.

The Party will guarantee that "the people carry out democratic election, policy making, management and supervision according to law," while adhering to and improving the People's Congress system and the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the CPC leadership, says the document.

"We will carry out the basic state policy of governing according to law and improve the level of governance according to law," it says. "All Party members, especially leading cadres, must firmly establish a sense of law, adhere to acting within the scope of the Constitution and laws, and play an exemplary role in safeguarding the authority of the Constitution and laws."

They should promote, support and guarantee state organs to exercise power according to law and safeguard the legal rights and benefits of citizens and legal persons.

The Party should support judicial and procuratorial organs to exercise their power independently and justly according to law, improve the quality of judicial workers, strengthen supervision and guarantee of judicial work, and gradually reform the judicial system to guarantee fairness and justice in the whole society, says the document.

The document also calls for reform and improvement of the decision making mechanism to push forward scientific and democratic decision making.

The wisdom of the people should be pooled through various channels and in various forms so that decisions can be made on a real scientific and democratic base, it says. A system to track down responsibilities for wrong decisions should also be established.

The Party will strengthen restraint and supervision over the exercise of power to ensure that the power endowed by the people is used for the benefit of the people.

"Party organizations and cadres at all levels should consciously put themselves under the supervision of Party members and the people," says the document, urging implementation of the existing rules and regulations, including those on inner-Party supervision.

The Party will reform and improve the style of its leadership, giving play to the leading role of Party committees in people's congresses, governments and the committees of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at the same level, it says.

The Party will also strengthen and improve its leadership over trade unions, the Communist Youth League, women's federations and other people's organizations, supporting them to act independently according to laws and their constitutions, and giving play to their role as a bridge between the people.

Editor: Olivia