Leading small group
Encyclopedia
In the political structure of China
, a leading small group (Chinese: 领导小组; pinyin
: lǐngdǎo xiǎozǔ) or LSG, is an ad hoc supra-ministerial coordinating and consulting body formed to build consensus on issues that cut across the government, party, and military systems when the existing bureaucratic structure is unable to do so. The authorization for the formation of leading groups comes from Chapter IX of the Constitution of the Communist Party of China.
There are two types of LSG. Party leading small groups manage policy for the Politburo and Secretariat, and State Council leading small groups coordinate policy implementation for the government. These groups provide a mechanism for top decision-makers to exchange views – both formally and informally – and to develop recommendations for the Politburo and the State Council.
LSGs do not formulate concrete policies (Chinese: 政策; pinyin
: zhèngcè), but rather issue guiding principles about the general direction in which bureaucratic activity should move (Chinese: 方针; pinyin
: fāngzhēn). A fangzhen provides the framework for the development of zhengce. The recommendations of leading groups are likely to have considerable influence on the policymaking process because they represent the consensus of the leading members of the relevant government, party, and military agencies. In some cases, the Chinese leadership will adopt an LSG’s recommendation with little or no modification. LSGs, which have no permanent staff, rely on their offices to manage daily operations and for research and policy recommendations. Consequently, the effectiveness of an LSG often depends on the effectiveness of its office.
Most governmental agencies in the PRC have a leading small groups. Examples of important leading small groups include the Foreign Affairs Leading Small Group http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR782-1/MR782.1.chap3.pdf and the now-defunct Economics and Finance Leading Group http://www-econ.stanford.edu/faculty/workp/swp99011.pdf. An example of how a Party leading group can influence or control governmental authority can be seen in the regulations for the Ministry of Personnel http://www.gov.cn/english////////////////2005-09/12/content_31012_4.htm. The existence of party leading groups in the PRC judicial system http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-03/16/content_811118.htm which are subordinate to the party center has often been cited as violation of judicial independence
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/events/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail&id=650.
Leading small groups have become increasingly important within the PRC after the 1990s, especially in the field of foreign policy
where the LSGs have become a tool for coordinating the work of several agencies as well as insuring party supervision over government activities.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, a leading small group (Chinese: 领导小组; pinyin
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: lǐngdǎo xiǎozǔ) or LSG, is an ad hoc supra-ministerial coordinating and consulting body formed to build consensus on issues that cut across the government, party, and military systems when the existing bureaucratic structure is unable to do so. The authorization for the formation of leading groups comes from Chapter IX of the Constitution of the Communist Party of China.
There are two types of LSG. Party leading small groups manage policy for the Politburo and Secretariat, and State Council leading small groups coordinate policy implementation for the government. These groups provide a mechanism for top decision-makers to exchange views – both formally and informally – and to develop recommendations for the Politburo and the State Council.
LSGs do not formulate concrete policies (Chinese: 政策; pinyin
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: zhèngcè), but rather issue guiding principles about the general direction in which bureaucratic activity should move (Chinese: 方针; pinyin
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: fāngzhēn). A fangzhen provides the framework for the development of zhengce. The recommendations of leading groups are likely to have considerable influence on the policymaking process because they represent the consensus of the leading members of the relevant government, party, and military agencies. In some cases, the Chinese leadership will adopt an LSG’s recommendation with little or no modification. LSGs, which have no permanent staff, rely on their offices to manage daily operations and for research and policy recommendations. Consequently, the effectiveness of an LSG often depends on the effectiveness of its office.
Most governmental agencies in the PRC have a leading small groups. Examples of important leading small groups include the Foreign Affairs Leading Small Group http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR782-1/MR782.1.chap3.pdf and the now-defunct Economics and Finance Leading Group http://www-econ.stanford.edu/faculty/workp/swp99011.pdf. An example of how a Party leading group can influence or control governmental authority can be seen in the regulations for the Ministry of Personnel http://www.gov.cn/english////////////////2005-09/12/content_31012_4.htm. The existence of party leading groups in the PRC judicial system http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-03/16/content_811118.htm which are subordinate to the party center has often been cited as violation of judicial independence
Judicial independence
Judicial Independence is the idea that the judiciary needs to be kept away from the other branches of government...
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/events/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail&id=650.
Leading small groups have become increasingly important within the PRC after the 1990s, especially in the field of foreign policy
Foreign relations of the People's Republic of China
The foreign relations of the People's Republic of China guides the way in which it interacts with foreign nations. As a great power and emerging superpower, China's foreign policy and strategic thinking is highly influential. China officially states it "unswervingly pursues an independent foreign...
where the LSGs have become a tool for coordinating the work of several agencies as well as insuring party supervision over government activities.