Transcript Government in the People`s Republic of China

Government in the People’s
Republic of China
Keep in Mind
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How are the USA and China similar?
How are they different?
How can they cooperate to solve problems?
In what areas do they compete?
Mother of the East
• Chinese recorded history
stretches back to the Xia
kingdom dynasty (2637 BCE).
• Chinese inventors created
gunpowder, paper money, the
compass, border fences and
ice cream.
• Terra cotta warriors @ Xi’an
protected Emperor Qin
(220BC)
我不会说中文
(Wǒ bú huì shuō Zhōngwèn.)
• One in every Five people on
earth is Han Chinese (Han is
the ethnic group)!
• Chinese form large minorities
in 27 countries
– 3 million in USA
• Chinese workers and
businesses were critical to
Arizona’s early development
of mines and railroad
transportation.
Economic Powerhouse
• Largest world economy 18 of last 20
centuries
• Largest world population 20 of last
20 centuries
• British Navigation Acts of 1651
excluded US colonies from direct
China trade
• Ever wonder why Tea was the
target of the Boston Tea Party?
$$$$$$$
• US trade established in 1784
• US protected China’s independence
in 1800’s
Imperial China
• Emperors Ruled China as
absolute monarchs from
almost 4000 years
• This ended in 1911,
when Sun Yat-Sen led a
revolution against the
child Emperor, Pu-yi.
• China split into two main
groups- Nationalists and
Communists
Communist Revolution
• After the Japanese invasion in
1934, Communists and
Nationalists briefly united
• By 1947, Nationalists were forced
from the mainland of China to
the island of Taiwan
• Mao Zedong became the first
Communist ruler of the People’s
Republic of China, and instituted
major economic and political
reform
PRC Constitution of 1982
• 5th Constitution since 1954
• 138 Articles include
– Article One establishes a “Democratic people’s
Dictatorship led by the working class”
– Article Two locks in the Communist Party as the source of
authority and control of politics
– Article Four protects minority rights, and commits China to
help with economic development
– Articles 5-12 guarantee public ownership of land, and
many businesses
– Article 25 commits China to support family planning
– Article 35 Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy
freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of
association, of procession and of demonstration
PRC Constitution of 1982 ctd.
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Article 36 Freedom of Religion
Article 39 Warrant needed for search and seizure
Article 41 Right to criticize government
Article 48 Women equal in pay and rights
Article 60 National People’s Congress elected to 5 year
terms by people (party members)
– Article 63 ways to remove bad leaders
– Article 67 gives Congress right to interpret
Constitution, choose executive and judicary
– Four Amendments cover changes to many articles at
one time, including allowing private business as a
compliment to public ownership
Current Structure
• State bureaucracy is controlled
through Communist Partymust be a Party member to
hold most gov. jobs.
• Head of State deals with
diplomatic issues (Hu Jintaoabove)
• Head of Party controls internal
affairs (Wen Jiabao-right)
Foreign Relations
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UN Security Council P-5 member
Hosted 2008 Summer Olympics
Returning to dominant position in Asia
Competes with India for commercial ties with
Europe and North America
• US Partner in “war on terror”
• Seeks political stability while pursuing
economic growth
Troublesome Policy
Issues
• Significant resistance to Communist rule in
Tibet and Xinjiang areas of western PRC.
• Unresolved final status of Taiwan
• Support of Mynmar Military dictatorship and
North Korean Communist rulers
• Support of Sudan’s Islamic government
Economic Growth
• Under Mao, China’s
economy shrank into
extreme poverty
– About 20 million starved
• After his death, Deng
Xiaoping instituted
capitalist economic reforms
– “To be rich is glorious”
launched Chinese expansion
Chinese Economic Miracle
Military
• World’s largest standing
army 2.35 million
• Jane’s Defense estimates
maximum military
manpower at 350 million
• Nuclear Weapons and
“wave attacks” of massive
infantry columns
• Manned space flight
Economic comparison
PR China
USA
• Authoritarian Capitalist Economy
of 6.9 trillion GDP/yr
• Average annual gross income
$5370 (USD)
• Free Market Economy of 13.84
trillion GDP/yr
• Average annual gross income
$42028 (USD)
– 123rd worldwide
• 4.6% unemployment, +8%
underemployment (estimated)
• Major exporter of finished
manufacturing goods worldwide
• Ave month net teacher salary
$679
– 6th of 216 states and territories
worldwide
– 1) Luxembourg, 2)Kuwait, 3) Norway,
4) Brunei, 5) Singapore
• 8.8% unemployment rate
• Ave month net teacher salary
$4055
Cooperation and Competition
• What are 3 areas in which the United States
and PRC can cooperate to solve mutual
problems?
• What are 3 areas in which it makes sense for
the United States to compete with PRC, and
vice versa?