Question

What does a candidate need before contesting elections in China?
A.Approval of at least two big political parties
B.Approval of the National People’s Congress
C.Approval of the Chinese Communist Party
D.Approval of the Election Commission

Answer 1

Hint: The People’s Republic of China functions as a socialist republic and is run by the Chinese Communist Party. The General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party has complete authority over state and government and functions as the President of the state. All powers and functions are exercised by the party and the State Council which is part of the executive branch. The National People’s Congress is the unicameral legislative house established by the Constitution of China and consists of 2980 members. The State is divided into 22 provinces (excluding Taiwan), 4 municipalities, 5 autonomous regions and 2 special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.

Complete step by step solution:
Option A: is incorrect. As China has a one-party system, it is not required that candidates contesting elections obtain the approval of two big political parties.
Option B: is incorrect. The candidates contesting elections compete for a seat at the National People’s Congress, the unicameral legislative house in the People’s Republic of China. However, the candidates do not need their approval before contesting.
Option C: is correct. The Chinese Communist Party plays a pivotal role in the People’s Republic of China. It has 90-million members and party committees at national, provincial and local levels. Any candidate contesting elections is selected by the Chinese Communist Party and they also make sure that non-party members do not contest elections or form autonomous organisations.
Option D: is incorrect. There is no independent election commission in China. All electoral laws and election committees are made by the Chinese Communist Party.

Note: The current General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and the President of the People’s Republic of China is Xi Jinping who has held this office since 2012. He was preceded by Hu Jintao who served as the General Secretary from 2002 to 2012.