New power structure: How China was governed 1949

Question 1

Democratic centralism

Answer 1

Democracy with a central government. Multiple parties despite the gov retaining most of the power.(they had no real chance of power).

• Elected local congress
• elections to legilaslature

Question 2

Maos approach to war

Answer 2

• Believs war can shape and create things
• Violence can be used to control
• War progesses society until war is no longer needed

Question 3

Which groups of people were invited to paritipate in the new gov?
Why were they invited?

Answer 3

• some left wing GMD
• left wing polliticians

To make china appear more democratic

Question 4

What three organisations made up the new government?

What positions did Mao hold in each of theese organisations?

Answer 4

1. The communist party (CCP)
2. The central poeple’s government
3. The people’s liberation army (PLA)

Mao was chairman of CCP and people rublic of china

Question 5

What was the politburo how singnificant was it in the descion making process?
What was the national peoples congress? What role did it play?

Answer 5

Politburo - the most elite in the party, getting to the top usually required an outstanding political track record, Also draft manuevering or internal rivalries.

In reality the 5 man standing comitte had the most power, Mao was its leader.

The national peoples congress - mostly acted as a rubber stamp to approve politburo descions.

Question 6

The state council

Answer 6

Headed by Zhou Enlai, it held legislative and executive power. It interpreted and enacted laws decared wars and announced and executed decrees.

Question 7

The PLA

Answer 7

The chineese military that was controlled by the party through the Military affairs commision. They gave Mao an indimidation factor.

Question 8

The 6 regions.

Answer 8

The country was divided into 6 regions, each was governed by bureau of three major officials:
* Gov chairman (state bureaucracy)
* Party secretary (ccp positions)
* Military commander
* Army political commissar

The regions were intially called militray administrive commisions.

Question 9

Danwei

Answer 9

Local work units led by party cadres which controlled the alocation of housing, grain and other supplies. It also issued permits to travel, marry and enter proffesional jobs.

Question 10

Power structure

Answer 10

Mao - Determines ideology and makes final descions

Standing comittee - Mao’s revolutionary comrades. Told politburo what to do

Politburo (25) - Determines party policy

Central comittee (49)
+
National peoples congress (100s) - Carries out politburo policy (‘rubber stamp’)