# Democratic parties (China)

In the People's Republic of China, there are eight minor and non-oppositional political parties, officially termed democratic parties (Chinese: 民主党派; pinyin: Mínzhǔ dǎngpài), that are permitted to exist alongside the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

## History

The democratic parties participated in the drafting of the Common Program and the first plenary session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

## Role

Founded before the proclamation of the People's Republic of China, these parties must accept the "leading role" of the CCP as a condition of their continued existence. The official party system of the PRC is termed the "system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CCP." The relationship between these parties and the CCP has officially been described as "long-term coexistence and mutual supervision, treating each other with full sincerity and sharing weal or woe". According to Human Rights Watch, these parties "play an advisory rather than an oppositional role".
The democratic parties take part in "united front work" and also take part in the political system, but they have no power at a national level. The Chinese political system allows for the participation of some members of the eight minor parties and other non-CCP members in the National People's Congress (NPC), but they are vetted by the CCP. According to Aaron Friedberg, these parties' "purpose is to create the illusion of inclusiveness and representation." One of the ways the CCP controls the minor parties is through its United Front Work Department (UFWD), which vets the membership applications and controls who is the leader of these parties. UFWD also keeps the parties in check by preventing them from expanding widely in counties and villages. The cadres of the eight parties are trained at the Central Institute of Socialism. Members of democratic parties can apply to join the CCP without needing to withdraw from the democratic parties.

## List

There is officially a ranking system of the parties; the ranking is based on their "contribution to the new democratic revolution".
| Party | Year founded | Members (2022) | Chairperson | NPC seats | NPCSC seats | NCCPPCC seats |
| Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang (RCCK) 中国国民党革命委员会 (民革) Zhōngguó Guómíndǎng Gémìng Wěiyuánhuì (Míngé) | 1948 | 158,000 | Zheng Jianbang 郑建邦 | 44 / 2,980 | 6 / 175 | 65 / 544 |
| China Democratic League (CDL) 中国民主同盟 (民盟) Zhōngguó Mínzhǔ Tóngméng (Mínméng) | 1941 | 348,300 | Ding Zhongli 丁仲礼 | 57 / 2,980 | 9 / 175 | 65 / 544 |
| China National Democratic Construction Association (CNDCA) 中国民主建国会 (民建) Zhōngguó Mínzhǔ Jiànguó Huì (Mínjiàn) | 1945 | 220,000 | Hao Mingjin 郝明金 | 57 / 2,980 | 3 / 175 | 65 / 544 |
| China Association for Promoting Democracy (CAPD) 中国民主促进会 (民进) Zhōngguó Mínzhǔ Cùjìn Huì (Mínjìn) | 1945 | 192,000 | Cai Dafeng 蔡达峰 | 58 / 2,980 | 7 / 175 | 45 / 544 |
| Chinese Peasants' and Workers' Democratic Party (CPWDP) 中国农工民主党 (农工党) Zhōngguó Nónggōng Mínzhǔdǎng (Nónggōngdǎng) | 1930 | 192,000 | He Wei 何维 | 54 / 2,980 | 7 / 175 | 45 / 544 |
| China Zhi Gong Party (CZGP) 中国致公党 (致公党) Zhōngguó Zhì Gōng Dǎng (Zhìgōngdǎng) | 1925 | 69,000 | Jiang Zuojun 蒋作君 | 38 / 2,980 | 3 / 175 | 30 / 544 |
| Jiusan Society (JS) 九三学社 Jiǔsānxuéshè | 1945 | 204,069 | Wu Weihua 武维华 | 63 / 2,980 | 4 / 175 | 45 / 544 |
| Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League (TDSL) 台湾民主自治同盟 (台盟) Táiwān Mínzhǔ Zìzhì Tóngméng (Táiméng) | 1947 | 3,400 | Su Hui 苏辉 | 13 / 2,980 | 3 / 175 | 20 / 544 |

### Membership scope

Each democratic party is composed of a certain demographic.
* The Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang is mainly composed of former Kuomintang members and people having historical connections with the Kuomintang.
* The China Democratic League is mainly composed of higher and mid-level intellectuals.
* The China National Democratic Construction Association is mainly composed of specialists, scholars and other people in the economic field.
* The China Association for Promoting Democracy is mainly composed of intellectuals working in educational, cultural, scientific, publishing and other fields.
* The Chinese Peasants' and Workers' Democratic Party is mainly composed of higher and mid-level intellectuals in medical, cultural, educational, and science and technology fields.
* The China Zhi Gong Party is mainly composed of returned overseas Chinese, relatives of overseas Chinese, and representative individuals and specialists and scholars with overseas connections.
* The Jiusan Society is mainly composed of higher and mid-level intellectuals working in science and technology, culture, education, and public health.
* The Taiwan Democratic Self-government League is mainly composed of people born or with family roots in Taiwan currently residing in mainland China.