Chinese citizens lack the democratic means to change their government.
The CCP holds absolute power, has imprisoned nearly all active dissidents, uses the judiciary as a tool of state control, and severely restricts freedom of speech, press, association, and religion. China signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1998 but has not ratified it, and compliance has been limited. In practice there is little separation between party and state. The National People s Congress is nominally the highest organ of state authority under the 1982 constitution, but in practice the body has little independent power and has never voted to reject legislation. However, in recent years delegates have registered protest votes over the government s handling of rising crime rates and other issues.