Politics
08:55, 19-Jan-2018
Background: How is this year's second plenary session different from others?
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Top of the agenda for the second plenary session of the 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee taking place on Jan. 18-19, are to propose lists of officials for the administrative branches of government and deliberation on amendments to China's Constitution.
Following October's 19th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee holds seven plenary sessions to discuss economic issues and ways to implement the spirit of the preceding National Congress.
The Great Hall of People / VCG Photo
The Great Hall of People / VCG Photo
Unlike previous second plenary sessions, members will propose draft amendments to parts of the country's constitution. The last time this happened was February 1978.
The amendments will be later explained at the annual session of National People's Congress (NPC) in March and a vote will take place to legalize the changes.
According to a meeting by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Jan. 12, amendments to the constitution need to follow the following principles: Alignment with CPC leadership, a legal path with China characteristics, a correct political stance, follow legal guidance and procedures and only amend part of the constitution.
The Great Hall of People / VCG Photo
The Great Hall of People / VCG Photo
The second plenary sessions of previous years
The Second Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee
Location: Beijing
Date: February 26 – 28, 2013
Key topics: Passed “the Plan for Institutional Reform and Functional Transformation of the State Council” and drafted up lists of officials for the national government's administrative organs.
The Second Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee
Location: Beijing
Date: February 25 – 27, 2008
Key topics: Passed “The Plan for Institutional Reform of the State Council” and “Opinions on Deepening the Reform of the Administrative System”; drafted up lists of officials for the national government's administrative organs.
The Second Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee
Location: Beijing
Date: February 24 – 25, 2003
Key topics: Passed “Opinions on Deepening the Administrative System and Institutional Reform”; drafted up lists of officials for the national government's administrative organs.
The Second Plenary Session of the 15th CPC Central Committee
Location: Beijing
Date: February 25 – 26, 1998
Key topics: Passed “The Plan for Institutional Reform of the State Council” and drafted up lists of officials for the national government's administrative organs.
The Second Plenary Session of the 14th CPC Central Committee
Location: Beijing
Date: March 5 – 7, 1993
Key topics: Agreed and passed “The Recommendation on the Adjustment of Several Indicators of the Eight Five Plan” and “Proposals on the Reform of the Party and Political Institutions”; drafted up lists of officials for the national government's administrative organs.
The Second Plenary Session of the 13th CPC Central Committee
Location: Beijing
Date: March 15 - 19, 1988
Key topics: The key emphasis in work was improving the economic environment and rectifying the economic order; passed “Preliminary Program on Price, Wage Reform"; drafted up lists of officials for the national government's administrative organs.
The Second Plenary Session of the 12th CPC Central Committee
Location: Beijing
Date: October 11 – 12, 1983
Key topics: Passed “CPC Central Committee Decision on the Entire Party” that provides and sets the fundamental principle, task, policies and approaches of the CPC.
The Second Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee
Location: Beijing
Date: February 18 – 23, 1978
Key topics: Passed “Government Working Progress report,” “The draft of 1976-1985 Plan for National Economic Development in 10 years,” “The draft amendments to the Constitution of People's Republic of China,” “Report on the Revision of the Constitution” and proposed to adopt the amendment at the following annual session of the NPC; draft up the list of members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, officials of the State Council, and Presidents of the Supreme People's Court; passed the new lyrics of the Chinese national anthem.
The Second Plenary Session of the 10th CPC Central Committee
Location: Beijing
Date: January 8 - 10, 1975
Key topics: Submitted “Government Working Progress Report,” “The Draft Amendments to the Constitution of People's Republic of China,” “Report on the Revision of the Constitution” and the lists of officials at the administrative organs in the national government to the following annual session of the NPC.
The Second Plenary Session of the 9th CPC Central Committee
Location: Jiangxi Province
Date: August 23 – September 6, 1970
Key topics: Approved “The Report of the State Council on National Planning Conference and the 1970 National Economic Plan”; the Central Military Commission approved “The Report on the Strengthening of Combat Readiness.”
The Second Plenary Session of the 8th CPC Central Committee
Location: Beijing
Date: November 10 – 15, 1956
Key topics: Adjusted “The 1957 National Economic Plan”; carried out rectification campaign within the Party.
The Second Plenary Session of the 7th CPC Central Committee
Location: Hebei Province
Date: March 5 - 13, 1949
Key topics: Working emphasis shifted from rural area to cities; set to transform the agricultural country into an industrialized power nation; Passed “The Resolutions of Seventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China's Second Plenary Meeting” and “The Resolution on the Flag of People’s Liberation Army.”
The Second Plenary Session of the 6th CPC Central Committee
Location: Shanghai
Date: June 25 - 30, 1929
Key topics: Passed “Resolution on the Work Report of the Central Political Bureau” and “Declaration of the Second Plenary Meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of China.”