Tongfang Academy
Micro Party Class · Issue 281
Truly use the Party Constitution, Party rules, and Party discipline to correct our thoughts and actions.
“Theoretical cultivation is the core of the comprehensive quality of Party members and cadres. Theoretical maturity is the foundation for political maturity, and political steadfastness stems from theoretical clarity.” For Party members and cadres, fostering a fine academic ethos and strengthening theoretical training are both fundamental requirements for cultivating Party spirit and an inescapable political responsibility.
Tongfang Law Firm provides all its lawyers with learning opportunities in the form of micro-party classes, thereby enhancing their ideological and political awareness as well as their spirit of learning and inquiry. By establishing a long-term educational mechanism, the firm has created a new platform for self-education and self-improvement.
Party discipline study and education is an important measure for strengthening the Party’s disciplinary construction and promoting the deepening of comprehensive and strict governance over the Party. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to this work and has personally planned and promoted it. Every time he visits localities for inspection, he delivers important speeches that provide strong and concrete guidance on discipline education. As the Party’s “discipline force,” the discipline inspection and supervision agencies must adhere to goal-oriented, problem-oriented, and results-oriented approaches. While ensuring that their own study and education efforts are carried out thoroughly from beginning to end, they should also focus on enhancing the pertinence and effectiveness of discipline education in daily supervision, enforcement of discipline, and accountability. They should actively supervise and guide all Party members and public officials to strengthen their consciousness, initiative, determination, and intrinsic motivation in observing and enforcing Party discipline and state laws, and truly use the Party Constitution, Party rules, and Party discipline to correct their thoughts, words, and actions.
Highlight the political and contemporary nature of Party discipline, and always regard the “Two Upholds” as the supreme political principle and fundamental political norm. The most important and fundamental function of discipline is to safeguard the Party’s unity and solidarity, uphold the Party’s nature and program, preserve the Party’s guidelines, policies, and principles, and ensure the successful fulfillment of the Party’s missions and tasks. On this new journey in the new era, the Party shoulders the historic mission of leading all ethnic groups across the country toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and faces the “Four Great Tests” and “Four Dangers.” To fulfill this historic mission and overcome these risks and challenges, we must place even greater emphasis on harnessing the functional role of discipline in governing and administering the Party. Since the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly stressed the need to be vigilant against the “Seven ‘Haves’”—namely, having personal ambitions, having cliques, having ulterior motives, having connections, having vested interests, having a penchant for privilege, and having a disregard for rules. At its core, the “Seven ‘Haves’” are all political issues, and we must remain highly alert to them at all times. We must also consistently strengthen the Party’s centralized and unified leadership over “agriculture, rural areas, and farmers” work in the course of performing our duties. We must continue to closely monitor whether there are instances of inadequate implementation of central decisions and deployments, violations of regulations on reporting major matters, interference with inspection and巡察 work, or failure to implement rectification requirements from inspections and巡察—any violation of political discipline. We should educate and guide all Party members and cadres to take firm stand in maintaining high consistency with the Party Central Committee as their top priority, effectively enhancing their political resolve, disciplinary resolve, moral resolve, and resistance to corruption. We must strengthen ideological and theoretical education, consolidate the foundation of faith and loyalty, firmly establish the “Four Consciousnesses,” and translate these into concrete actions of obeying the Party’s command and fulfilling our responsibilities to the Party.
Highlight the advanced nature and people-oriented character of Party discipline, and enhance the motivation to abide by it. Discipline has always accompanied the development and progress of human society. Since humans began forming social organizations, discipline has emerged. As social division of labor has become increasingly refined, discipline has likewise grown more sophisticated and complete. As a Marxist party of the proletariat, the Communist Party of China is the vanguard of the Chinese working class, the vanguard of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, and the leading core force behind the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics—dedicated to the interests of the greatest number of people. The nature of the Party determines that its discipline differs fundamentally from all previous forms of discipline in history. At its essence, Party discipline serves the people; it educates and inspires广大 Party members and cadres to practice self-restraint, serve the public wholeheartedly, and take the initiative to exercise self-discipline. Throughout the Party’s century-long struggle, most Party members who were eliminated by the Party and the people had failed to properly address the fundamental question: “For whom do we join the Party?” On this fundamental issue of understanding and practice, the word “people” stands supreme. No matter how severe or complex the environmental conditions may be, Party members must, through concrete actions, place the Party and the people in the most important position in their hearts. Any Party member or cadre who abandons, betrays, or deviates from this fundamental principle inevitably suffers a fundamental collapse of ideological defenses. Filled with selfishness and personal desires, such individuals will become enemies of the people and will ultimately face disciplinary and legal sanctions.
We must highlight the consciousness and self-discipline inherent in Party discipline, and strengthen the ideological and belief-based support that enables us to tirelessly strive for the cause of the Party and the people. At its core, Party discipline is not externally imposed; rather, it is founded on the shared ideological principles, beliefs, and political goals of all Party members, with voluntary compliance as its primary tenet. The very first phrase of the Party membership oath—"I voluntarily join the Communist Party of China"—sets the tone. The subsequent eight phrases, aside from the fifth—“Strictly abide by Party discipline”—also contain disciplinary requirements: “Uphold the Party’s program, observe the Party’s constitution, fulfill Party member obligations, and carry out Party decisions”; “Safeguard Party secrets, remain loyal to the Party, and work actively.” Even the final three phrases—“Dedicate my life to communism, be ready at any time to sacrifice everything for the Party and the people, and never betray the Party”—are all higher-level disciplinary demands that must be upheld and defended with one’s very life. All these clearly demonstrate a fundamental premise: joining the Party is a voluntary choice made by each applicant, implying a voluntary commitment to embrace the Party’s beliefs, governance, and disciplinary requirements. Over the Party’s more than a century of struggle, for various reasons, some Party members who were formally admitted into the Party have failed to resolve the issue of truly embracing the Party ideologically. Some had impure motives for joining; others, after joining, experienced ideological degeneration and corruption. Essentially, these individuals lacked genuine ideological identification with the Party, and thus lacked the conscious willingness to comply with and uphold Party discipline. Only through intensified, sustained, and focused education—pursuing this effort over the long term—can we help every Party cadre and member achieve complete ideological alignment with the Party, firmly anchoring their ideals, beliefs, and purposes. Only then can every comrade truly recognize both the necessity and the freedom inherent in Party discipline, and genuinely commit themselves wholeheartedly to observing discipline with consistency between words and deeds.
Highlight the rigid and equal nature of Party discipline, and enhance our proactive commitment to placing ourselves squarely within its framework. Party discipline imposes the same constraints on Party organizations at all levels and on every Party member. Any violation of Party discipline must be held accountable; there are no special Party members exempt from disciplinary scrutiny within the Party. One of the reasons some Party member leading cadres have been expelled from the Party is precisely that they failed to grasp the fundamental principle that no special Party member—no one—is above discipline, and that everyone is equal before discipline. Anyone who fancies himself or herself as exceptional and flaunts privileges, no matter how high his or her leadership position may be, will sooner or later face Party disciplinary sanctions. Similarly, anyone who believes he or she is “protected by armor” or “safe in a vault,” anyone who adopts a detached, “spectator-like” attitude toward others’ violations of Party discipline and rules, yet remains indifferent, numb, or harbors侥幸心理 (a lucky mindset) toward his or her own problems, will ultimately pay a heavy price for his or her arrogance. In fact, it’s not frightening when Party members make mistakes; what’s truly frightening is the unwillingness to face up to one’s mistakes, admit them, and correct them. What’s even more alarming is allowing minor errors to escalate into major ones. Party members and cadres must earnestly place themselves squarely within the scope of Party discipline, continuing to learn and reform throughout their lives. They should engage in self-criticism, accept criticism from the organization and fellow comrades, promptly root out the “inner demons,” and consistently maintain immunity against erroneous thoughts and behaviors.
We must highlight the mandatory and punitive nature of Party discipline, and enhance the precision, standardization, and resoluteness with which we implement the Party Constitution, Party rules, and Party discipline. General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly pointed out: “As members of the Party, we must strictly enforce ironclad discipline. Comrade Mao Zedong said that the Party’s line is the ‘kingly way,’ while discipline is the ‘hegemonic way’—both are indispensable. If the Party’s political discipline becomes merely a formality, it will trigger the ‘broken windows effect,’ causing the Party’s statutes, principles, systems, and deployments to lose their seriousness and authority, and the Party will degenerate into a ‘private club’ where everyone pursues their own interests and acts according to their own whims.” Countless cases of disciplinary violations and illegal activities have repeatedly demonstrated that whenever individuals choose to bend or circumvent discipline, treat it like ‘gum that can be stretched or loosened at will,’ or calculate the costs and risks of violating discipline based on their own narrow self-interests, they are ultimately motivated by utilitarian goals, a lucky mindset, and a self-serving perspective—and sooner or later, such attitudes will lead to problems. Only by recognizing that Party discipline stems from the Party’s mission and the needs of its cause, possesses an inherent necessity and compulsory nature, and by exercising our subjective initiative to submit ourselves to this necessity and compulsion, can we achieve the most reliable kind of disciplinary freedom. Otherwise, if a Party member, driven by personal needs, perceives certain disciplines as restrictive and refuses to comply with their mandatory nature, then violating those disciplines will become almost inevitable—only a matter of when, where, and under what circumstances the violation will occur. The Regulations on Disciplinary Actions of the Communist Party of China stipulate that any behavior by Party organizations and members that violates the Party Constitution and other internal Party regulations, contravenes national laws and regulations, breaches Party and state policies, or violates socialist ethics, and thereby endangers the interests of the Party, the state, and the people, shall, in accordance with the regulations, be subject to disciplinary action or punishment. This provision identifies three fundamental characteristics of disciplinary violations: First, a certain degree of harm; second, the nature of being in violation—that is, the expression of harm in the specific provisions of Party disciplinary regulations; and third, the requirement for punishment—that is, the harm has reached a level warranting disciplinary sanctions. We must educate and guide all Party members and cadres to connect theory with practice, deepen their understanding of these three characteristics of “negative-list” misconduct, truly grasp the rationale behind determining the nature and severity of disciplinary violations, integrate learning from regulations, studying through case analysis, and applying knowledge to real-life situations, engrave the Party’s six disciplines deeply in our hearts, clearly understand what we can and cannot do, and how we should act. By continually clarifying our direction, we can refine our thinking, capabilities, and work style, and ensure that Party discipline education and training yield tangible results.
Highlight the dialectical unity between Party discipline and national law, and set an exemplary example in observing both Party discipline and state laws. The Communist Party of China is the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The Party’s leadership, the people’s role as masters of the country, and governance according to law are organically unified; the Party’s leadership serves as the fundamental guarantee for governance according to law. Governance according to law and governance according to Party regulations complement each other and reinforce one another—just as a vehicle cannot function properly without both wheels. Although Party discipline and national law differ in their respective formulating bodies, procedures, target audiences and standards, disciplinary measures, and remedies, they are dialectically unified in their essential attributes, value orientations, and functional roles, all embodying the thinking and logic of the rule of law. All Party members and public officials—especially the “key few” among them, including leading Party cadres—must take the lead in genuinely enhancing their awareness of the rule of law and promoting the spirit of the rule of law. They must uphold the principle that power is defined by law and that no action may be taken without legal authorization; they must dare to shoulder responsibilities and fulfill their legally mandated duties; and they must respect rules and strictly follow established procedures, earnestly fulfilling the Party member obligations stipulated in the Party Constitution, such as “consciously observing Party discipline” and “setting an exemplary example in complying with state laws and regulations.” Those who substitute words for law, use power to override the law, pursue profits through illegal means, or bend the law for personal gain will be severely punished by both Party discipline and state law. It is crucial to clearly understand the disciplinary and legal requirements applicable to one’s triple identity as a Party member, a citizen, and a public official. As Party members, we are citizens with special political missions and subject to strict organizational constraints. Joining the Party means voluntarily relinquishing certain rights and freedoms enjoyed by ordinary citizens. As citizens, we are all equal before the law, as stipulated by the Constitution. There are neither special Party members nor special citizens. As public officials, we are vital forces in governing the country and administering state affairs, wielding state public power and representing the nation’s image and authority. Therefore, we must demonstrate greater political loyalty, organizational obedience, and disciplinary rigor at higher standards. Especially for the “key few,” including Party leadership cadres, it is essential to grasp the truth that “the wind rises from above, and the atmosphere is shaped below”—that if those at the top deviate even slightly, those below will deviate dramatically—and consciously serve as exemplary leaders who abide by discipline and the law.
Source | People's Daily Online, Official Website for Party History Study and Education
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Tongfang Academy Micro-Party Class, Issue 282: Major Achievements in Comprehensively Deepening Reform in the New Era
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Tongfang Academy Micro-Party Class, Issue 280: Firmly Grasp the Starting Point and Focal Point of Further Deepening Comprehensive Reform.
