《中国的民主》白皮书（双语全文）

四、广泛真实管用的民主
IV. Democracy That Works

完整的制度程序和完整的参与实践，使全过程人民民主从价值理念成为扎根中国大地的制度形态、治理机制和人民的生活方式。人民当家作主，具体地、现实地体现在党治国理政的政策措施上，具体地、现实地体现在党和国家机关各个方面各个层级工作上，具体地、现实地体现在实现人民对美好生活向往的工作上。民主的阳光照耀中华大地，中国人民享有广泛充分、真实具体、有效管用的民主。
With complete institutions and extensive participation, whole-process people's democracy has evolved from an idea into a system and mechanism of governance that has taken root in the soil of Chinese society and become part of people's lives. In practice, the principle of the people being masters of the country is manifested in the Party's governance policies and measures, in all aspects of the work of Party and state organs at all levels, and in the efforts to meet the people's expectation for a better life. The light of democracy has illuminated China's entire territory, allowing its people to enjoy extensive and tangible democratic rights.

（一）人民享有广泛权利
1. Extensive Rights of the People

中国宪法规定，国家的一切权力属于人民；人民依照法律规定，通过各种途径和形式，管理国家事务，管理经济和文化事业，管理社会事务。中国的政治权力不是依据地位、财富、关系分配的，而是全体人民平等享有的。国家权力不是为资本服务的，而是为人民服务的。
The Constitution stipulates that all power in the People's Republic of China belongs to the people, and that the people shall, in accordance with the provisions of the law, manage state affairs, economic and cultural undertakings, and social affairs through various channels and in various ways. China's political power is not linked in any way with personal status, wealth, or social relations, but is equally enjoyed by all the people. The state power serves the people, rather than capital.

中国实行公有制为主体、多种所有制经济共同发展，按劳分配为主体、多种分配方式并存，社会主义市场经济体制等社会主义基本经济制度，国民经济命脉牢牢掌握在人民手中，人民当家作主具有坚实经济基础和物质保障。
China practices a socialist market economy in which public ownership plays the leading role alongside other forms of ownership. Distribution according to work is the mainstay, while other forms of distribution coexist alongside it. This ensures that the lifelines of the Chinese economy remain firmly in the hands of the people, providing solid economic and material foundations for the people to run their own country.

在中国，人民依法享有选举权和被选举权，享有对国家和社会事务的知情权、参与权、表达权、监督权，享有对任何国家机关和国家工作人员提出批评和建议的权利，享有言论、出版、集会、结社、游行、示威、宗教信仰等自由。人民既广泛参与国家、社会事务和经济文化事业的管理，也在日常生活中广泛充分行使民主权利，每个人都有多重民主角色，都享有相应民主权利。
In China, the people have the right to vote and stand for election. They enjoy the rights to be informed about, to be involved in, to express views on, and to supervise the state and social affairs. They have the right to criticize and make suggestions regarding any state organ or public servant. They enjoy freedom of speech, the press, assembly, association, procession, demonstration, and religious belief. The Chinese people take part in the management of state affairs and social, economic, and cultural affairs in an extensive manner; they also fully exercise their democratic rights in everyday life. Everyone plays multiple roles in advancing democracy, and enjoys corresponding democratic rights in the process.

在中国，人权得到充分尊重和有效保障。人民幸福生活是最大的人权。中国经济保持长期稳定快速发展，人民生活显著改善。中国建成世界上规模最大的社会保障体系，基本医疗保险覆盖超过13亿人、基本养老保险覆盖超过10亿人。中国全面建成小康社会，14亿多人民彻底摆脱了绝对贫困，正迈向共同富裕。中国人民的获得感、幸福感、安全感不断提升，生存权、发展权、健康权得到充分保障，经济、政治、文化、社会、环境等方面权利不断发展。
In China, human rights are fully respected and protected. Living a life of contentment is the ultimate human right. China's economy has maintained long-term, stable, and rapid growth, and people's lives have significantly improved. China has established the world's largest social security system. The number of people covered by basic medical insurance has surpassed 1.3 billion, and the number of those covered by basic old-age insurance has now exceeded 1 billion. China has completed the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. The entire country has shaken off absolute poverty and embarked on the road to common prosperity. The people have gained a stronger sense of fulfillment, happiness and security. Their rights to subsistence, development and health are fully protected, and their economic, political, cultural, social, environmental, and other rights keep expanding.

中国人民享有的权利不断丰富发展。从新中国成立后在政治、经济平等基础上谋求生存发展，到改革开放后既追求物质富裕也追求精神富足，再到新时代打赢脱贫攻坚战、全面建成小康社会、扎实推进共同富裕、取得抗击新冠肺炎疫情重大战略成果，中国人民享有权利的内涵不断丰富、外延不断拓展，向着实现人的全面发展不断迈进。
The Chinese people can see their rights being steadily enriched and improved. After the founding of the PRC in 1949, they began to seek subsistence and development on the basis of political and economic equality; after the launch of reform and opening up in 1978, they began to pursue both material and cultural prosperity; in this new era, China has eliminated absolute poverty, completed the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, made great strides towards common prosperity, and achieved remarkable successes in the fight against Covid-19. Throughout this course, the rights enjoyed by the Chinese people have expanded in scope and depth, and steady progress has been made in achieving the free and well-rounded development of the individual.

（二）人民民主参与不断扩大
2. Expanding Democratic Participation

人民只有在投票时被唤醒、投票后就进入休眠期，只有竞选时聆听天花乱坠的口号、竞选后就毫无发言权，只有拉票时受宠、选举后就被冷落，这样的民主不是真正的民主。在中国，民主观念深入人心，人民的民主参与广泛持续，民主实践深深融入人们的日常工作和生产生活，民主蔚然成风，社会充满活力。
If the people are awakened only to cast a vote but become dormant afterwards, that is no true democracy. If the people are offered great hopes during electoral campaigning but have no say afterwards, that is no true democracy. If the people are offered fulsome promises during electoral canvassing but are left empty-handed afterwards, that is no true democracy. In China, the concept of democracy has taken root in the people's minds, and the practice of democracy has become an integral part of daily life and work, resulting in wide and sustained democratic participation. Democracy has become the norm, injecting great vitality into Chinese society.

人民参与民主的意愿不断增强，参与的广度和深度不断拓展。人民既参与国家和社会事务管理，又参与经济和文化事业管理；既参与国家发展顶层设计的意见建议征询，又参与地方公共事务治理；既参与民主选举、民主协商，又参与民主决策、民主管理、民主监督；既通过人大、政协等渠道表达意愿，又通过社会组织、网络等平台表达诉求。从“数豆豆”（注②）到电子投票，从群众跑腿到“数据跑路”，民主参与的形式不断创新、渠道不断拓展。党和国家要做什么、如何做、做得怎么样，人民参与贯穿始终。
The Chinese people are showing greater interest in democratic participation, which is expanding in scope and depth. The people participate in the management of state affairs, social affairs, and economic and cultural affairs; they provide opinions and suggestions for the design of national development plans at the highest level, and also contribute to the governance of local public affairs; they take part in democratic elections, consultations, decision-making, management, and oversight; they express their aspirations and demands through channels such as the people's congresses and the CPPCC, and through platforms like social organizations and the internet. Continuous innovations in the forms and channels of democracy have broadened participation: Electronic voting has replaced "bean voting" [Before the founding of the PRC, the CPC carried out extensive democratic elections across the countryside in the base areas of resistance against Japanese aggression and liberated rural areas under its leadership. Back then, the overwhelming majority of peasants were illiterate. The Party therefore introduced a series of innovative methods to enable those who could not read and write to exercise their right to vote in the elections. The most celebrated was called "bean voting", a method using beans as ballots. A voter only needed to cast a bean into the bowl for the candidate of whom he or she was in favor. The candidate who got more beans would win the election. At that time, a folk rhyme was prevalent in those places: "Beans roll, beans vote, beans go into the right bowls."]; people no longer need to deliver their demands to government departments in person, but can turn to online channels. Public participation is seen throughout the process of determining what the Party and the government should do and how, and how to assess its results.

人民利益要求既能畅通表达，也能有效实现。民主，起始于人民意愿充分表达，落实于人民意愿有效实现。人民意愿只能表达、不能实现，不是真正意义的民主。在中国，人民的期盼、希望和诉求，从国家大政方针，到社会治理，再到百姓衣食住行，有地方说、说了有人听、听了有反馈。人民的意愿和呼声，经过民主决策程序成为党和国家的方针政策，并通过中央、省、市、县、乡镇各个层级的紧密配合、层层落实，通过各个职能部门之间主管、主办、协管、协办的分工合作、协调配合，通过决策、执行、检查、监督、问责等各个环节的相互配合、有机衔接，转化为实现人民意愿的具体实践。对于涉及自身利益的实际问题，人们通过信访平台、领导信箱、政务热线、网络“留言板”等提出意见和诉求，能够得到及时反馈和回应。
The people's demands can be freely expressed and effectively fulfilled. Democracy starts with the full expression of the people's wishes, but if people can only voice their wishes but have no way to fulfill them, that is no real democracy. China has ensured that its people have channels to express their aspirations, wishes and demands on issues ranging from important national strategies and policies to social governance and basic necessities of life, enabling their voices to be heard and their requests to be answered.

Through the democratic decision-making process, the people's aspirations and voices can become the guiding principles and policies of the Party and the state. These principles and policies embody the people's expectations and are implemented through cooperative and effective efforts by governments at central, provincial, city, county, and township levels, through the division of work and teamwork of departments responsible for leadership, management, coordination and support, and through the collaboration and synergy of such activities as decision-making, implementation, inspection, scrutiny, and accountability. Concerning problems directly impacting their personal interests, people can make suggestions and demands via channels like the online petition, "leaders' mailboxes", government service hotlines, and online message boards, which can enable timely feedback and responses.

（三）国家治理高效
3. Efficient National Governance

民主与国家治理紧密相关。民主的发展与国家治理的现代化相伴相生，相互作用，相互促进。绝无国家治理“失灵”“低效”，国内问题成堆，民主却是“世界样板”的荒谬现象。好的民主一定是实现良政善治的，一定是推动国家发展的。
Democracy and national governance operate in parallel. Progress in democracy and modernization of national governance are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. It is hard to see how a country can serve as a good example for the rest of the world if its own model of democracy is unsuccessful or inefficient in national governance. One essential feature of a good model of democracy is that it will promote sound governance and boost national development.

中国民主的高质量，促进了国家治理的高效能，提升了国家治理体系和治理能力现代化水平。中国的民主，充分彰显了人民的主体地位，极大增强了人民的主人翁意识，人民既是民主的参与者，也是民主的受益者，智慧力量充分激发，既为自己也为国家、民族拼搏奋斗。中国的民主，有效调节国家政治关系，发展充满活力的政党关系、民族关系、宗教关系、阶层关系、海内外同胞关系，增强民族凝聚力，最大限度避免了牵扯，切实防止了相互掣肘、内耗严重的现象，形成了安定团结的政治局面和团结干事的强大合力。中国的民主，把党的主张、国家意志、人民意愿紧密融合在一起，使得党、国家和人民成为目标相同、利益一致、相互交融、同心同向的整体，产生极大耦合力，形成集中力量办大事的制度优势，有效促进了社会生产力解放和发展，促进了现代化建设各项事业，促进了人民生活质量和水平不断提高。中国的民主，始终把中国人民利益放在第一位，有效维护了国家独立自主，有效维护了国家主权、安全、发展利益，有效维护了中国人民和中华民族的福祉。
High-quality democracy in China has improved the system, capacity and efficiency of national governance. Democracy has given prominence to the people's principal status and reinforced their sense of being masters of the country. The people are the builders and beneficiaries of democracy. They fully tap into their own wisdom and strength to create a better life and make the country stronger.

Democracy in China effectively regulates political relations and fosters vibrant relationships among political parties, ethnic groups, religions, social groups, and compatriots at home and abroad. It bolsters national cohesion by minimizing internal friction, maintains political unity and stability, and creates great synergy in developing the country.

Democracy in China gives full expression to the guidelines of the CPC, the will of the state, and the expectations of the people, uniting the Party, the government and the people behind shared goals, interests and aspirations. This generates a huge cohesive force that translates into one of China's great institutional strengths – the ability to pool resources to accomplish major initiatives. It has helped unleash and develop the productive forces, incentivize all sectors in the drive for modernization, and raise the quality of life.

Democracy in China has always put the people first and improved their wellbeing. It has safeguarded national independence and protected national sovereignty, security and development interests.

新中国成立70多年来，党团结带领人民，不断战胜前进道路上各种世所罕见的艰难险阻，成功走出中国式现代化道路，取得举世瞩目的发展成就，中国经济实力、综合国力、人民生活水平显著提升。对于中国这样一个人口多、体量大、人均资源禀赋处于世界较低水平的最大发展中国家，没有人民的主人翁地位和主人翁精神，没有亿万人民的团结奋斗，实现这样的发展是不可能的。中国的民主，真正把发展为了人民、发展依靠人民、发展成果由人民共享落到实处，充分调动起人民的主观能动性，这是中国之治的“密码”，是中国民主的力量。
Over the seven decades since the founding of the PRC, the CPC has led the people in overcoming formidable difficulties, opening a distinctive Chinese path to modernization, and achieving remarkable successes. There has been a marked increase in China's economic and composite national strength, and a notable improvement in the people's living standards.

China is the largest developing country. It hosts one fifth of the world population, but its per capita resource endowment is low. Its success today would have been impossible without the people's determination to run their own country and create a better life for themselves. Democracy in China means people-centered development that fully mobilizes the initiative of the people, relies on their strength, and ensures that all share in the benefits. This is the key to sound governance and the fount of democracy in China.

（四）社会和谐稳定
4. Social Stability and Harmony

民主是人类社会进步的产物和标志。发展民主，要推动社会向着自由、平等、公正、文明、团结、和谐的方向前行。好的民主，应凝聚社会共识，而不是造成社会撕裂和冲突；应维护社会公平正义，而不是导致社会阶层和利益固化；应保持社会稳定有序，而不是带来混乱和动荡；应让社会充满向美向善向上的正能量，而不是充斥假恶丑的负能量。
Democracy is both a result and a marker of social progress. Democracy can only thrive in a society based on freedom, equality, justice, civility, unity and harmony. A good model of democracy should build consensus rather than creating social rifts and conflicts, safeguard social equity and justice rather than widening social disparities in favor of vested interests, maintain social order and stability rather than causing chaos and turmoil, and inspire positivity and appreciation of the good and the beautiful rather than instigating negativity and promoting the false and the evil.

中国国情复杂，治理难度世所罕见。中国的人民民主，实现各方面意志和利益的协调统一，实现各方面在共同思想、共同利益、共同目标基础上的团结一致，人民安居乐业、心情舒畅，社会和谐稳定、生机勃勃。中国用几十年时间走过了西方发达国家几百年走过的工业化历程，在剧烈的社会变革中，没有发生后发国家在现代化进程中容易出现的社会动荡，不仅创造了经济快速发展奇迹，也创造了社会长期稳定奇迹。中国人民经历了几千年历史上个人自由的最大发展，思想可以自由地表达，人员可以自由地流动，亿万人民的创新源泉充分涌流、创造活力竞相迸发。今天的中国，人们自由自在地穿梭于城乡之间、城市之间；每天有1.6万户企业诞生；10亿网民通过网络了解天下大事、进行交流、表达观点……中国社会开放自由，但始终保持了社会团结和谐、稳定有序。人民民主既是中国社会进步的推进器，也是中国社会进步的润滑剂。
China's complex national conditions pose a set of unique challenges in governing the country. Through people's democracy, China has balanced the demands and interests of all social groups and strengthened national unity based on their shared ideas, interests and goals. The people can live and work in contentment, in a stable, vibrant and harmonious social environment.

In just a few decades, China has gone through a process of industrialization that took the developed countries centuries to complete. Despite undergoing this dramatic transformation, it has avoided the social unrest which has afflicted many late-industrializing economies in the process of modernization. Instead, it has maintained rapid economic growth and lasting social stability.

In China, personal liberty has developed to an extent never before seen in several thousand years of history. Creativity and potential for innovation have been fully unleashed, and people enjoy freedom of speech and mobility.

Every day in China, people travel freely across the country; 16,000 new companies are created; 1 billion people surf the internet, accessing news, communicating with other people, and expressing their views.

While China has become an open and free society, it has maintained order and stability and promoted unity and harmony. People's democracy is the propellant as well as the lubricant for China's social progress.

（五）权力运用得到有效制约和监督
5. Effective Constraint and Supervision of the Exercise of Power

权力是把“双刃剑”。权力在有效制约和监督下运行才能实现民主、造福人民，权力失去约束、恣意妄为必然破坏民主、危害人民。中国不断加强对权力运行的制约和监督，始终坚持公权力姓公，始终坚持权为民所用，确保人民赋予的权力始终用来为人民谋幸福。
Power is a double-edged sword. It can only contribute to democracy and benefit the people when it is exercised under effective constraints and supervision. Unchecked, it is always likely to run out of control, sabotage democracy, and harm the people. In China, the exercise of power has been brought under growing control and supervision. Public power, entrusted by the people, is and will always be exercised for the public good.

把权力关进制度的笼子里。加强对权力的制约和监督，制度具有根本性、全局性、稳定性和长期性。持续推进依规治党，持续推进依法治国、依法执政、依法行政，依法设定权力、规范权力、制约权力、监督权力，让权力在阳光下运行。健全完善党内法规制度体系，严明纪律规矩，使党的各级组织和党员干部都在纪律规矩范围内活动。普遍实行领导干部任期制，实现了国家机关和领导层的有序更替。加强对领导干部特别是高级领导干部的管理，严格规范工作和生活待遇，坚决防止形成特权阶层。健全党和国家监督制度，坚持和完善党和国家监督体系，完善党务、政务、司法和各领域办事公开制度，保证党和国家领导机关和人员在法定的“权力清单”和“责任清单”范围内、依照法定程序开展工作，最大限度防止权力出轨、个人寻租。
Restraining power in an institutional cage. Checks on and supervision over power are being strengthened under solid institutions, ensuring measures against corruption are thorough, all-encompassing, consistent and long-lasting. Ongoing efforts have been made to govern the CPC by regulations, and to promote law-based governance, law-based exercise of state power, and law-based government administration. Power is prescribed by law, and regulated, constrained, and supervised by legal means, to ensure it is exercised transparently. The CPC has taken measures to strengthen its regulations, and requires all its members and organizations to act within the scope of Party discipline and rules. Officials' term of office has been introduced for leadership positions, ensuring the orderly transition of leadership personnel in state organs. Management of officials, especially high-ranking officials, has been strengthened, with strict and clearly-defined rules over their incomes and entitlements to prevent the evolution of a privileged elite. The supervisory systems of the Party and the state have been improved; the Party, the government, the judiciary, and all sectors have become more transparent in handling affairs; leading Party and state organs and their personnel work within their statutory limits, with clear powers and responsibilities and following statutory procedures. All this prevents rent-seeking and ensures that the exercise of power does not stray beyond the proper boundaries.

坚决反对和惩治腐败。腐败是人民民主的大敌。中国以“得罪千百人、不负十四亿”的鲜明态度，坚定不移推进反腐败斗争。坚持系统施治、标本兼治，不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐一体推进，惩治震慑、制度约束、提高觉悟一体发力。坚持反腐败无禁区、全覆盖、零容忍，坚持重遏制、强高压、长震慑，坚持受贿行贿一起查，坚持有案必查、有腐必惩，以猛药去疴、重典治乱的决心，以刮骨疗毒、壮士断腕的勇气，坚定不移“打虎”“拍蝇”“猎狐”，以雷霆之势、霹雳手段惩治腐败，持续形成强大震慑，反腐败斗争取得压倒性胜利并全面巩固。在解决腐败这个古今中外治国理政的顽疾方面，中国不仅有鲜明态度，更有实际行动。
Fighting and punishing corruption. Corruption is the arch-enemy of people's democracy. The Chinese government is determined to honor its commitment to 1.4 billion Chinese people by fighting corruption. With systemic efforts to address both the symptoms and root causes, the awareness, ability and resolve to resist corruption form an integral, coordinated whole. While punishments are meted out to deter crime, institutional checks and personal commitment to staying clean also play a role. No refuge has been excluded from the scope, no ground left unturned, and no tolerance shown in the fight against corruption. China will continue to impose tight constraints, maintain a tough stance and long-term deterrence, and punish both those who take bribes and those who offer them. No case of corruption will escape investigation and no corrupt official will go unpunished. Just as a heavy dose of medicine will be taken to treat a serious disease, China will fight with all the means necessary to "hunt down tigers", "swat flies", "chase foxes" and mete out severe punishments to corrupt officials – big or small, in China or seeking refuge overseas. Strong, decisive measures have struck down corruption like thunder, forming a powerful deterrence that has helped to consolidate China's sweeping victory in the fight against corruption. To solve this persistent malaise, a thorn in the flesh of all governments regardless of time or place, China has taken a clear stance and responded with resolute action.

评判一种民主形式好不好，实践最有说服力，人民最有发言权，归根结底要看能不能让人民过上好日子。中国的民主行不行、好不好，归根结底要看中国人民满意不满意、中国人民拥护不拥护。有数据显示，近年来，中国人民对中国政府的满意度每年都保持在90%以上，这是中国民主具有强大生命力最真实的反映。中国的民主道路走得通、走得好，中国人民将沿着这条道路坚定走下去。
Whether a model of democracy works should be tested in actual practice and judged by the people. Whether China's model of democracy is successful should be judged by its people. It all boils down to whether the people can enjoy a good life. Surveys have shown that the level of public satisfaction with the government has remained above 90 percent for many years. This provides unequivocal evidence of the efficacy and vitality of democracy in China. The Chinese people will continue firmly on the path they have chosen to achieve greater democracy.