Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission

Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission
中共中央政法委员会

Abbreviation	Zhongyang Zhengfawei (中央政法委)
Predecessor	Political and Legal Affairs Leading Group
Formation	1980
Type	Commission directly reporting to the Central Committee
Location	Beijing
Head	Meng Jianzhu
Deputy head	Guo Shengkun
Secretary-General	Wang Yongqing
Parent organization	Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
Website	www.chinapeace.gov.cn

Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission
Simplified Chinese	中共中央政法委员会
Traditional Chinese	中共中央政法委員會
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhōnggòng Zhōngyāng Zhèngfǎ Wěiyuánhuì

The Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China, commonly referred to as Zhongyang Zhengfawei (中央政法委) in Chinese, is the organization under the party's Central Committee responsible for political and legal affairs. In practice the organization oversees all legal enforcement authorities, including the police force, making it a very powerful organ.

All the Party committees of provinces, municipalities, counties and autonomous regions establish respective politics and law commissions.

The Commission is headed by a secretary who is usually a Central Politburo member.

History

The Commission was preceded by a Politics and Law Leading Group (政法领导小组; Zhèngfǎ Lǐngdǎo Xiǎozǔ) which was set up in 1958, with Peng Zhen as its leader. During the Cultural Revolution it was led by Ji Dengkui, who served as group leader until 24 January 1980, when the Commission was established, with Peng Zhen back as its secretary. The Commission was reverted to Leading Group from May 1988 to March 1990.

After the 18th Party Congress in 2012, Meng Jianzhu replaced Zhou Yongkang as the head of the commission. However, Meng, unlike Zhou, was not elected to the 18th Politburo Standing Committee.^[1] The apparent downgrading of the post followed Zhou's connection with the Wang Lijun incident, which has discredited Chongqing politician Bo Xilai's method of using the internal security apparatus for political ends. As a result, the independence of the judiciary in China has increased.^[2]

List of heads

Leaders of the Central Political and Law Group

1. Peng Zhen (1958)
2. Luo Ruiqing (1958–1960)
3. Xie Fuzhi (1960–1966)
4. Ji Dengkui (1969–1980)

Secretaries of the Central Politics and Legal Affairs Commission

1. Peng Zhen (1980–1982)
2. Chen Pixian (1982–1985)
3. Qiao Shi (1985–1992)
4. Ren Jianxin (1992–1998)
5. Luo Gan (1998–2007)
6. Zhou Yongkang (2007–2012)
7. Meng Jianzhu (2012–incumbent)

Current composition

• Secretary: Meng Jianzhu, member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China
• Deputy Secretary: Guo Shengkun, Minister of Public Security
• Members:
  • Zhou Qiang, President of the Supreme People's Court
  • Cao Jianming, President of the Supreme People's Procuratorate
  • Wang Yongqing (Secretary-General of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee), Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council
  • Geng Huichang, Minister of State Security
  • Wu Aiying, Minister of Justice
  • Chen Xunqiu (Deputy Secretary-General of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee), Head of the Office for Comprehensive Social Management (minister-level)
  • Du Jincai, General, Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Central Military Commission
  • Wang Ning, Commander of the People's Armed Police
  • Liu Jinguo, Deputy Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection
  • Fu Zhenghua, Vice Minister of Public Security (minister-level)

References

1. "China leaders reassert control over security portfolio". BBC News. 2012-11-21. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
2. Page, Jeremy (2012-11-20). "China Reins In New Security Boss's Clout". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2012-11-21.