ABSTRACT
The government made a position in the Secretariat the Mecca of a mandarin's political pilgrimage. The regular tenure of office in the Chinese government was three years though to the same office one might be re-appointed at the end of the first term thus making the term six years. Mention must be made that a number of high posts in the Manchu Government were specially designated as concurrent posts of the Grand Secretaries to be held by them and by them alone. The only institution of any consequence in the Manchu Government which is not a residue of the old Chinese political organization is the Council of State. The Censorate has as long a history as, and a much more checkered career than, any other institution in the history of the Government of Ancient China. The Metropolitan Division of the Censorate supervised all municipal affairs with special emphasis on the judicial branch of the local government.
