ABSTRACT
The constitutions of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and of the People's Republic of China define the powers of the party's general secretary, the state president, and the premier of the government, but without clarifying their relations. In name, the National People's Congress, the State Council, and the Supreme Court have the highest legislative, executive, and judicial power, respectively. In a Communist country, the death of a strong leader is always followed by a period of oligarchy, usually called "collective leadership," which is the legitimate norm in a Leninist system. After repeated power struggles, a personal dictatorship again emerges from the collective leadership. This cycle is the basic model for political change in all Communist systems. The power of the dictator rests on two means of exercising power: ultimate power over the choice of candidates for Politburo and Central Committee membership and unlimited right of intervention in decision-making. He determines the specific duties of Politburo Standing Committee members.
