ABSTRACT
Separating party and government functions was a main theme and key policy in the 1986—89 political reform. Beginning with the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the party's "overall leadership" and "absolute leadership" were constitutionally guaranteed. Decision-making power at various levels, from lawmaking in the National People's Congress to the decisions in the local governments and enterprises, was in the hands of the Communist Party organizations and party officials. In China, the usual practice is for high-level party leaders to hold concurrent positions in both the party and the government. The top central party leaders were usually the heads of the central government and State Council. Mao Zedong was once both chairman of the party and of the republic. The separation of the party and the government first began at the enterprise level. The party committee leadership system in the enterprises was set up at the eighth party congress in 1956.
