AP Comp Govt.--Test review on China (Russia/UK/Mexico)

This is a unit review that goes over all of the material regarding China's government as well as some of Russia, UK, and Mexico.

Natural resources

Natural resources

Oil and coal

Internal Migration

Rural to Urban + West to East

Minorities

There are 55 ethnic minorities and then there’s the Han’s (which are the majority)

Locally Governed areas

There are 5 locally governed areas (Autonomous regions) w/ a majority minority pop. such as Guangxi + Xinjiang

Great Leap Forward

Occurred btwn 1958 & 1962 and the government wanted collectivization which resulted in a famine

Cultural Revolution

Occurred from 1966 & 1976

• Meant to bring back Mao’s vision of communism

Geography

• Second most populous country in the world

• Has 5 time zones but only uses Beijing time

• Borders 14 countries

• Diverse climate zones

• Agriculture occurs exclusively in the eastern half

• They grow things like corn, cotton, & rice

• In terms of gross value they are a world leader

Geographic resources

• produces/consumes the most electricity compared to any country

• 6th in oil production & 2nd in oil imports

• Tons of air pollution as a result of their reliance on coal and oil

Population (density)

• Economic development comes from Eastern urban areas

• Many migrant workers have relocated from west to east/rural to urban

Mao Zedong

• Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution

  • Wanted to bring back his idea of communism

  • Resulted in hunting out ‘bourgeois’ elements in the govt, harsh punishments such as imprisonment to those who opposed him, destroyed religious sites/historical relics etc.

• Red Guard’s = Students used to enforce adherence to Mao Zedong Thought; reported on others if they opposed him

Deng Xiaoping

• Was in control from 1977 to 1997

• (Economy) reduced state control

• increased influence of market forces

• opened China to foreign investment (FDI)

• growth began in the 1980s

• (reforms) more freedom for artists and writers

• return of educated officials

• Modernization of China after Mao Zedong’s Thought

• Arranged return of Hong Kong (1997) & Macau (1999) to China rule

Tiananmen Suare protests

• 1989

• They wanted more democracy(w/ CCP)/reforms & less corruption/economic liberalization

• CCP leaders ordered the Army to go and “break it up”

• Political crackdowns continued a year and a half later to deal with purges of supporters of Tiananmen

Technocrats

Experts in knowing how the government actually functions (e.g. Jiang Zemin)

Political parties

• CCP- Chinese Communist Party

  • Exercises control of government organizations/personnel

  • Organized hierarchically by levels

• PRC- People’s Republic of China (Pres. is leader)

  • the govt is administrative & enforces CCP policies

  • 3 branches (legis., exec., & judic.)

  • Cadre- anyone who exercises authority at any level in a communist state

  • **not all are members of CCP and vice versa

• Nomenklatura- use of the ‘cadre list’ to appoint personnel within the govt

Levels of the CCP

• General Secretary

• Standing committee (elite body within politburo/no checks & balances/7 members)

• Politburo (top members of ccp/elected by central committee in controlled secret elections)

• Central Committee(5-yr terms/good for networking)

• National party congress (symbolic meeting every 5-years/confirm decisions already made by other bodies/little power)

• Local party organizations

Secretariat and CCDI (ccp)

• Secretariat

  • Manages work of Politburo & Standing Committee

• Central Commission for Discipline Inspection

  • Maintains party discipline of its members

  • Used to curb corruption within CCP

Executive Branch

• President is Xi Jinping & he is NOT ELECTED BY THE PUBLIC

  • 5-yr term & as of 2018 there is no limit

  • Head of state/has little constitutional power/General secretary of CCP

  • Vice Pres. (Hu Jintao)- More of a ceremonial position & is only there to replace the pres. if anything happens (He will be the next pres., no vote)

  • 5 year term and no limit as well

  • Often groomed by ccp for president position

• Premier (Prime Minister)- Li Qiang

  • 5-yr term, 2 term limit

  • Head of state council

  • Appted by president and approved by NPC

Legislature

• National’s People’s Congress

  • Unicameral

  • Run by ccp

  • diff. from National Party Congress

  • 5 year term

  • Standing committee & meets a once a year in Beijing

  • TECHNICALLY pass laws/amend constitutions/formally elects president & vice president/checked by ccp (**doesnt acc happen)

The Judiciary

• PRC

• 4 levels

• Supreme People’s court

  • supervises work of lower levels/approves death penalties/NO JUDICIAL REVIEW

• Higher People’s court (province)

• Intermediate People’s courts (City)

• Grassroots People’s courts (country/township)

The Judiciary (Lawsuits)

• In China, both civil & criminal lawsuits exists

• Criminal justice is swift and harsh- you will most likely be found guilty by the govt (Capital punishment is a bullet in the back of the head)

• Civil court systems are separate

  • Citizens can sue each other & certain govt entities

  • Contracts are enforced

  • **ALL COURTS ARE UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE CCP

The Judiciary (Changes to civil law)

• China has developed contract, labor contract, property, tort, & anti-monopoly laws

• FOREIGN lawyers have played a role

(PRC) The Bureaucracy

• The State Council

  • The “Cabinet” of China

  • Most ministers runs departments that are specific to an area of governance (e.g. foreign affairs/education)

  • Govt ministers & the Premier carry out decisions made by NPC (peoples) or politburo/Central Committee

The Military

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA)

• Arm of state control & has been involved in politics

• Largest military force in the world

• Under control of Xi Jinping

• Military Service Law: Allows govt to draft 18-22 y/o’s but the PRC needn’t force service b/c many join willingly

• in the 1970-80s the army was heavily underfunded so they had to develop side hustles (e.g. running hotels, construction companies, etc.)

• By the 1990’s the govt began taking control of the PLA & its activities

Central Military Commission

• 12-member group in charge of military

• General secretary of the CCP, Xi Jinping is the leader (Commander-in-chief) of PLA

National Security

• Ministry of State Security

• Combats espionage & gathers intelligence

• People’s Armed Police

• Guards public buildings and quells unrest

• Ministry of Security

• Maintenance of law & order, investigations, surveillance

• Maintains labor reform camps

• No habeas corpus rights (You can be thrown in jail for without being charged w/ anything)

Hong Kong Protests

• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR)

• (1997) Returned to China after from British control —> policy of “One Country, Two systems” applies to Hong Kong and Macau

• Hong Kong would remain a democracy while China has capitalism

• (2019-2020) Protests erupt over a law to allow extradition to mainland China, which protesters fear will undermine judicial & allow dissidents to be punished

Uighurs

• Muslim ethnic minority in Xinjiang province

• Chinese govt has rounded up over a million people and put them in “re-education” camps

• Many allegations of forced labor, sterilization, & organ harvesting

• Outcry from international community over violations of human rights (***lack of response from Muslim world)

Elections and their issues

• Elections are designed to give the party greater legitimacy

• Direct, secret-ballot elections for local People’s Congress

• Indirect elections at other levels: Each level above People’s Congress is elected by the one below all the way up to the president

Non-communist parties

• Technically China is a multi-party state, but bc of the dominance of the CCP, it acts as a one-party state

• ***THE CCP ALLOWS THE EXISTENCE OF 8 MINOR PARTIES

• membership is small & has very little power

• Must accept CCP ruling leader

• Some parties have been suppressed

Political Change: Democratic reforms

• Some input from NPC (people) is accepted by Politburo

• More emphasis placed on laws & legal procedures

• Village elections are now semi-competitive with choices of candidates & some freedom from the parties control

New Leadership

• Bo Xilai was the former Minister of Commerce, Communist Chief of Chongqing

• He was cancelled bc he was convicted of corruption, bribery, & abuse of power (allegedly)

• His wife was convicted of murdering a British official

• Challenges: State monopolies, corruption, inflation, & declining production are all challenges (awa pressure from civil society)

Policies & Issues

• Economic reforms

  • Economic market policies

• Corruption

• Breaking the Iron Rice Bowl

  • Social safety net

  • Provided lifetime employment, income, & basic benefits to workers

  • (2001) WTO demanded that China got rid of it, deeming it went against free market

  • Millions of workers laid off

  • (2018) Many workers have jobs promised by the govt, via Iron Rice Bowl, resulting in inefficiency & corruption

• Unemployment

• Economic inequality

• Floating population

  • Illegal internal migrants

  • They migrate in China, usually due to work opportunities

  • Live in unregistered household’s

• Environmental damage

  • Air pollution

  • Endangered species (e.g. Tigers, Giant Panda’s, & Asian Elephant’s)

  • Giant Panda’s used to help China become a super power

  • Use panda’s for influence

  • Panda’s are loaned for 1M

  • Habitat loss

  • Chinese trad. medicine had become popular due to prosperity in China, however this is at the cost of the animals

  • They use Tigers, Rhinos, & Vaquita’s

  • Tons of pollution (e.g. air, water, industrial)

  • (2014) Govt declared “war on pollution” & took measures to tackle it

  • Stricter controls on coal power plant emissions which presents issues for jobs in the industry (steel & coal)—> overall increasing output & pollution as a result

Foreign Policy (Taiwan)

• China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that it will eventually retake, however Taiwan argues that it is a sovereign state

• Therefore it has an ambiguous status

• ***12 COUNTRIES RECOGNIZE ITS ROC GOVT (decreasing)

• 59 countries have unofficial relations (e.g. US is an ally but does not officially acknowledge it’s ROC govt)

• Many significant ties btwn Taiwan & the PRC as many Taiwanese companies invest in the PRC and many live in the PRC

South China Sea

• Conflicting territorial claims

• 9-dash line

• China has built superficial islands on the reefs to bolster its claims & to develop/militarize those island chains

• The area they want has potential natural resource deposits

• Fishing rights

• Shipping lanes, more than 50% of oil tankers pass through the sea

• (2016) The Philippines backed by the arbitration tribunal under the UN Convention of the Laws of the Seas, but China won’t listen

China in Africa

• Chinese growth has fueled a need for nat. resources

• China has invested in African infrastructure & business (e.g. oil pipelines, mining, & agriculture)

• China has a policy of noninterference with African governance (Human rights issues etc.)

Belt & Road initiative

• $900B initiative to build a new silk road

• China plans to lend up to $8T to 68 countries for infrastructure

  • This would boost China’s manufacturing

  • Can also be seen as a way for China to expand its reach & becoming a super power like the US

Political/Global Economy

Political

• They have a socialist market economy

• State owned enterprises (SOE’s) have been phased out to a degree, but are still important in certain sectors (e.g. steel, telecommunications, transportation, etc.)

• Rise on incomes = increased consumption patterns

• ***China’s GDP is relatively low due to being divided btwn. 1.4B people

Global

• Global trade is an economic driver

• Exports & imports

• FDI (foreign direct investment)

• Why is FDI appealing for China?

  • Low cost of labor

  • Massive domestic market for foods

  • There is a concentration of wealth at the top

  • Drives an increase in luxury consumption (e.g. Starbucks is considered a luxury item & is campaigned towards the wealthier folks)

Domestic Issues (Population control)

One-child policy

• Most families were only allowed to have ONE child

• Rural/ethnic families were exempted

• The govt did this after a war which resulted in a “baby boom”

• Millions of women were forced to have abortions (*Babies were also killed if needed/sent for adoption)

• Must have a nuanced understanding; those caught up having to do the govt’s bidding also suffered greatly

Consequences

• “Little emperor’s”= Since families only had 1 kid they were spoiled

• “4-2-1” = Since there is only 1 child, they carry the burden of eventually having to support their family ( 1 child + 2 Parents + 2 Grandparents + 2 Great grandparents)

• Heihaizi (Black child) = These are children who were born outside of the one-child policy & not registered with the govt

• (2016) Two-child policy

***China is now facing the issue of a declining population, even with the new child policy, & ppl are allowed as many kids as they want now, people still won’t due to enforced mentalities after one-child policy & financial struggles (Less time, stress, & very little money)

HIV infection issues

• HIV has become a huge problem in China because they give little to no sex education

• Higher in heterosexual relations but relatively high in homo-sexual relations as well

• Society is unaccepting to those who have HIV and those who do have it are quiet since talking would risk their family relationships, buying a house, & their jobs…

The environmental impact (cont.)

• Gillnets = used to catch Totoabas but often catch & kill Vaquita’s

• Totoabas are wanted bc their bladders are believed to ail discomfort of pregnancy & cure joint pain

• However, the fishing & selling of Totoabas is ILLEGAL under international law

• (2014) China declared a “war on pollution”

  • They became stricter on coal power plant emissions which is the source of a majority of emissions

  • But due to a combination of both an economic slowdown and fear of job loss in that sector, more output & pollution in that sector

Which of the following is a democratic reform that China has experienced in recent years?

Village elections are semi-competitive with choices of candidates

One consequence of the one-child policy is…?

A lopsided number of young adult males to young adult females

China's "floating population" consists of…?

Rural migrants seeking job opportunities in the city

Which of the following best describes the trade relationship between the US and China?

The US imports many more products from China than it exports

Which of the following best describes the attitude that most Chinese leaders have towards Taiwan?

Taiwan is historically and legitimately a part of China and should be returned to its control

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of civil society in Russia and China?

Chinese citizens are more likely to participate in non-governmental organizations than Russian citizens are.

Which of the following government programs in 20th century China was most directly inspired by the Soviet Union?

Five Year Plans

Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding the judiciary in China?

The rule of law had little place under Mao, but now the Chinese political system acknowledges it.

One common criticism of the Chinese economy is that it…?

Is slow in getting Chinese consumers to spend their money.

Which of the following traditions in China most emphasizes loyalty to the family?

Confucianism

Which of the following was an organizing principle for both Leninism and Maoism?

Democratic centralism

Govt legal systems diff. btwn China & MX.

China

- civil law influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systems; legislature retains power to interpret statutes

MX

• civil law system with US constitutional law theory influence; judicial review of legislative acts

• Mexico has a federal republic system with a multi-party democracy. The country is governed by a president who is both the head of state and the head of government. The president is elected through a popular vote and serves a single six-year term without the possibility of immediate re-election.

Legislative differences btwn China & MX

China

• unicameral National People's Congress

MX

• bicameral National Congress

Judicial govt comparisons MX & China

China

• Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National People's Congress); Local People's Courts (comprise higher, intermediate, and basic courts); Special People's Courts (primarily military, maritime, railway transportation, and forestry courts)

MX

• Supreme Court of Justice

UK & China legal systems

China has a socialist system with a single-party rule, while the United Kingdom has a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy.

UK & China: Policies

• Climate Change: Both the UK and China have committed to addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They have set targets for transitioning to renewable energy sources and implementing sustainable practices.

• Education: Both countries prioritize education and have invested in their education systems.

• Human Rights: The UK has a strong emphasis on human rights and individual freedoms, while China has been criticized for its human rights record.

• Economic Policies: China has implemented various economic policies to stimulate growth and promote industrial development, such as its "Made in China 2025" plan. The UK, being part of the European Union until 2020, followed EU economic policies while also having its own domestic economic strategies.

What are policies that are similar or different between the Russia and China?

National Security: Both Russia and China prioritize national security and have implemented policies aimed at safeguarding their interests. They invest in defense capabilities and maintain strong military forces.

General knowledge on all countries (UK, RUSSIA, & MX)

Russia:

• Semi-presidential system; Pres. has significant amount of power

• Russia's foreign policy focuses on protecting its geopolitical interests, maintaining influence in its neighboring regions, and asserting its global presence

• Compared w China: China, on the other hand, has prioritized economic expansion, building strategic partnerships, and advancing its Belt and Road Initiative.

• Legis: The State Duma is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia. The State Duma is responsible for proposing and passing legislation, approving the budget, and overseeing the actions of the government.

• The Federation Council is the upper house of the Federal Assembly. The Federation Council reviews and gives final approval to legislation passed by the State Duma, represents regional interests, and plays a role in the appointment of key government officials.

  MX

• Mexico has a federal republic system of government. This means that it operates as a democracy where political power is divided between the federal government and the individual states within the country.

• The government of Mexico is structured into three branches

• Legis: The legislative branch is a bicameral system consisting of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.

• The legislative branch is responsible for proposing, debating, and passing laws, as well as overseeing the actions of the executive branch.

  Uk

• parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy. This means that it operates as a democracy where political power is vested in elected representatives, and it has a monarch as the ceremonial head of state.

• Legis: The legislature in the UK is called the Parliament. The House of Commons and the House of Lords.

• The House of Commons is composed of Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected by the public in general elections. The House of Lords, on the other hand, is made up of appointed members, including life peers, bishops, and hereditary peers. The Parliament is responsible for making and passing laws, debating important issues, and scrutinizing the work of the government.