Zhou Yezhong: Deeply Understanding the Great Significance of "Upholding the Organic Unity of Governing the Country According to Law and Governing the Party According to Regulations"
Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, as the latest achievement in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxist legal theory, represents a major innovative development of the theory of the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. It is an essential component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, serving as the fundamental compliance and guide to action for comprehensively governing the country according to the law in the New Era. In particular, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law creatively proposes "upholding the organic unity of governing the country according to the law and governing the Party according to internal regulations," enabling the integration and connection of these two processes within the track of the rule of law. This stands as a prominent hallmark distinguishing Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law from Western legal theories. With the approval of the Party Central Committee, the recently published Outline for the Study of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law (2025 Edition) identifies this "organic unity" as the "twelfth uphold" [1] among the core tenets of Xi Jinping’s legal thought. It emphasizes "governing the country and managing state affairs based on the Constitution and laws, while managing and strictly governing the Party based on internal Party regulations," fully reflecting the new achievements in the enrichment and development of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law.
I. "Upholding the organic unity of governing the country according to the law and governing the Party according to internal regulations" is a core tenet of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law.
"Upholding the organic unity of governing the country according to the law and governing the Party according to internal regulations" is a scientific theoretical achievement attained by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. From the strategic height of the Party's long-term governance and the enduring peace and stability of the country, the Committee has closely integrated the governance of the country with the management of the Party. Rooted in the New Era’s requirements for institutionalization, standardization, and proceduralization in governing both Party and state, it has continuously improved the mechanisms for connecting and coordinating internal Party regulations with state laws and regulations. This fully embodies the theoretical and practical innovations of the Party's leadership over the construction of the rule of law and constitutes a core tenet of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law.
Upholding the organic integration of Party leadership and the socialist rule of law. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "Party leadership and the socialist rule of law are consistent; socialist rule of law must uphold Party leadership, and Party leadership must rely on the socialist rule of law." Whether the Party’s leadership can be organically integrated with the socialist rule of law to achieve a unity of political and legal logic is a major issue facing the construction of a "Rule of Law China" [2]. Based on the coordination of internal Party regulations and state laws, this "organic unity" establishes governing the Party according to internal regulations as the fundamental method for Party management. By placing it alongside governing the country according to the law, both the Party and the state are brought into the track of the rule of law, creating a virtuous cycle where the Party leads the construction of the rule of law and the rule of law safeguards the Party’s leadership. As an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, this proposition is a contemporary thesis distilled by the CPC through the application of the Marxist standpoint, viewpoint, and method to dialectically grasp the relationship between politics and law. It emphasizes that behind every form of the rule of law lies a political theory, within every model of the rule of law lies a political logic, and beneath every path of the rule of law lies a political stance. This fully demonstrates the theoretical advantages of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law in its grounding in Chinese reality, its adherence to the laws governing legal development, and its integration of political logic.
Coordinating the governance of a major party and a large country through systems thinking. General Secretary Xi Jinping has noted: "Comprehensively governing the country according to the law is a systemic project; it requires holistic planning and a greater emphasis on systematicity, integrity, and synergy." Since the 18th National Congress [3], the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has directly confronted the historical challenges of how a party maintains long-term governance and how a nation ensures enduring peace and stability. By advancing governing the country according to the law and institutional Party governance/governing the Party according to internal regulations in a coordinated and integrated manner, the Party has provided crucial legal safeguards for fulfilling its major historical mission of governing and rejuvenating the country in the New Era. This "organic unity" underscores the strategic initiative of the Party to resolve historical difficulties through legal thinking and methods under the conditions of long-term governance. It profoundly reveals the fundamental political principles that the construction of the socialist rule of law must follow, fundamentally clarifies the relationship between the Party and the law, and between Party leadership and governing according to the law. It scientifically answers the question of our times: how to consolidate the Party’s governing position and enhance its governance capacity within the track of the rule of law.
Possessing essential differences from capitalist legal theory. General Secretary Xi Jinping has stated: "In comprehensively advancing the rule of law, we must take the right path. We must proceed from China's national conditions and realities, follow a legal path suited to ourselves, and never blindly copy the models and practices of other countries." The "organic unity" is rooted in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics. By relying on a national governance system with the Party at its core, it advances the governance of the party and the state in synergy on the track of rule of law, forming a "Greater Rule of Law" framework characterized by both the governance of Party regulations and the governance of state law. This transcends the mindset found in Western legal theory regarding the "relative separation of law and political parties." While enriching and developing Marxist legal theory, this proposition also makes a significant original contribution to the diversity of global legal civilizations. In this sense, this "organic unity" fully displays the theoretical scope and contemporary value of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law—grounded in national conditions yet facing the world.
II. "Upholding the organic unity of governing the country according to the law and governing the Party according to internal regulations" is a unique advantage of "Governance by the CPC" and "Governance of China."
As an intrinsic requirement of both comprehensively governing the country according to the law and comprehensively and strictly governing the Party, this "organic unity" serves as an important method for coordinating the governance of the Party and the state and for jointly creating a new situation in the construction of a Rule of Law China. From a legal dimension, it fully consolidates and demonstrates the unique advantages of "Governance by the CPC" and the "Governance of China."
Providing important legal support for the formation of the unique advantages of "Governance by the CPC" and the "Governance of China." In January 2022, at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection [4], General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Through the revolutionary forging of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party in the New Era, we have formed a relatively complete system of internal Party regulations, built a supervision system under the Party's unified leadership that is comprehensive, authoritative, and efficient, and fostered a positive atmosphere of respecting and abiding by institutions. This has promoted the greater maturity and formalization of various systems, forming the unique advantages of 'Governance by the CPC' and the 'Governance of China.'" It can be said that the formation of these unique advantages is inseparable from the legal safeguards provided by governing the Party according to internal regulations and strengthening the construction of the system of internal Party regulations. This organic unity, predicated on the Party's leadership, further promotes the deep integration of Party and state governance in terms of value goals and operational mechanisms. It effectively guarantees the systematicity, integrity, and coordination of governing the Party and the state, thereby better translating the advantages of Party leadership into the institutional advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics, creating synergy and consolidating the legal foundation of "Governance by the CPC" and the "Governance of China."
Providing important path guidance for leading the "Governance of China" through "Governance by the CPC." The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee pointed out: "To govern the country, one must first govern the Party; only a flourishing Party can make a strong nation. The more effective the management and governance of the Party, the stronger the guarantee for economic and social development." The Party's governing ability and leadership level are directly related to the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. By deeply integrating the practice of governing the Party according to internal regulations into the practice of governing the country according to the law, it not only ensures that Party leadership and Party building are always advanced on the track of the rule of law, but also ensures the Party's role in exercising overall leadership and coordinating all efforts. This facilitates scientific and law-based governance, refines the Party's leadership and governing methods, and maintains the authority of Party policies, state laws, and the common will of the Party and the people. In this sense, the "organic unity" maintains the internal consistency of governing the Party and the country from a legal perspective, systematically transforming the practical results of "Governance by the CPC" into the significant advantages of the "Governance of China," providing a solid political and legal foundation for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era.
III. "Upholding the organic unity of governing the country according to the law and governing the Party according to internal regulations" is a practical exploration to solve the unique difficulties of a major party and the governance challenges of a large country within the track of the rule of law.
How to escape the historical cycle [5] of rise and fall, and how to respond to the "Four Tests" and "Four Dangers" [6] in the New Era, are realistic subjects that our Party must face in its long-term governance. In this regard, the "organic unity" provides a new path for solving the governance challenges of a major party and a large country, and for coordinating the implementation of the "Two Answers."
Focusing on solving the unique difficulties of a major party by permeating all aspects and links of Party management with a complete system of legal norms and a rigorous system of internal Party regulations. The report to the 20th National Congress pointed out: "As the world's largest Marxist governing party, our Party must always maintain the sobriety and determination to solve the unique difficulties of a major party if it is to always win the people's support and consolidate its long-term governing position." At the Second Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, General Secretary Xi Jinping further summarized the unique difficulties of a major party through the "Six Hows" [7]. It can be said that solving these difficulties is a demand of the times for the Party’s long-term governance and for escaping the historical cycle. Governing the country according to the law is based on a complete system of legal norms, placing the Party's leadership of the people in governing the country fully within a legal framework. Governing the Party according to internal regulations is based on a rigorous system of internal Party regulations, imposing stricter disciplinary constraints on the exercise of power by Party organizations, members, and cadres. The two are integrated and connected, being advanced in a coordinated manner institutionally and complementing each other in practice. This further strengthens the high degree of consciousness regarding institutional Party governance and governing the Party according to internal regulations. By continuously applying legal thinking and methods to manage the Party, it promotes the deep development of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party on the track of the rule of law, providing scientific and effective institutional support and legal safeguards for cracking the "Six Hows." This ensures the Party always maintains its advanced nature and purity through revolutionary forging.
Powerfully responding to the governance difficulties of a large country by constructing a governance chain where internal Party regulations lead and safeguard state law, and state law supports and promotes internal Party regulations. Our Party exercises long-term governance in a large country with a vast territory, a huge population, and heavy development tasks. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "To ensure the unity of the country, the unity of the legal system, the unity of government decrees, and the unity of the market; and to achieve economic development, clean politics, cultural prosperity, social justice, and a sound ecosystem—all require upholding the yardstick of the law and making good use of the method of the rule of law." In this process, governing the country according to the law emphasizes the comprehensive implementation of national laws characterized by universality, stability, and authority to effectively maintain social order. Governing the Party according to internal regulations emphasizes the strict practice of the system of internal Party regulations, which concentrates the unified will and value orientation of the Party, ensuring that Party leadership is implemented in all fields and aspects of the cause of the Party and the state. The organic unity of the two ensures the deep integration of governing the Party and the country. It can consolidate and strengthen Party leadership—especially the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee—through the rule of law, while leading and ensuring the direction and efficiency of national governance through internal Party regulations.
Coordinating the implementation of the "Two Answers" by leveraging the complementary roles of governing the country according to the law and governing the Party according to internal regulations. Facing the challenge of the historical cycle, in 1945, Comrade Mao Zedong provided the "first answer" from the perspective of people's democracy: "Only by letting the people supervise the government will the government not dare to slacken. Only when everyone stands up to take responsibility will 'the man die but the administration survive' be avoided." Through the great practice of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party in the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping identified "upholding self-revolution" as the "second answer," profoundly noting: "For over a hundred years, the Party has relied on developing people's democracy and accepting people's supervision from the outside, and on comprehensively and strictly governing the Party and advancing self-revolution from the inside. We have had the courage to uphold the truth and correct errors, and the courage to turn the blade inward and scrape the bone to treat the poison, ensuring the Party's enduring prosperity and continuous growth." Coordinating the implementation of these "Two Answers" on the track of the rule of law is both a scientific response and a fundamental strategy for the CPC to escape the historical cycle, as well as an inevitable requirement for achieving the Party's long-term governance and the country's enduring peace and stability. Governing the country according to the law is the fundamental strategy for the Party to lead the people in governing the country and is the cornerstone for practicing the answer of "people's supervision of the government," making it operational. Governing the Party according to internal regulations is the fundamental way to manage the Party and is a legal weapon for practicing "self-revolution." It ensures the Party can proactively discover and correct its own problems, making the inward-turning blade a normalized and long-term mechanism.
IV. "Upholding the organic unity of governing the country according to the law and governing the Party according to internal regulations" is a contribution of Chinese wisdom to enriching and developing the legal civilization of humanity.
As an innovative achievement in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxist legal theory, this "organic unity" is not only a unique advantage of "Governance by the CPC" and the "Governance of China" and a major innovation in solving the governance problems of a major party and a large country, but it also makes a significant original contribution to the governance of political parties and the development of legal civilization worldwide.
It has formed a new path for the legalization of political party governance marked by governing the Party according to internal regulations. The CPC has taken the initiative to construct a system of internal Party regulations with the Party Constitution at its core, opening a path for political parties to independently use legal methods for self-regulation. This path of governing the Party according to internal regulations upholds—
"Obligation first" requires Party members and cadres to fulfill regulatory obligations that are higher than those of ordinary citizens; the insistence on "emphasizing self-discipline" stresses stimulating the inner consciousness of Party members through systems such as intra-Party education and organizational life [8]; and the insistence that "Party regulations and discipline are stricter than state laws" and "putting discipline and rules in front" [9] forms a complete governance mechanism combining standards, guidance, and evaluation. While comprehensively realizing the institutionalization, standardization, and proceduralization of Party leadership and Party building, this has also promoted the formation of a systematic and complete set of Party systems. It manifests the political wisdom of the Communist Party of China as the world's largest Marxist governing party and provides an effective Chinese solution for the development of the rule of law in global political party governance.
It provides experience in constructing a "Grand Rule of Law" [10] framework characterized by both the rule of state law and the rule of Party regulations. On the basis of breaking through "Western legal centrism" and realizing the development from "state law" to "Party regulations and state law," the continuous advancement of the organic unity of the rule of law and institutional Party governance has further consolidated and strengthened a pattern in which state laws and regulations and intra-Party regulations complement, promote, and guarantee each other. The entire Party acting within the scope of the Constitution and the law is a manifestation of our Party's high degree of self-awareness and a concrete expression of upholding Party leadership; the Party and the law, and Party leadership and the rule of law, are highly unified. Only when institutional Party governance penetrates deep into the hearts of the Party can the rule of law penetrate deep into the hearts of the people. In practice, institutional Party governance based on intra-Party regulations actively draws upon and absorbs the experience of the rule of law based on state law, practicing basic values and concepts of the rule of law. At the same time, the rule of law can obtain political leadership and political guarantees from institutional Party governance, thereby promoting practical explorations in the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. This provides beneficial experience for non-Western countries to break through the thinking limitations of Western legal theory and independently explore rule-of-law paths suited to their own national conditions, making an important contribution to enriching human legal civilization.
It has developed the principles of legal construction regarding the dialectical unity of politics and the rule of law. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The relationship between the Party and the law is a concentrated reflection of the relationship between politics and the rule of law. There is politics within the rule of law; there is no rule of law divorced from politics." "Upholding the organic unity of the rule of law and institutional Party governance" means, under the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee and based on intra-Party regulations and state laws, planning, deploying, and advancing the governance of the Party and the state together. It is an important expression of upholding the organic unity of Party leadership, the people's position as masters of the country, and the rule of law. This exploration further proves that under the conditions of the Communist Party of China’s long-term governance, through the conscious observance of Party regulations and state laws and acting within the scope of the Constitution and the law, a high degree of unity between Party leadership and socialist rule of law can be achieved. The Party and the law are not only not in opposition, but they provide mutual guarantee for each other. This provides an institutional model of significant reference value for other countries in the world to correctly handle the relationship between political authority and legal authority, and to achieve the coordinated advancement of governing party governance and state governance.