CO129-619-1 Parliamentary delegation to China 1-9-1947 - 23-12-1947 — Page 97

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been divided into hsiang of chen (rural or urban abas)

and these have been further sub-divided into pao (borough) and chia (ward), each unit having its own self-governing council. Disturbed conditions have, however, prevented this system being applied with any success to more than a small proportion of the territory controlled by the National Government.

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11. The new constitution referred to in paragraph

1 above was based in the main on the principles

approved by the all-Party Political Consultative

Conference of January 1946 (see Section headed "Summary of recent Chinese Political Developments'). It provides for the popular election of a National Assembly to "exercise political powers on behalf of

whole body of citizens". Its powers are to elect and

recall the President and Vice-President of the

Republic, amend the constitution, and ratify amendments proposed by the Legislative Yuan. It moets once only

in ordinary session, ninety days before the expiration of the term of the President, which is six years, subject to re-election, but extraordinary sessions may be summoned for various reasons, including a petition

by over two-fifths of the representatives. When the

National Assembly is not in session, the administration of the government rests with the President, whose powers are similar to those specified in the present provisional arrangements, advised by the Executive and Legislative Yuans. The Executive Yuan, composed of a

President, Vice-President, and heads of the various

Ministries, is to be responsible to the Legislative Yuan, which is to be the highest legislative organ of the

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