Zhou Yezhong
In the Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), General Secretary Xi Jinping highlighted a specific section on ‘exercising law-based governance on all fronts and advancing the rule of law in China’ and outlined further plans for it. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that ‘constitution-based governance is the premise of law-based governance, and constitution-based exercise of state power is the premise of law-based exercise of state power (hereinafter referred to as the Two Premises).’ It is one of the core tenets of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law to uphold constitution-based governance and constitution-based exercise of state power. The concept of the Two Premises underlines the theoretical and practical logic for the Party to lead the people in governing the country under the guidance of the rule of law in both thinking and methods, unveiling a fresh perspective of the CPC’s understanding of the development of China’s constitutional system. It can be said that upholding the Two Premises not only highlights the significant role of the Constitution in the Party’s governance of China but also remains vital for the Party to lead the people in governing the country and ensure the Party’s long-term governance.