The Emerging Structures of Socialist Constitutionalism with Chinese Characteristics: Extra Judicial Detention (Laojiao and Shuanggui) and the Chinese Constitutional Order

Conference: Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics, Vol. 2013, p. 101, 2013

Penn State Law Research Paper No. 26-2013

93 Pages Posted: 3 Jun 2013 Last revised: 25 Feb 2014

See all articles by Larry Catá Backer

Larry Catá Backer

The Pennsylvania State University (University Park) – Penn State Law

Keren Wang

Pennsylvania State University - School of International Affairs; Communication Arts & Sciences

Date Written: December 12, 2013

Abstract

This paper considers the development of constitutional rule of law theory with Chinese characteristics by considering its application in two related but distinct legal contexts – laojiao (the system of administrative detentions, re-education through labor, or “劳动教养”) and shuanggui (the system of intra-Chinese Communist Party (CCP) discipline of its cadres 双规). China is developing its own distinctive path towards socialist constitutionalism and rule of law. Socialist constitutionalism with Chinese characteristics reflects China's history and its unique circumstances, but also conforms to the general principles of transnational constitutionalism. The Chinese constitutional order is grounded on a principal of separation of powers that distinguishes between an administrative power assigned to the government and a political authority assigned to the CCP. Administrative constitutional power is organized within the State Constitution; the authority of the CCPis acknowledged in the Constitution but framed by the ideological premises on which the political order is founded — under the guidance of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory the important thought of 'Three Represents' and the concept of scientific development. The paper will first briefly review the emerging framework of the Chinese constitutional order, represented by the respective roles of the state apparatus and the CCP. The paper then will review the laojiao and shuanggui systems, the former applicable to all individuals and the later applicable only to CCP members. It will suggest why laojiao is constitutionally problematic but shuanggui is constitutionally sound under the current Chinese constitutional framework. Shuanggui deals with political, rather than administrative breaches that touch on the integrity of the role of the CCP as Party in Power. It is in this sense beyond the competence of the administrative authorities represented by the government apparatus and relates to the constitution of the CCP rather than the constitution of the state and its administrative authority over the people. As a consequence, the shuanggui system is not subject to the same constitutional difficulties as laojiao. The paper ends with a suggestion of the ways in which shuanggui might benefit from scientific development under China’s rule of law constitutional system in the way it is administered, that is the ways in which shuanggui might be reformed to better conform with CCP constitutional principles.

A final version of this paper will be published as "The Emerging Structures of Socialist Constitutionalism With Chinese Characteristics: Extra-Judicial Detention (Laojiao and Shuanggui) and the Chinese Constitutional Order" in Vol. 23 Pacific Rim Law and Policy Journal (University of Washington).

Keywords: Shuanggui, Laojiao, rule of law, China, constitutionalism, communist party, extra constitutional detention

JEL Classification: K19, K39, N45, P30

Suggested Citation

Backer, Larry Catá and Wang, Keren and Wang, Keren, The Emerging Structures of Socialist Constitutionalism with Chinese Characteristics: Extra Judicial Detention (Laojiao and Shuanggui) and the Chinese Constitutional Order (December 12, 2013). Conference: Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics, Vol. 2013, p. 101, 2013, Penn State Law Research Paper No. 26-2013, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2273044

Larry Catá Backer (Contact Author)

The Pennsylvania State University (University Park) – Penn State Law ( email )

Lewis Katz Building
University Park, PA 16802
United States

Keren Wang

Pennsylvania State University - School of International Affairs ( email )

Lewis Katz Building
University Park, PA 16802
United States

Communication Arts & Sciences ( email )

University Park
State College, PA 16802
United States

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