Confining the exercise of power within an institutional cage

Confining the exercise of power within an institutional cage

Xi Jinping introduced the idea of an "institutional cage" at the second plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in January 2013. He said that the move to confine the exercise of power within an institutional cage is meant to strengthen scrutiny of the work and deter possible misuse of power by officials. It entails establishing a mechanism that prevents, deters and punishes corruption.

Institutions are of fundamental, overall, and long-lasting importance, and have a profound impact on the stability of the country. To check the exercise of powers, there must be a solid cage of institutions. Administration holds the key to this goal. Powers should be properly designated so that making, execution, and supervision of decisions will check each other and coordinate with each other, and a system of institutions operates effectively to check and oversee the exercise of power.

The people should be granted powers of scrutiny as part of the efforts to build a sound mechanism for supervision with effective synergy. Powers must be exercised in the light of day, and this exercise of power should be procedure-based and made public. Party affairs, government operations, judicial affairs, and other affairs in relevant areas will be made more transparent. Lists of powers will be defined, so that powers and responsibilities are matched, and those exercising power bear correspondent responsibilities and are held accountable for any abuse. Any ideas and practices redolent of privilege will be opposed, and it is absolutely forbidden to seek privilege or to abuse one's power for personal gain.

把权力关进制度的笼子

2013年1月，习近平在十八届中央纪委二次全会上强调，要加强对权力运行的制约和监督，把权力关进制度的笼子里，形成不敢腐的惩戒机制、不能腐的防范机制、不易腐的保障机制。制度问题更带有根本性、全局性、稳定性、长期性。用制度管权，就是要把权力关进制度的笼子里。把权力关进制度的笼子里，首先要建好笼子。要抓住治权这个关键，编密扎紧制度的笼子，按照决策、执行、监督既相互制约又相互协调的原则区分和配置权力，构建严密的权力运行制约和监督体系。要让人民监督权力，努力形成科学有效的监督体系，增强监督合力和实效。要让权力在阳光下运行，推进权力运行公开化、规范化，完善党务公开、政务公开、司法公开和各领域办事公开制度。要建立权力清单、实行权责对应，坚持有权就有责，失职要问责。要反对特权思想、特权现象，决不允许以权谋私，决不允许搞特权。