Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party
Flag of the Chinese Communist Party (1942–1996)
Emblem of the Chinese Communist Party (1942–1996)
Longest serving Mao Zedong 20 March 1943 – 9 September 1976
Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party
Style	Chairman (主席) (informal) Comrade (同志) (formal)
Member of	Politburo Standing Committee
Reports to	National Congress
Seat	Zhongnanhai, Beijing, China
Nominator	Central Committee
Appointer	Central Committee
Term length	Five years, renewable with no-limit
Constituting instrument	Party Constitution
Precursor	General Secretary (1921–1943)
Formation	20 March 1943; 82 years ago (1943-03-20)
First holder	Mao Zedong
Final holder	Hu Yaobang
Abolished	1 September 1982; 42 years ago (1982-09-01)
Deputy	Vice Chairman (1956–1982)

The Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (Chinese: 中国共产党中央委员会主席; pinyin: Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng Zhōngyāng Wěiyuánhuì Zhǔxí) was the main leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This important role was created in 1945. It was later removed in 1982. The position was then replaced by the General Secretary.

History of the Chairman Role

The role of Chairman was first officially introduced in March 1943. Before this, Mao Zedong was already the main leader of the party. The CCP's national meeting in 1945 officially added the "Chairman of the Central Committee" role to the party's rules.

The Chairman was chosen by the Central Committee. This committee is a large group of important party members. The Chairman had a lot of power over the Central Committee and other key party groups.

Vice-Chairmen

In 1956, the party added the role of multiple Vice-chairmen. These were like deputies to the Chairman. Liu Shaoqi was the highest-ranking Vice-chairman for many years.

Later, in 1969, the party changed its rules to have only one Vice-chairman. This was done to give more power to Lin Biao, who was expected to take over from Mao. But in 1973, they went back to having several Vice-chairmen again.

Chairman's Power and Changes

The Chairman's power grew even more in 1975. The Chinese Constitution (the country's main law) stated that the Chairman of the CCP led all of China's armed forces. This meant the Chairman was the commander-in-chief of the army.

However, these changes were reversed in 1982. The new Constitution put the party below the government. It also created a separate government group to lead the army.

After Mao Zedong passed away in 1976, Hua Guofeng became the party Chairman. But by 1978, Deng Xiaoping became the most powerful leader in China.

By the 1980s, the CCP leaders wanted to make sure no single person could become as powerful as Mao had been. So, in 1982, they decided to get rid of the Chairman role. Most of its duties were given to the General Secretary position, which was brought back. Hu Yaobang, the last Chairman, became the General Secretary.

List of Chairmen

Chairman of the Central Politburo

Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Term of office			Ref.
		Took office	Left office	Time in office
	Mao Zedong (1893–1976)	20 March 1943	19 June 1945	2 years, 91 days

Chairman of the Central Committee

Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Term of office			Ref.
		Took office	Left office	Time in office
	Mao Zedong (1893–1976)	19 June 1945	9 September 1976 †	31 years, 82 days
	Hua Guofeng (1921–2008)	7 October 1976	28 June 1981	4 years, 264 days
	Hu Yaobang (1915–1989)	29 June 1981	11 September 1982	1 year, 74 days

List of Vice Chairmen

Term	Image	Name	Term		Chairman	Note
			Term start	Term end
8th CCP Central Committee		Liu Shaoqi	28 September 1956	1 August 1966	Mao Zedong	In office until the Eleventh Plenary Session
		Zhou Enlai	28 September 1956	1 August 1966
		Zhu De	28 September 1956	1 August 1966
		Chen Yun	28 September 1956	1 August 1966
		Lin Biao	25 May 1958	28 April 1969		Elected at the Fifth Plenary Session
9th CCP Central Committee			28 April 1969	13 September 1971 †		The only party Vice-chairman
10th CCP Central Committee		Hua Guofeng	6 April 1976	6 October 1976	Mao Zedong ↓ Hua Guofeng	First Vice-chairman
		Zhou Enlai	30 August 1973	9 January 1976 †		Died in office
		Wang Hongwen	30 August 1973	6 October 1976		Arrested in 1976, removed from party
		Kang Sheng	30 August 1973	16 December 1975 †		Died in office
		Ye Jianying	30 August 1973	18 August 1977		From October 1976 to July 1977, was the only Party Vice-chairman
		Li Desheng	30 August 1973	10 January 1975		Resigned from his role
		Deng Xiaoping	10 January 1975	18 August 1977		Elected at the Second Plenary Session. Removed from office due to events in 1976. Reinstated later.
11th CCP Central Committee		Ye Jianying	18 August 1977	12 September 1982	Hua Guofeng ↓ Hu Yaobang
		Deng Xiaoping	18 August 1977	12 September 1982
		Li Xiannian	18 August 1977	12 September 1982
		Wang Dongxing	18 August 1977	29 February 1980		Resigned from his role
		Chen Yun	18 December 1978	12 September 1982		Elected at the Third Plenary Session
		Zhao Ziyang	29 June 1981	12 September 1982		Elected at the Sixth Plenary Session
		Hua Guofeng	29 June 1981	12 September 1982		Elected at the Sixth Plenary Session

See also

In Spanish: Presidente del Comité Central del Partido Comunista de China para niños