General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party facts for kids

The General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party is the top leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP is the main political party that rules China. Since 1989, the General Secretary has been considered the most powerful leader in China.

According to the rules of the CCP, the General Secretary is chosen during a big meeting of the Central Committee. This person is also automatically a member of the Politburo Standing Committee (PSC). The PSC is China's most important group for making decisions. The General Secretary also leads the Secretariat. They decide what topics will be discussed at meetings of the Central Committee, Politburo, and PSC.

Since the 1990s, the General Secretary usually also holds two other important jobs. They are the President of China, who is the head of the country. They are also the Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC). This means they are the supreme commander of China's army, the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

China has one of the world's largest economies and the biggest military. It is also a country with nuclear weapons and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Because of this, the General Secretary is seen as one of the most powerful political figures in the world.

The current General Secretary is Xi Jinping. He started this job on November 15, 2012. He has been chosen for the role two more times, in 2017 and 2022. Before him, Mao Zedong was the last person to lead the country for more than two terms. He was the Chairman of the CCP Central Committee from 1943 until he passed away in 1976.

Quick facts for kids General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party
Flag of the Chinese Communist Party
Emblem of the Chinese Communist Party
Incumbent Xi Jinping since 15 November 2012
Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party Secretariat of the Chinese Communist Party
Style	General Secretary (总书记) (informal) Comrade (同志) (formal)
Member of	Politburo Standing Committee
Reports to	Central Committee
Residence	Qinzheng Hall, Zhongnanhai
Seat	Beijing
Nominator	Central Committee
Appointer	Central Committee
Term length	Five years, renewable
Constituting instrument	Party Constitution
Precursor	Chairman (1943–1976)
Inaugural holder	Chen Duxiu
Formation	23 July 1921; 103 years ago (1921-07-23)
Salary	¥136,620 per year

History of the Position

The job of General Secretary was created in 1982 by the 12th Central Committee. It took the place of the "Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party" role. Since it was brought back in 1982, the General Secretary has been the highest office in the CCP. However, it only became the most powerful job after Deng Xiaoping retired in 1990.

Since the mid-1990s, starting with Jiang Zemin, the General Secretary has also usually been the President of China. While the presidency is mostly a ceremonial role, it is a tradition for the General Secretary to become President. This helps confirm their status as the country's head of state. The General Secretary has also held the job of Chairman of the Central Military Commission. This makes them the supreme commander of the People's Liberation Army.

How the General Secretary is Chosen

The CCP General Secretary is officially chosen by a full meeting of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. They are picked from the members of the Politburo Standing Committee. However, how the General Secretary is actually chosen has changed over time.

The two most recent General Secretaries, Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping, were first made the "first Secretary of the Secretariat." This happened through a process similar to how members of the Politburo Standing Committee are chosen. In this unofficial process, the "first secretary" is picked during discussions by current Politburo members and retired Politburo Standing Committee members. These discussions happen before a big Party Congress. The "first secretary" then takes over from the retiring General Secretary when the next Party Congress happens.

What the General Secretary Does

The exact powers and duties of the General Secretary are not always clearly written down. There are no limits on how many terms they can serve, and no official rules for choosing who will take over next. However, because China is a country with only one ruling party, the General Secretary has the most power and control over the government. They are usually called the "paramount leader" of China.

According to the rules of the Chinese Communist Party, the General Secretary is automatically a member of the Politburo Standing Committee. The General Secretary is in charge of calling meetings for the Politburo and the Politburo Standing Committee. They also lead the work of the Secretariat. The General Secretary also decides what topics will be discussed at meetings of the Central Committee, Politburo, and Politburo Standing Committee. Since October 2017, all members of the Politburo give a written report to the CCP General Secretary every year.

The General Secretary reportedly earns a basic yearly salary of about ¥136,620, which is around US$19,200.

See also

• Office of the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party
• Leadership core
• Order of precedence in China