Compulsory 3: Core Topics Simplified Edition (2026 Sprint)

Applicable to: Final sprint review of key knowledge points for the Gaokao Politics exam Grassroots self-governance is a key predicted topic for 2026 (new law effective January 1, 2026) Sources: 2025 Guangdong Gaokao exam (June 9), 2022-2024 Gaokao exams, 12371.cn press conference on legal amendments, sjds.net common error summaries ---
I. Citizens / The People
Quick Error Check
Incorrect Statement Correct Statement
The people's democratic rights are unlimited Rights have legal boundaries; freedom ≠ unlimited
Personal interests and national interests can never align There can be contradictions, but they can achieve organic unity
Citizens have the right to make decisions Decision-making power belongs to decision-making bodies (People's Congress/Government); citizens participate in democratic decision-making
Citizens have legislative power Legislative power belongs to the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee
Direct election of People's Congress deputies Direct elections at the county and township levels; indirect elections at and above the county level
Rights and obligations can be waived Citizens must fulfill obligations; they cannot be waived
Basic rights are exactly the same Citizens' rights are not equal to political rights (e.g., right to education ≠ right to vote)
Mnemonic for Elimination
"Rights and obligations cannot be waived" "Right to vote has three conditions: age, nationality, political rights" "Direct election = county/township" "Citizen participation ≠ citizen decision-making"
Answer Template: Citizen Participation in Democratic Decision-Making/Supervision
Citizens participate in democratic decision-making/supervision according to law, through channels such as (reflecting social conditions and public opinion / public announcement of major issues / expert consultation / public hearings). This is an important manifestation of socialist democratic politics. Significance: ① Conducive to scientific and democratic decision-making by decision-making bodies; ② Conducive to enhancing citizens' political participation capabilities; ③ Conducive to safeguarding citizens' legitimate rights and interests; ④ Conducive to promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. ---
II. The Communist Party of China
Quick Error Check
Incorrect Statement Correct Statement
The Party exercises state power on behalf of the people The Party leads; the People's Congress is the organ of state power; each performs its own functions
The Party participates in the deliberation and administration of state affairs This is a function of the CPPCC, not the Party
The Party performs state functions State functions are performed by state organs like the government and judiciary
The CPC's ruling status is self-proclaimed It is the choice of history and the people
The Party makes laws according to law The Party leads legislation; the People's Congress exercises legislative power
The Party is supervised by the People's Congress/CPPCC The Party is not a state organ and is not supervised by the People's Congress (the People's Congress supervises the "One Government, One Commission, Two Courts")
Anti-corruption is a function of the CPPCC Integrity building (anti-corruption) is a function of the Party/Government
Answer Template: Why Uphold the Party's Leadership
The Communist Party of China is the highest political leadership force (confirmed by the Constitution) and the leading core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Upholding the Party's leadership is the choice of history and the people, and the fundamental guarantee for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. ① Nature and purpose of the Party: The vanguard of the Chinese working class, the vanguard of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, serving the people wholeheartedly; ② Governing style: Scientific governance, democratic governance, law-based governance (the Constitution includes "leading the people in formulating the Constitution and laws"); ③ Law-based governance is the basic method: Leading legislation, ensuring law enforcement, supporting the judiciary, taking the lead in abiding by the law; ④ The Party's self-reform: Comprehensively and strictly governing the Party, maintaining progressiveness and purity; ⑤ Requirements of the new era: Uphold and strengthen the Party's overall leadership, playing a role in commanding the overall situation and coordinating all parties. ---
III. The People's Congress System
Quick Error Check
Incorrect Statement Correct Statement
The People's Congress is the organ of state power The People's Congress as a whole is the organ of state power (an individual deputy/member of the Standing Committee ≠ the People's Congress)
The People's Congress and other state organs supervise each other The People's Congress creates other organs; other organs are responsible to and supervised by the People's Congress (one-way)
People's Congress deputies exercise legislative power People's Congress deputies exercise the powers of deliberation, voting, proposal-making, and inquiry; legislative power belongs to the People's Congress
People's Congress deputies are directly elected by voters Direct elections at county/township levels; indirect elections at and above the county level
The People's Congress is the legislative body The NPC and its Standing Committee are the legislative body; local People's Congresses have legislative power but are not called "legislative bodies"
The Supervisory Commission is created by the People's Congress Correct: Supervisory commissions at all levels are created by the People's Congress at the same level, are responsible to it, and subject to its supervision
The People's Congress supervises judicial independence The People's Congress supervises judicial organs but does not interfere with the independent exercise of adjudicative/procuratorial power according to law
The Procuratorate/Court is the legal supervision organ The Procuratorate is the legal supervision organ; the Court is the adjudicative organ (easily confused)
Answer Template: Why Uphold the People's Congress System
① Status: The People's Congress system is the fundamental political system of China, an important pathway and the highest form of realization for the people being the masters of the country, and an important component of the socialist political system with Chinese characteristics. ② Advantages: Ensures the people are the masters of the country (democratic election of deputies → centralized exercise of power); mobilizes all the people to participate in socialist construction; ensures the coordinated and efficient operation of state organs (democratic centralism: the People's Congress exercises state power uniformly → the "One Government, One Commission, Two Courts" perform their respective duties); safeguards national unity and ethnic solidarity. ③ Significance: Upholding and improving the People's Congress system is an important part of developing socialist democratic politics and promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. ---
IV. Government
Quick Error Check
Incorrect Statement Correct Statement
The government strictly enforces the law The government is the most important subject of law enforcement; the subject of strict law enforcement can be all state organs
The subject of fair administration of justice is the government The subject of fair administration of justice is the judicial organs (Court/Procuratorate), not the government
The State Council makes laws The State Council formulates administrative regulations, not laws (laws are made by the NPC and its Standing Committee)
The larger the fiscal expenditure, the better It should be moderate, not necessarily larger
Streamline government institutions The correct statement is to streamline government institutions and administrative staff (must be complete)
A police station is a constituent department of the government A police station is a dispatched agency of the public security organ, not a constituent department of the township government
The township People's Congress has legislative power The township People's Congress does not have legislative power (the lowest level with legislative power is the county People's Congress)
The government formulating industrial policy belongs to market supervision Formulating policies is macro-control; market supervision targets specific violations
The NPC Standing Committee exercises the highest supervisory power "Highest" can only modify the powers of the NPC; the Standing Committee has supervisory power but it is not called "highest"
Audit offices can be established at and above the county level They can be established at and above the county level; but the Supervisory Commission is established at a minimum at the county level (distinguish)
Answer Template: Building a Law-Based Government
The government must comprehensively advance the rule of law and build a law-based government. ① Scientific functions: Must act as legally mandated, must not act without legal authorization; ② Statutory powers and responsibilities: Power list system, must have responsibility for power; ③ Strict law enforcement: Adhere to strict, standardized, fair, and civilized law enforcement (Note: Cannot say the government "fairly administers justice"); ④ Openness and fairness: Comprehensively advance government transparency, protect citizens' rights to know, participate, express, and supervise; ⑤ Clean and efficient: Promote the transformation of government functions, improve administrative efficiency; ⑥ Law-abiding and trustworthy: Build a trustworthy government, enhance government credibility. Significance: Conducive to improving administrative management levels; conducive to establishing government authority; conducive to safeguarding the fundamental interests of the people. ---
V. Grassroots Self-Governance System ⭐Key Prediction
The 2025 Guangdong exam did not test grassroots self-governance; it was tested in both 2023 and 2024 The "Organic Law of Villagers' Committees" and "Organic Law of Urban Residents' Committees" were amended in October 2025, effective January 1, 2026 This is one of the biggest proposition hotspots for 2026
Quick Error Check (High-Frequency Test Points)
Incorrect Statement Correct Statement
Villagers' Committees/Residents' Committees are state organs ❌ They are mass self-governing organizations, not state organs/organs of state power/grassroots governments
Members of Villagers'/Residents' Committees are appointed by higher authorities ❌ They are directly elected by villagers/residents
Villagers' Committees accept the leadership of the township government ❌ They have a guidance relationship with the township government, not a superior-subordinate relationship
Villagers' Committees are responsible to the township government ❌ They are responsible to the Villagers' Assembly/Villagers' Representative Assembly
Electing the Villagers' Committee director is a citizen's political right ❌ It is a citizen's democratic right (not a political right; distinguish between the right to vote/stand for election)
Grassroots democracy only includes election/decision-making/supervision ❌ There are currently five links (democratic consultation added by the 2025 new law)
"One shoulder, two burdens" is just a policy ❌ It has been written into the 2026 new law (legalization of the Party secretary and director holding both positions)
The grassroots self-governance system is the fundamental political system ❌ It is a basic political system (there is only one "fundamental": the People's Congress system)
The only content of democratic management is village affairs disclosure ❌ It also includes formulating self-governance charters and village rules and regulations
Residents' Committees should adjudicate property disputes ❌ Residents' Committees can only mediate, they have no administrative adjudication power
People's mediation has legal coercive force ❌ People's mediation agreements require judicial confirmation to have compulsory enforcement effect
Core New Points of the 2025 New Law (Must Memorize)
Specific Provisions for Democratic Consultation: Major village (residential) matters must be consulted before decision-making, with consultation results serving as important references for decisions
Full Coverage of Five Democratic Processes: Democratic election + democratic consultation + democratic decision-making + democratic management + democratic supervision
Party Organization Leadership and Guidance: The Party organization must play a leading and guiding role in all five democratic processes
Legalization of "Four Discussions and Two Openings": Party branch proposal → Party committee and committee discussion → Party member deliberation → Villagers' (representative) assembly resolution; Resolution disclosure + Implementation result disclosure
Reducing Burdens at the Grassroots Level: Establish an access system for community work matters; matters for assistance must not be transformed into responsibilities
New Property Management Provisions: Assist and guide the establishment of homeowners' assemblies and the election of homeowners' committees, coordinate property management ### Answer Template ① The grassroots self-governance system is a basic political system of our country (not fundamental), and is the foundation and important component of the construction of socialist democratic politics. ② The Villagers' Committee/Residents' Committee is a mass self-governing organization, not a state organ/grassroots political power (common test point and error). ③ Members of the Residents'/Villagers' Committee are directly elected by residents/villagers, which is an important manifestation of grassroots democracy. ④ The Residents'/Villagers' Committee accepts the leadership of the grassroots Party organization and the guidance of the higher-level government, but it is not a superior-subordinate relationship (guidance ≠ leadership). ⑤ Important matters involving the interests of residents/villagers are discussed and decided by the Residents'/Villagers' Assembly (the core of residents'/villagers' self-governance). ⑥ Participate in community governance through democratic election, democratic consultation, democratic decision-making, democratic management, and democratic supervision (write all five links). ⑦ Improving the grassroots self-governance system is conducive to expanding grassroots democracy, promoting the modernization of social governance, and maintaining social harmony and stability (answering "big significance" from a "small entry point"). ### Simulation Question 1: Prediction (2026·Guangdong·Simulation) In order to promote the modernization of grassroots governance, a certain city explored the "one shoulder, two burdens" model: the village Party organization secretary concurrently serves as the director of the Villagers' Committee through legal procedures, while implementing the "Four Discussions and Two Openings" system, organically integrating Party leadership with villager self-governance. Using the knowledge of "grassroots self-governance" from "Politics and Rule of Law", analyze the rationality of this model. Answer Approach: "One shoulder, two burdens" → Party organization leadership + self-governance according to law; "Four Discussions and Two Openings" → scientific and democratic decision-making; Integration → organic unity of Party leadership and grassroots self-governance. --- ## VI. Regional Ethnic Autonomy ### Quick Error Check | Incorrect Statement | Correct Statement | |---------|---------| | Autonomous organs are all state organs in autonomous areas | ❌ Refers only to the People's Congress and Government (excluding Courts/Procuratorates/Supervisory Commissions) | | The People's Congress in autonomous areas has legislative autonomy | ❌ The People's Congress has legislative power (to formulate autonomous regulations and separate regulations), but the subject of legislative autonomy also includes the government | | The autonomy of autonomous organs is independent | ❌ It must be exercised within the framework of the Constitution and the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy | | Ethnic autonomous areas enjoy a high degree of autonomy | ❌ They enjoy autonomy, not a high degree of autonomy ("high degree of autonomy" is for Hong Kong and Macau) | | Regional ethnic autonomy is the fundamental political system of our country | ❌ It is a basic political system | ### Answer Template ① China is a unified multi-ethnic country, implementing the system of regional ethnic autonomy (a basic political system). ② Ethnic autonomous areas (regions/prefectures/counties/banners) establish autonomous organs (People's Congress + Government) to exercise autonomy. ③ The autonomy of autonomous organs includes: legislative autonomy (formulating autonomous regulations/separate regulations, subject to approval by higher authorities), economic autonomy, cultural management autonomy, and other autonomy. ④ Prerequisite and foundation: National unity and territorial integrity ("autonomy" ≠ "independence"). ⑤ Significance: Conducive to safeguarding national unity and security; conducive to ensuring the people of ethnic minorities are the masters of their own affairs; conducive to developing socialist ethnic relations of equality, unity, mutual assistance, and harmony; conducive to promoting the vigorous development of the socialist modernization cause. --- ## VII. CPPCC / Multi-Party Cooperation ### Quick Error Check | Incorrect Statement | Correct Statement | |---------|---------| | The CPPCC is a state organ | ❌ It is a patriotic united front organization, not a state organ | | The CPPCC exercises the power to participate in the deliberation and administration of state affairs | ❌ Democratic parties participate in the deliberation and administration of state affairs; the functions of the CPPCC are political consultation, democratic supervision, and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs (three parallel functions) | | The CPPCC has legislative power | ❌ The CPPCC has no legislative power | | The composition of the People's Congress and the CPPCC is the same | ❌ People's Congress = representatives elected by voters; CPPCC = recommended by various parties/groups/sectors | | The primary prerequisite and fundamental guarantee of the party system is the equality of all parties | ❌ It is the leadership of the Communist Party of China (multi-party cooperation ≠ multi-party competition) | | The themes of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference are unity and democracy | ❌ Correct: The two major themes are unity and democracy | ### Answer Template ① China implements the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation led by the Communist Party of China (a basic political system). ② Primary prerequisite and fundamental guarantee: The leadership of the Communist Party of China (confirmed by the Constitution). ③ Basic policy: Long-term coexistence, mutual supervision, treating each other with sincerity, and sharing weal and woe. ④ Fundamental code of conduct: The Constitution and laws. ⑤ The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC): It is a patriotic united front organization of the Chinese people, an important institution for multi-party cooperation and political consultation, and an important channel and specialized consultative body for socialist consultative democracy. ⑥ The CPPCC revolves around the two major themes of unity and democracy, performing the functions of political consultation, democratic supervision, and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs. ⑦ Significance: Conducive to promoting scientific and democratic decision-making; conducive to advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. --- ## Appendix: 2 Simulation Prediction Questions ### Simulation Question 2: Prediction on the People's Congress A certain city's People's Congress Standing Committee conducted a special inquiry on the use of special funds by the municipal government, and conducted a satisfaction evaluation of the heads of relevant departments, with the evaluation results included in the annual assessment. Some citizens submitted suggestions to the city's People's Congress through People's Congress deputies, calling for strengthening the supervision of people's livelihood project funds. Using the knowledge of "People's Congress" from "Politics and Rule of Law", analyze the significance of the practices of this city's People's Congress Standing Committee. Answer Approach: People's Congress supervisory power → Special inquiry is a method of supervision; Evaluation of government departments → People's Congress supervises the government, the government is responsible to the People's Congress; Citizens submit suggestions through deputies → People's Congress deputies maintain close ties with the masses, exercise the power to make proposals; Inclusion in assessment → Enhance the effectiveness of supervision, promote law-based administration. --- Printing Reminder: It is recommended to print on both sides of A4 paper, with one topic per page, to facilitate rotation review of topics in the final stage. The page on grassroots self-governance should be taken out separately for focused memorization.

Incorrect Statement	Correct Statement
The people's democratic rights are unlimited	Rights have legal boundaries; freedom ≠ unlimited
Personal interests and national interests can never align	There can be contradictions, but they can achieve organic unity
Citizens have the right to make decisions	Decision-making power belongs to decision-making bodies (People's Congress/Government); citizens participate in democratic decision-making
Citizens have legislative power	Legislative power belongs to the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee
Direct election of People's Congress deputies	Direct elections at the county and township levels; indirect elections at and above the county level
Rights and obligations can be waived	Citizens must fulfill obligations; they cannot be waived
Basic rights are exactly the same	Citizens' rights are not equal to political rights (e.g., right to education ≠ right to vote)

Incorrect Statement	Correct Statement
The Party exercises state power on behalf of the people	The Party leads; the People's Congress is the organ of state power; each performs its own functions
The Party participates in the deliberation and administration of state affairs	This is a function of the CPPCC, not the Party
The Party performs state functions	State functions are performed by state organs like the government and judiciary
The CPC's ruling status is self-proclaimed	It is the choice of history and the people
The Party makes laws according to law	The Party leads legislation; the People's Congress exercises legislative power
The Party is supervised by the People's Congress/CPPCC	The Party is not a state organ and is not supervised by the People's Congress (the People's Congress supervises the "One Government, One Commission, Two Courts")
Anti-corruption is a function of the CPPCC	Integrity building (anti-corruption) is a function of the Party/Government

Incorrect Statement	Correct Statement
The People's Congress is the organ of state power	The People's Congress as a whole is the organ of state power (an individual deputy/member of the Standing Committee ≠ the People's Congress)
The People's Congress and other state organs supervise each other	The People's Congress creates other organs; other organs are responsible to and supervised by the People's Congress (one-way)
People's Congress deputies exercise legislative power	People's Congress deputies exercise the powers of deliberation, voting, proposal-making, and inquiry; legislative power belongs to the People's Congress
People's Congress deputies are directly elected by voters	Direct elections at county/township levels; indirect elections at and above the county level
The People's Congress is the legislative body	The NPC and its Standing Committee are the legislative body; local People's Congresses have legislative power but are not called "legislative bodies"
The Supervisory Commission is created by the People's Congress	Correct: Supervisory commissions at all levels are created by the People's Congress at the same level, are responsible to it, and subject to its supervision
The People's Congress supervises judicial independence	The People's Congress supervises judicial organs but does not interfere with the independent exercise of adjudicative/procuratorial power according to law
The Procuratorate/Court is the legal supervision organ	The Procuratorate is the legal supervision organ; the Court is the adjudicative organ (easily confused)

Incorrect Statement	Correct Statement
The government strictly enforces the law	The government is the most important subject of law enforcement; the subject of strict law enforcement can be all state organs
The subject of fair administration of justice is the government	The subject of fair administration of justice is the judicial organs (Court/Procuratorate), not the government
The State Council makes laws	The State Council formulates administrative regulations, not laws (laws are made by the NPC and its Standing Committee)
The larger the fiscal expenditure, the better	It should be moderate, not necessarily larger
Streamline government institutions	The correct statement is to streamline government institutions and administrative staff (must be complete)
A police station is a constituent department of the government	A police station is a dispatched agency of the public security organ, not a constituent department of the township government
The township People's Congress has legislative power	The township People's Congress does not have legislative power (the lowest level with legislative power is the county People's Congress)
The government formulating industrial policy belongs to market supervision	Formulating policies is macro-control; market supervision targets specific violations
The NPC Standing Committee exercises the highest supervisory power	"Highest" can only modify the powers of the NPC; the Standing Committee has supervisory power but it is not called "highest"
Audit offices can be established at and above the county level	They can be established at and above the county level; but the Supervisory Commission is established at a minimum at the county level (distinguish)

Incorrect Statement	Correct Statement
Villagers' Committees/Residents' Committees are state organs	❌ They are mass self-governing organizations, not state organs/organs of state power/grassroots governments
Members of Villagers'/Residents' Committees are appointed by higher authorities	❌ They are directly elected by villagers/residents
Villagers' Committees accept the leadership of the township government	❌ They have a guidance relationship with the township government, not a superior-subordinate relationship
Villagers' Committees are responsible to the township government	❌ They are responsible to the Villagers' Assembly/Villagers' Representative Assembly
Electing the Villagers' Committee director is a citizen's political right	❌ It is a citizen's democratic right (not a political right; distinguish between the right to vote/stand for election)
Grassroots democracy only includes election/decision-making/supervision	❌ There are currently five links (democratic consultation added by the 2025 new law)
"One shoulder, two burdens" is just a policy	❌ It has been written into the 2026 new law (legalization of the Party secretary and director holding both positions)
The grassroots self-governance system is the fundamental political system	❌ It is a basic political system (there is only one "fundamental": the People's Congress system)
The only content of democratic management is village affairs disclosure	❌ It also includes formulating self-governance charters and village rules and regulations
Residents' Committees should adjudicate property disputes	❌ Residents' Committees can only mediate, they have no administrative adjudication power
People's mediation has legal coercive force	❌ People's mediation agreements require judicial confirmation to have compulsory enforcement effect