Central Comprehensive Law-based Governance Commission

In 2014, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) formally adopted a policy of constructing a "socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics."^[1] In October 2017, CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed in his report to the 19th CCP National Congress that a central leading group for "comprehensively governing the country according to the law" be established to strengthen the CCP's leadership over the construction of law efforts in China.^[2]

The commission was established in March 2018 as part of the deepening the reform of the Party and state institutions.^[3][4] The first meeting of the Commission set out the official legislative agenda, which was subsequently adapted by the National People's Congress.^[5]

The Central Comprehensive Law-based Governance Commission is the CCP's top body regarding development of China's legal and regulatory systems, promoting Xi's efforts at "law-based governance".^[3] The commission is tasked with leading law-based governance efforts at the top level through setting the legislative agenda and through administrative reforms. It outranks the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, which remains in charge of the day-to-day work of the country's judiciary, law-enforcement and security organs. Its office is housed in the Ministry of Justice.^[5]