Rectifying Formalism to Reduce Burdens at the Grassroots

Formalism is a major enemy of the development of the Party and the state; eradicating formalism is of great significance for improving the work style of cadres and consolidating Party-mass relations. The grassroots are the “last kilometer” for implementing the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, and also the frontline for the Party to connect with and serve the masses. Reducing burdens at the grassroots is what development requires and what the people desire. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to the work of rectifying formalism to reduce burdens at the grassroots, pointing out that “we must lighten the burdens on the grassroots so that they can spend more time on implementing work” and “continuously deepen and expand the work of rectifying formalism to reduce burdens at the grassroots.” The *Proposal of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development* emphasizes “deeply carrying out the work of rectifying formalism to reduce burdens at the grassroots.” This series of important expositions and important deployments has pointed the direction for the work of rectifying formalism to reduce burdens at the grassroots. On the new journey of the New Era, it is necessary to make efforts from multiple dimensions such as ideological education, institutional mechanisms, working ideas and methods, and the environmental atmosphere, to eradicate the stubborn disease of formalism and effectively implement the work of reducing burdens at the grassroots.

形式主义是党和国家事业发展的大敌，破除形式主义对于改进干部作风、巩固党群关系意义重大。基层是贯彻落实党中央决策部署的“最后一公里”，也是党联系群众、服务群众的前沿。为基层减负，是发展所需、民心所向。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记高度重视整治形式主义为基层减负工作，指出“减轻基层负担，让基层把更多时间用在抓工作落实上来”“持续深化拓展整治形式主义为基层减负工作”。《中共中央关于制定国民经济和社会发展第十五个五年规划的建议》强调，“深入开展整治形式主义为基层减负工作”。这一系列重要论述和重要部署给整治形式主义为基层减负工作指明了方向。新时代新征程，必须从思想教育、制度机制、工作思路方法、环境风气等多维度下功夫，破除形式主义顽疾，做实基层减负工作。

Strengthen ideological education for rectifying formalism to reduce burdens at the grassroots. Thought is the precursor to action; precise and effective ideological education can guide Party members and cadres to internalize the requirements of opposing formalism and reducing burdens at the grassroots as an ideological consciousness, prompting them to establish a correct outlook on performing duties, consciously resist formalism, and actively implement the requirements of reducing burdens at the grassroots. First, strengthen theoretical armament and carry out targeted theoretical education. Incorporate the study of the *Several Provisions on Rectifying Formalism to Reduce Burdens at the Grassroots* into the core curriculum of Party member and cadre education and training, guide Party members and cadres to deeply study General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on strengthening the Party’s work style construction, educate them to accurately grasp the essence of formalism, and thoroughly recognize the erosion of grassroots work by formalism and the damage to cadre-mass relations and Party-mass relations, thereby consciously resisting formalism and enhancing the sense of responsibility for reducing burdens at the grassroots. Second, strengthen emotional identification and focus on immersive experiential education. Immersive experiential education can enable Party members and cadres to intuitively perceive the harm of formalism and the weight of grassroots burdens, triggering strong emotional identification. Organize Party members and cadres to go down to the grassroots frontline, listen to the grassroots’ genuine demands for burden reduction work, and allow Party members and cadres to stimulate emotional resonance for rectifying formalism to reduce burdens at the grassroots in practice. Third, strengthen the consciousness of self-reflection and achieve normalized education. Incorporate the relevant requirements of opposing formalism and reducing burdens at the grassroots into the daily ideological education content of Party members and cadres. Through activities such as thematic seminars and Party Day-themed events, guide Party members and cadres to continuously enhance their consciousness of self-reflection, regularly conduct ideological self-examination, examine their own work ideas and work styles against the typical manifestations of formalism, and promptly correct deviations in their own thinking and work style through normalized self-reflection. Fourth, strengthen the effectiveness of education and resist formalism in education. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “Do not replace self-study and discussion with expert lectures and theoretical tutoring; carry out red education nearby, and do not impose rigid requirements on writing reading notes or reflections.” Ideological education must prevent emphasizing “form” over “effect,” resolutely overcome formalism, and truly do the work thoroughly and solidly.

加强整治形式主义为基层减负的思想教育。思想是行动的先导，精准有效的思想教育能够引导党员干部将反对形式主义、为基层减负的要求内化为思想自觉，推动他们树立正确履职观念，自觉抵制形式主义，主动践行基层减负要求。一是强化理论武装，开展针对性的理论教育。将学习《整治形式主义为基层减负若干规定》纳入党员干部教育培训的核心课程，引导党员干部深入学习习近平总书记关于加强党的作风建设的重要论述，教育他们准确把握形式主义的本质，彻底认清形式主义对基层工作的侵蚀、对干群关系和党群关系的损害，从而自觉抵制形式主义，增强为基层减负的履责意识。二是强化情感认同，注重沉浸式体验教育。沉浸式体验教育能够让党员干部直观感知形式主义之害、基层负担之重，引发他们强烈的情感认同。组织党员干部下沉基层一线，倾听基层对减负工作的真实诉求，让党员干部在实践中激发整治形式主义为基层减负的情感共鸣。三是强化自省意识，实现常态化教育。将反对形式主义、为基层减负相关要求纳入党员干部的日常思想教育内容中，通过专题研讨、主题党日等活动引导党员干部持续提升自省意识，定期开展思想自查，对照形式主义的典型表现检视自身工作思路和工作作风，通过常态化自省及时校准自身思想和作风上的偏差。四是强化教育实效，抵制教育中的形式主义。习近平总书记指出，“不以专家讲座、理论辅导代替自学和研讨，就近开展红色教育，不对写读书笔记、心得体会等提出硬性要求”。思想教育要防止重“形”不重“效”，坚决克服形式主义，真正把工作做到位、做扎实。

Strengthen the institutional guarantee for rectifying formalism to reduce burdens at the grassroots. The rigid constraints of institutions can eliminate the breeding ground for formalism from the levels of power operation and institutional mechanisms, providing long-term and standardized guarantees for grassroots burden reduction work. First, optimize the assessment and evaluation system. Streamline assessment indicators, reduce the weight of formalistic indicators such as the number of meetings and documents, cancel unnecessary inspection and evaluation projects, merge overlapping and repetitive assessment items, and put an end to formalistic assessment requirements such as “adding layers upon layers” and “unlimited expansion.” Commend and reward Party members and cadres who seriously resist formalism and achieve significant results in implementing burden reduction requirements. At the same time, establish a dynamic adjustment mechanism for assessment indicators, promptly remove formalistic and ineffective indicators based on changes in policy orientation and feedback from the grassroots, making assessments more targeted and effective. Second, improve the system for allocating powers and responsibilities. Establish and improve a list of powers and responsibilities, clarify the boundaries of powers and responsibilities, define the statutory duties and authorities of the grassroots, and strip away work affairs and execution powers that do not belong to the grassroots. At the same time, establish a dynamic management mechanism for the list of powers and responsibilities, regularly update and improve the content based on revisions to laws and regulations and changes in grassroots governance needs. Third, improve the supervision and accountability system. Build an intelligent monitoring mechanism for formalism issues, establish a normalized grassroots burden reduction feedback platform, promptly collect new trends in formalism, and accurately identify problems such as excessive documentation, excessive meetings, and rampant inspections. Establish a cross-level joint supervision mechanism, integrating the supervisory forces of departments such as discipline inspection and supervision, and organization and personnel. Improve the accountability mechanism and system, clarify the accountability standards, procedures, and applicable circumstances for formalism issues, achieve precise accountability and “zero-tolerance” accountability, and avoid the generalization of accountability. Moreover, further clarify the content of the system and refine the specific manifestations of formalistic behavior. Establish a regular system evaluation mechanism, promptly revise and improve outdated clauses and supplement missing content. At the same time, pay attention to the coordination and connection between systems, promote the organic integration of the work system for rectifying formalism to reduce burdens at the grassroots with other systems, form institutional synergy, and consolidate work results.

强化整治形式主义为基层减负的制度保障。制度的刚性约束能够从权力运行、体制机制等层面消除形式主义的滋生空间，为基层减负工作提供长效化、规范化的保障。第一，优化考核评价制度。精简考核指标，削减会议次数、文件数量等形式化指标的权重，取消不必要的检查评比项目，合并重复交叉的考核事项，杜绝“层层加码”“无限扩大”的形式化考核要求。对严肃抵制形式主义、落实减负要求成效显著的党员干部予以表彰奖励。同时，建立考核指标动态调整机制，根据政策导向变化与基层反馈意见，及时剔除形式化、无效化指标，让考核更具针对性和实效性。第二，健全权责配置制度。要建立健全权责清单，厘清权责边界，明确基层的法定职责和权限，剥离不属于基层的工作事务与执行权限。同时，建立权责清单动态管理机制，根据法律法规修订和基层治理需求变化，定期更新完善内容。第三，完善监督问责制度。构建形式主义问题智能监测机制，建立常态化基层减负反馈平台，及时收集形式主义新动向，对过度留痕、会议超标、督查泛滥等问题进行精准识别。建立跨层级联动监督机制，整合纪检监察、组织人事等部门监督力量。完善问责机制体制，明确形式主义问题的问责标准、流程和适用情形，做到精准问责和“零容忍”问责，避免问责泛化。不仅如此，还要进一步明确制度内容，细化形式主义行为的具体表现。要建立制度定期评估机制，及时修订完善滞后条款、补充缺失内容。同时，注重制度间的协同衔接，推动整治形式主义为基层减负的工作制度与其他各项制度的有机融合，形成制度合力，巩固工作成果。

Enhance the work effectiveness of rectifying formalism to reduce burdens at the grassroots. Optimizing work processes and work methods is an important way to enhance work effectiveness. On the one hand, ensure work effectiveness by optimizing work processes. Formulate a positive list and a negative list of grassroots work affairs, clarifying the statutory affairs that the grassroots must undertake and the formalistic affairs that must be resolutely eliminated. New grassroots affairs must undergo necessity and feasibility assessments, and arbitrary apportionment must be eliminated. Optimize the management process for documents and meetings, merge meetings that can be merged, control the length of documents, and put an end to formalistic documents that are long-winded and empty. Optimize the collaborative handling model for grassroots affairs, clarify the division of responsibilities between leading departments and cooperating departments, and reduce the work burden on the grassroots of repeated coordination and multiple reporting. On the other hand, ensure work effectiveness by optimizing work methods. Consolidate similar work tasks and optimize the sequence of work advancement. Strengthen the use of digital means, integrate various work software systems, work groups, and information systems, and establish a unified national grassroots government data sharing platform. Standardize the use of digital tools, eliminating formalistic requirements such as mandatory check-ins, excessive documentation, and useless check-in chains. Develop intelligent auxiliary tools for grassroots work, achieving intelligent data verification, automatic task assignment, automatic report generation, and timely policy push, reducing the work burden on the grassroots.

提升整治形式主义为基层减负的工作成效。优化工作流程和工作方式是提升工作成效的重要途径。一方面，以优化工作流程确保工作成效。制定基层工作事务正面清单与负面清单，明确基层必须承接的法定事务和坚决杜绝的形式化事务。新增基层事务必须进行必要性、可行性论证，杜绝随意摊派。优化文件会议管理流程，对可合并的会议一律合并，控制文件篇幅，杜绝长篇大论、空洞无物的形式化文件。优化基层事务协同办理模式，明确牵头部门与配合部门的职责分工，减少基层重复对接、多头汇报的工作负担。另一方面，以优化工作方式确保工作成效。整合同类工作任务，优化工作推进时序。加强数字化手段的运用，整合各类工作软件系统、工作群与信息系统，建立全国统一的基层政务数据共享平台。规范数字化工具使用，杜绝强制打卡、过度留痕、无效接龙等形式化要求。开发基层工作智能辅助工具，实现数据智能核查、任务自动派单、报表自动生成、政策及时推送，减少基层工作负担。

Foster a healthy atmosphere for rectifying formalism and reducing burdens at the grassroots level. First, emphasize cultural immersion. Cultural immersion can subtly influence Party members and cadres, and is a key path to breaking the “passing gust” problem of grassroots burden reduction and fostering a healthy atmosphere. On the one hand, create cultural carriers that precisely meet the needs of rectifying formalism and reducing burdens at the grassroots level, for example, by building thematic cultural exhibition halls, online cultural columns, and other platforms, so that concepts such as resisting formalism and pragmatic burden reduction can be felt and understood. On the other hand, integrate the culture of rectifying formalism and reducing burdens at the grassroots level into daily work scenarios, embedding it into all links such as policy formulation, implementation, and advancement, advocating pragmatic and concise communication methods, so that a healthy atmosphere is continuously consolidated through cultural immersion. Second, emphasize value guidance. On the one hand, strengthen the role of positive and negative incentives. It is necessary to summarize and promote a batch of good experiences and good practices in rectifying formalism and bureaucratism and reducing burdens at the grassroots level, and to circulate and expose a batch of typical cases of formalism and bureaucratism, focusing on leveraging the exemplary role of models and the warning role of negative cases, forming a strong atmosphere of “everyone resists formalism.” On the other hand, leverage the role of value judgment standards. Abandon formalized value standards that “judge quality by traces and determine effectiveness by materials,” and take whether formalism has been eliminated, whether grassroots burdens have been reduced, and whether grassroots efficiency has been improved as the core yardsticks for measuring work value, cultivating the value consciousness of Party members and cadres to actively rectify formalism and reduce burdens at the grassroots level. Finally, emphasize collaborative co-governance. First, the superior sets an example for the subordinate, strengthening the exemplary and leading role of leading cadres. Leading bodies and leading cadres at all levels must firmly establish a correct outlook on political performance, continuously deepen and expand the work of rectifying formalism and reducing burdens at the grassroots level, guide the vast number of Party members and cadres to act with real effort, blaze new trails, and make progress, and use the “head goose effect” [1]1 The “head goose effect” (头雁效应) refers to the leading role of a few key individuals, analogous to the lead goose in a V-formation, whose example guides the behavior of the larger group. to drive the overall atmosphere to continuously improve. Second, link the upper and lower levels, establishing a collaborative governance system. Higher-level departments take the lead in rectifying formalism, regularly conduct self-inspection work, and clean up formalized problems within their own departments and systems. Broaden the channels for “upper-lower interconnection and intercommunication,” and promptly collect relevant opinions and suggestions from the grassroots level. Third, horizontal coordination, building a cross-departmental collaborative governance system. Break down departmental barriers, achieving real-time sharing of policy information, work dynamics, and data results between departments. Integrate the service functions of various departments at the grassroots level, reducing the cost of grassroots coordination. Fourth, social participation, creating a social atmosphere of co-governance and shared benefits. Broaden channels for mass participation, and pay attention to the evaluation and feedback of the masses. Guide the masses, social organizations, etc., to participate in grassroots governance, creating a healthy atmosphere of whole-society participation and whole-society supervision for rectifying formalism and reducing burdens at the grassroots level.

营造整治形式主义为基层减负的良好风气。首先，注重文化浸润。文化浸润能够潜移默化地影响党员干部，是破解基层减负“一阵风”问题、营造良好风气的关键路径。一方面，打造精准对接整治形式主义为基层减负需求的文化载体，例如，打造主题文化展厅、线上文化专栏等阵地，让抵制形式主义、务实减负等理念可感可知。另一方面，推动整治形式主义为基层减负的文化融入日常工作场景，嵌入政策部署、执行推进等各个环节，倡导务实简洁的沟通方式，让良好风气在文化浸润中持续巩固。其次，重视价值引领。一方面，强化正负激励的作用。要总结推广一批整治形式主义官僚主义、为基层减负的好经验好做法，通报曝光一批形式主义、官僚主义的典型案例，注重发挥榜样的示范作用和负面案例的警示作用，形成“人人抵制形式主义”的浓厚氛围。另一方面，发挥价值评判标准的作用。摒弃“以痕迹论优劣、以材料定成效”的形式化的价值标准，将形式主义是否破除、基层负担是否减轻、基层效能是否提升等作为衡量工作价值的核心标尺，培育党员干部主动纠治形式主义为基层减负的价值自觉。最后，强调协同共治。其一，以上率下，强化领导干部示范引领作用。各级领导班子和领导干部要树牢正确政绩观，持续深化拓展整治形式主义为基层减负工作，引导广大党员干部真抓实干、开拓进取，以“头雁效应”带动整体风气持续向好。其二，上下联动，建立协同治理体系。上级部门带头整治形式主义，定期开展自检工作，清理本部门、本系统的形式化问题。拓宽“上下互联互通”途径，及时收集基层的相关意见建议。其三，横向协同，构建跨部门协同治理体系。打破部门壁垒，实现部门间政策信息、工作动态、数据成果的实时共享。整合各部门在基层的服务职能，减少基层协调成本。其四，社会参与，营造共治共享的社会氛围。拓宽群众参与渠道，注重群众的评价反馈。引导群众、社会组织等参与基层治理，为整治形式主义为基层减负营造全社会共同参与、共同监督的良好风气。

(Authors: Song Ge, Zhou Wenzhang, respectively Lecturer at the School of Marxism, Beijing Institute of Technology, and former Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Governance)

（作者：宋 歌 周文彰，分别系北京理工大学马克思主义学院讲师、原国家行政学院副院长）

Online Editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧