More Scientifically and Effectively Confining Power within the Institutional Cage

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection that “the Party’s self-revolution focuses on governing power; confining power within the institutional cage is an important task of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party in the New Era,” emphasizing “more scientifically and effectively confining power within the institutional cage.” To implement the spirit of this important speech, we must unswervingly strengthen the governance of power through institutions and the use of power in accordance with regulations, continuously improve the mechanisms for restricting and supervising the exercise of power, and ensure that the power entrusted by the Party and the people always serves the fundamental interests of the people.

习近平总书记在二十届中央纪委五次全会上指出，“党的自我革命重在治权，把权力关进制度笼子是新时代全面从严治党的一项重要任务”，强调“更加科学有效地把权力关进制度笼子”。贯彻落实这一重要讲话精神，就要坚定不移强化制度治权、依规用权，不断完善对权力运行的制约和监督机制，确保党和人民赋予的权力始终服务于人民的根本利益。

1. Grasping the Core Essence

1. 把握核心要义

Power is a “double-edged sword”; used for the public good, it benefits the people; used for private gain, it causes endless harm. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC

权力是一把“双刃剑”，用之于公则造福于民，用之于私则贻害无穷。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记围绕树立正确权力观、规范权力运行作出一系列重要论述，深刻阐明了权力的来源、属性与目的，突出坚持制度治权、监督束权的正确方向，为扎牢制度笼子，完善权力监督制约机制、确保权力正确行使提供了根本遵循。

The core of scientifically and effectively confining power within the institutional cage lies in ensuring that the power bestowed by the Party and the people is always used to seek benefits for the people. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “If we forget the people and become divorced from the people, we will become water without a source, a tree without roots, and will accomplish nothing.” The Communist Party of China is a Marxist governing party that serves the people wholeheartedly. The Party’s foundation and lifeblood lie in the people. Only by clarifying the “clear account” of the source of power can we be good “answer-sheet writers” in seeking well-being for the people. To this end, we should further strengthen our sense of mission and will to strive, unify our thoughts and actions with the accurate judgment of the situation and the scientific deployment of tasks by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, constantly examine ourselves by asking whether our thoughts and actions have deviated from the fundamental purpose, firmly establish in our hearts the political consciousness that power is used for the people and interests are sought for the people, truly make public power serve the public, and use institutional constraints to ensure the pursuit of well-being for the people.

科学有效地把权力关进制度笼子，核心在于确保党和人民赋予的权力始终用来为人民谋利益。习近平总书记指出：“忘记了人民，脱离了人民，我们就会成为无源之水、无本之木，就会一事无成。”中国共产党是全心全意为人民服务的马克思主义执政党，党的根基和血脉在人民，只有厘清权力来源的“明白账”，才能当好为民造福的“答卷人”。为此，应进一步强化使命意识和奋斗意志，把思想和行动统一到以习近平同志为核心的党中央对形势的准确判断、对任务的科学部署上，常以思想行动有没有背离根本宗旨检视自身，在心中牢固树立权为民所用、利为民所谋的政治自觉，真正让公权力服务于公，以制度约束确保为民造福。

The key to scientifically and effectively confining power within the institutional cage lies in achieving the systemic integration of checks and supervision, using the certainty of institutions to regulate the exercise of power. Institutions establish the foundation, plan for the overall situation, and determine long-term development; they are the fundamental strategy for strengthening power checks and supervision. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Without sound institutions, if power is not confined within the institutional cage, corruption cannot be controlled.” If power is not set with boundaries and rules, it will become deformed, alienated, and turn against the people. Regulating the exercise of power is not something that can be accomplished overnight, nor can it be achieved once and for all. Confining power within the institutional cage means bringing the exercise of power onto the institutional track, continuously improving institutional regulations, constructing a dense yet not cumbersome, effective and practical institutional system, using the “rigidity” of institutions to check the “arbitrariness” of power, thereby maintaining and consolidating the normative order of power exercise in a complex and changing governance environment. At the same time, regulating the exercise of power does not mean tying the hands and feet of those who start undertakings, but rather removing the chronic disease of privileged thinking. The tighter the institutional constraints, the more standardized the exercise of power; the clearer the boundaries of power, the broader the space for Party members and cadres to take on responsibilities.

科学有效地把权力关进制度笼子，关键在于实现制约监督的系统集成，以制度的确定性规范权力运行。制度立根本、谋全局、定长远，是强化权力制约和监督的治本之策。习近平总书记指出：“没有健全的制度，权力没有关进制度的笼子里，腐败现象就控制不住。”权力如果不设边界、不立规矩，就会走形、异化，走向人民的对立面。规范权力运行不是一朝一夕的事，也难以做到一蹴而就、一劳永逸。把权力关进制度笼子，就是要把权力运行纳入制度轨道，不断完善制度规定，构建起密而不繁、有效管用的制度体系，以制度“刚性”制约权力“任性”，从而在复杂多变的治理环境中维护和巩固权力运行的规范秩序。同时，规范权力运行，不是要束缚干事创业的手脚，而是要祛除特权思想的沉疴。制度的约束越是严密，权力的行使就越是规范；权力边界越是清晰，党员干部担当的空间就越是广阔。

The essence of scientifically and effectively confining power within the institutional cage lies in deepening the Party’s self-revolution, using the great self-revolution to lead the great social revolution. Confining power within the institutional cage is not a forced move or an expedient measure, but a long-term strategy for building the Party through institutions and governing the Party according to regulations, deeply embedded in the overall situation of the Party’s and the state’s various undertakings during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period [1]1 The “15th Five-Year Plan” refers to China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, covering the period 2026–2030, the formulation of which is currently underway.. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The ‘Four Forms of Decadence’ [2] mostly originate from privileged thinking, and corruption is prominently manifested as using power for personal gain. Therefore, the Party’s self-revolution focuses on governing power.” Scientifically and effectively regulating the exercise of power is an important part of advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, and it is also a strong guarantee for achieving the goals and tasks of the “15th Five-Year Plan” period. The depth of governing power determines the intensity of the self-revolution. Only by always maintaining the consciousness to face problems squarely and the courage to turn inward, and by tightening and strengthening the institutional fence, can we better enhance the Party’s political leadership, ideological guidance, mass organization, and social appeal, ensuring that the Party remains the strong leading core in the great cause of building a strong country and rejuvenating the Chinese nation.

科学有效地把权力关进制度笼子，本质在于深化党的自我革命，以伟大自我革命引领伟大社会革命。把权力关进制度笼子，不是被迫之举和权宜之计，而是制度建党、依规治党的长远之策，深度嵌入“十五五”时期党和国家各项事业大局。习近平总书记指出：“‘四风’大多源于特权思想，腐败突出表现是以权谋私。因此，党的自我革命重在治权。”科学有效规范权力运行是推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化的重要内容，也是实现“十五五”时期目标任务的坚强保障。治权的深度决定了自我革命的力度，唯有始终保持正视问题的自觉和刀刃向内的勇气，扎紧扎实制度篱笆，才能更好增强党的政治领导力、思想引领力、群众组织力和社会号召力，确保党在强国建设、民族复兴伟业中始终成为坚强领导核心。

2. Adhering to a Problem-Oriented Approach

2. 坚持问题导向

During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, the increasingly complex international situation and the more arduous and heavy tasks of domestic reform, development, and stability have put forward new requirements for more scientifically and effectively confining power within the institutional cage and letting power operate in the sunlight. We must base ourselves on phased achievements, inherit fine traditions and valuable experiences, face problems directly, rise to challenges, and make institutions a rigid constraint and a high-voltage line that cannot be touched.

“十五五”时期，更加错综复杂的国际形势和更加艰巨繁重的国内改革发展稳定任务，对更加科学有效地把权力关进制度笼子、让权力在阳光下运行提出了新要求。我们要立足阶段性成就，继承优良传统和宝贵经验，直面问题、迎难而上，让制度成为刚性的约束和不可触碰的高压线。

Avoiding “cows escaping from a cattle pen” and “tigers breaking through a paper cage” [3], further improve the institutional system for standardizing the use of power. The vivid metaphors of “cows escaping from a cattle pen” and “tigers breaking through a paper cage” respectively point to problems of loopholes in institutional design that can be exploited and leeway in institutional implementation that can be delayed. Since the New Era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has placed institutional building in a prominent position, promoted the construction of a systematic, well-conceived, scientific, standardized, and effective institutional system, formulated and revised a series of landmark, key, and foundational intra-Party regulations, continuously deepened the reform of the discipline inspection and supervision system, improved the “four beams and eight pillars” [4] of the supervision system, and, relying on authoritative and efficient institutional implementation, promoted historic achievements in governing the Party and managing power through institutions. During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, in the face of new types of corruption and hidden corruption that may exist in new business forms and new fields, in the process of improving and perfecting the institutional system for regulating the exercise of power, how to avoid institutional overlap or gaps, solve problems such as the lag and lack of targeting in institutional construction, and unblock the blocking factors in various links of institutional implementation are challenges facing the Party in governing the Party. This requires our Party to continue to scientifically coordinate the systemic nature and precision of institutions, the synergy and effectiveness of governance, and the positive transformation between the two, while weaving a dense institutional net, strengthen the execution capacity of using institutions to check and supervise the exercise of power.

避免“牛栏关猫”和“纸笼禁虎”，进一步健全规范用权的制度体系。“牛栏关猫”和“纸笼禁虎”的形象比喻，分别指向制度设计有疏漏可乘、制度执行有余地可缓的问题。新时代以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央将制度建设摆在突出位置，推动构建系统完备、科学规范、运行有效的制度体系，制定和修订了一系列标志性、关键性、基础性党内法规，持续深化纪检监察体制改革，完善监督体系的“四梁八柱”，并凭借权威高效的制度执行，推动用制度治党管权取得历史性成就。“十五五”时期，面对新业态新领域可能存在的新型腐败和隐性腐败，在健全和完善规范权力运行的制度体系过程中，如何避免制度重叠或留有缝隙，解决制度建设存在的滞后性、缺乏针对性等问题，以及疏通制度执行各环节的阻滞因素，是管党治党面临的挑战。这要求我们党继续科学统筹制度系统性和精准性、治理协同性和有效性以及两者之间的积极转化，在织密制度之网的同时，强化以制度制约和监督权力运行的执行力。

Coordinating the “key minority” and the “vast majority” [5], further ensure the standardized exercise of power. The “key minority” is the backbone force leading the development of the cause, and the “vast majority” is the basic force driving the cause forward. Together, they constitute the solid support for our Party’s governance and rejuvenation of the country. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has started by formulating and implementing the Central Eight-Point Regulations to break the ground, set iron rules and impose strong constraints, and promote a completely new look in Party conduct and government conduct. During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, the task of coordinating the “key minority” and the “vast majority” is more arduous. This requires our Party to keenly identify and scientifically assess various risks that have been exposed or are still potential in the exercise of power by Party members and cadres at different levels, in different fields, and in different positions, improve the supervision pattern that is stricter and more practical for the “key minority” and covers the “vast majority” comprehensively, and gather the overall synergistic effect of “the leading goose steering the flight, the flock of geese flying in formation” [6].

统筹“关键少数”和“绝大多数”，进一步确保权力规范运行。“关键少数”是引领事业发展的骨干力量，“绝大多数”是推动事业前进的基础力量，两者共同构成我们党执政兴国的坚实支撑。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央以制定实施中央八项规定开局破题，立铁规矩、强硬约束，推动党风政风焕然一新。“十五五”时期，统筹抓好“关键少数”与“绝大多数”的任务更加艰巨。这要求我们党敏锐识别和科学研判不同层级、不同领域、不同岗位的党员干部在权力运行过程中已经暴露或仍然潜在的各类风险，完善对“关键少数”更严更实、对“绝大多数”全面覆盖的监督格局，汇聚“头雁领航、雁阵齐飞”的整体协同效应。

Guarding against “seeking quick success” and “laziness and inertia” [7], further advance the fight against corruption with an attitude of never stopping for a moment and never retreating half a step. In advancing the fight against corruption, one cannot harbor a mentality of seeking quick victory by fighting one decisive battle or a passive mentality of intermittently following others step by step. We must make regular, detailed, and long-term efforts, and never stop until complete victory is won. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has taken on the responsibility of “

防范“急于求成”和“怠惰因循”，以一步不停歇、半步不退让的态度进一步推进反腐败斗争。推进反腐败斗争，不能抱有毕其功于一役的速决思想和断断续续、亦步亦趋的消极心态，必须抓常、抓细、抓长，不获全胜、决不收兵。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央以“得罪千百人、不负十四亿”的担当祛疴治乱，取得了反腐败斗争的压倒性胜利并全面巩固，为实现中国式现代化驱除拦路虎、扫除绊脚石。当前，反腐败斗争形势仍然严峻复杂，铲除腐败滋生土壤和条件任务仍然艰巨繁重，在部分权力和资源集中领域的腐败存量尚未全面清除、增量仍在积累，纠治“四风”和查处腐败在取得重大进展的同时，仍存在反弹回潮的可能。为此，必须始终把握最新动向、保持高压态势、永葆战略定力，雷厉风行又久久为功地铲除以权力滥用为本质的腐败思想和行为，确保权力始终用来为人民谋幸福。

3. Strengthening systematic governance

3. 强化系统施治

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, “Deepen the simultaneous treatment of both symptoms and root causes and systematic governance, and continuously expand the depth and breadth of the anti-corruption struggle” and “Use systematic thinking and scientific methods to advance the comprehensive coverage of Party governance and Party building in all areas, the full coverage of its objects, the complete chain of responsibilities, and the full integration of institutions, further perfecting a comprehensive and strict governance of the Party system with complete elements, complete functions, scientific standards, and efficient operation.” To more scientifically and effectively confine power within the institutional cage and provide a strong guarantee for achieving the objectives and tasks of the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, we must by no means view problems in isolation or pursue governance in a one-sided manner. Instead, we must accurately grasp the laws and characteristics of power operation, strengthen systematic thinking, enhance coordination and linkage, and, through the unification of rule-making and discipline enforcement, the combination of leading from above and setting an example with education and propaganda, provide a strong guarantee for the steady and sustained advancement of Chinese-path modernization with new achievements in comprehensive and strict governance of the Party.

习近平总书记指出，“深化标本兼治、系统施治，不断拓展反腐败斗争深度广度”“用系统思维、科学方法推进管党治党内容全涵盖、对象全覆盖、责任全链条、制度全贯通，进一步健全要素齐全、功能完备、科学规范、运行高效的全面从严治党体系”。更加科学有效地把权力关进制度笼子，为实现“十五五”时期目标任务提供坚强保障，我们决不能孤立地看问题、片面地抓治理，而必须准确把握权力运行的规律和特点，强化系统观念，加强联动配合，通过立规与执纪相统一、以上率下与宣传教育相结合等，以全面从严治党新成效为推进中国式现代化行稳致远提供坚强保障。

Adhere to the unification of rule-making and discipline enforcement, and enhance the scientific level of institutional design and the rigid binding force of institutional implementation. The vitality of an institution lies in its implementation, and the prerequisite for implementation lies in the institution’s own scientific nature. To this end, on the one hand, institutional regulations should be continuously improved to enhance their targeted nature and operability. This requires combining the new tasks and new requirements of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party in the New Era, promptly elevating relatively mature practical experiences and practices into institutional regulations, and doing a good job of establishing, amending, abolishing, and interpreting them. On the other hand, efforts should be focused on improving the implementation capacity of institutions and maintaining their seriousness and authority. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, “Strict institutional implementation must be ensured, democratic centralism must be fully implemented, and the operation of power must be supervised throughout the entire process.” Once an institution is formed, it constitutes a rigid constraint. It must be insisted that everyone is equal before laws and regulations, that there are no privileges in complying with laws and regulations, and that there are no exceptions in enforcing laws and regulations. Behaviors such as failing to act on orders, failing to stop prohibited actions, or making selective choices, engaging in adaptations, or offering discounts must be resolutely corrected. A “zero tolerance” approach must be adopted toward acts that undermine institutions, ensuring that power operates in a standardized and orderly manner within the institutional framework, and that institutional regulations truly become a live high-voltage line.

坚持立规与执纪相统一，提升制度设计的科学水平和制度执行的刚性约束。制度的生命力在于执行，而执行的前提在于其本身的科学性。为此，一方面，应不断完善制度规定，增强其针对性、可操作性。这就要求结合新时代全面从严治党的新任务、新要求，及时把实践中比较成熟的经验做法上升为制度规定，并做好立改废释工作。另一方面，应着力提高制度执行力，维护制度的严肃性和权威性。习近平总书记指出，“要严格制度执行，全面贯彻民主集中制，全过程监督权力运行”。制度一经形成，就是刚性约束，必须坚持法规制度面前人人平等、遵守法规制度没有特权、执行法规制度没有例外，坚决纠正有令不行、有禁不止或做选择、搞变通、打折扣的行为。对破坏制度的行为“零容忍”，让权力在制度的框架内规范有序运行，确保制度规定真正成为带电的高压线。

Adhere to the combination of leading from above and setting an example with education and propaganda, and guide the vast number of Party members and cadres to understand laws and discipline, clarify rules, and know reverence. Confining power within the cage depends not only on external institutional constraints but also on internal conscious compliance. On the one hand, leading cadres must take the lead in implementing institutions. Leading cadres specifically exercise the Party’s governing power and the state’s legislative, executive, supervisory, and judicial powers. They must take the lead in defending institutional authority, struggle against acts that violate and undermine institutions, and guide the vast number of Party members and cadres to continuously enhance their awareness of complying with rules and discipline. Whatever Party members and cadres are required to do, leading cadres must do first; whatever Party members and cadres are required not to do, leading cadres must resolutely refrain from doing. By grasping from the top down and leading by example at each level, a political ecosystem of integrity and uprightness can be fostered. On the other hand, innovate methods and means of discipline education and law-based governance propaganda, and build a solid ideological dam against corruption and degeneration. Adhere to normalized and long-term Party spirit education and warning education, guiding Party members and cadres to deeply study the Party Constitution, intra-Party regulations, and Party discipline, not only knowing “what it is” but also understanding “why it is so.” By analyzing typical cases, Party members and cadres can truly revere power and legal discipline from the depths of their hearts.

坚持以上率下与宣传教育相结合，引导广大党员干部懂法纪、明规矩、知敬畏。把权力关进笼子，不仅要靠外在的制度约束，还要靠内在的自觉遵循。一方面，领导干部要带头执行制度。领导干部具体行使党的执政权和国家立法权、行政权、监察权、司法权，必须带头捍卫制度权威，同违反制度、破坏制度的行为作斗争，引领广大党员干部不断增强遵规守纪意识。凡是要求党员干部做到的，领导干部要首先做到，凡是要求党员干部不做的，领导干部就要坚决不做。通过自上而下抓、一级带着一级干，营造风清气正的政治生态。另一方面，创新纪律教育和法治宣传方式方法，筑牢拒腐防变的思想堤坝。坚持常态化、长效化的党性教育和警示教育，引导党员干部深入学习党章、党规、党纪，不仅要“知其然”，更要“知其所以然”。通过剖析典型案例，让党员干部真正从内心深处敬畏权力、敬畏法纪。

Adhere to the coordination and mutual promotion of power operating in the sunshine with the integration of various types of supervision, forming a comprehensive, normalized, and long-lasting supervisory synergy. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “Sunshine is the best disinfectant. If power operation does not see the sunshine, or selectively sees the sunshine, public trust cannot be established.” The transparency of Party affairs and government affairs should be further enhanced. The content made public should highlight key points, squeeze out the water, and extract the dry goods, allowing the masses to hear what they most want to hear, see what they most want to see, and understand what they most want to know. In the era of digital intelligence, modern information technology should also be skillfully used to embed the nodes and requirements of risk prevention and control into platforms such as approval and supervision, promote the online transparency of Party affairs and government affairs, eliminate the space for black-box operations and the abuse and private use of power, and let sunshine shine into every corner where power is exercised. While enhancing transparency, efforts should also be made to build a supervision system with intra-Party supervision as the leading force, systematic integration, and coordinated efficiency, continuously promote the normalized and institutionalized coordination and integration of discipline inspection supervision, supervisory supervision, dispatched supervision, and inspection supervision, achieving information exchange, resource sharing, and outcome co-utilization. Continuously promote the coordinated linkage and complementary advantages of people’s congress supervision, democratic supervision, administrative supervision, and judicial supervision, forming a supervisory synergy, and ensuring that power operates in a standardized manner under comprehensive and full-process strict supervision.

坚持权力在阳光下运行与各类监督贯通协调相促进，形成全面覆盖、常态长效的监督合力。习近平总书记指出：“阳光是最好的防腐剂。权力运行不见阳光，或有选择地见阳光，公信力就无法树立。”应进一步提高党务、政务的透明度，公开内容要突出重点，挤干水分，拎出干货，让群众听到最想听的、看到最想看的、了解到最想了解的。在数智时代，还要善用现代信息技术，把风险防控的节点和要求内嵌到审批、监管等平台中，推动党务、政务网上公开透明，清除暗箱操作和权力滥用、私用的空间，让阳光照进权力行使的每一个角落。在提升透明度的同时，还要着力构建以党内监督为主导，系统集成、协同高效的监督体系，持续推进纪律监督、监察监督、派驻监督、巡视监督统筹衔接常态化制度化，实现信息互通、资源共享、成果共用。不断促进人大监督、民主监督、行政监督、司法监督等协调联动、优势互补，形成监督合力，让权力在全方位、全过程的严密监督中规范运行。

(Author: He Husheng, specially appointed researcher of the Beijing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Research Center, professor at the School of Marxism Studies and the School of Discipline Inspection and Supervision, Renmin University of China)

（作者：何虎生，系北京市习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究中心特约研究员，中国人民大学马克思主义学院、纪检监察学院教授）