Confining Power in the Institutional Cage through Rigorous Institutions and Rigid Enforcement

In his important speech delivered at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that “the self-revolution of the Party focuses on governing power; confining power in the institutional cage is an important task for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party in the New Era.” This is an inevitable requirement for upholding and strengthening the Party’s overall leadership and advancing the Party’s self-revolution in the New Era, and it is also a solid guarantee for ensuring that the major decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee are implemented effectively. It holds far-reaching significance for placing greater emphasis on governing power through institutions, managing power in accordance with regulations, and standardizing the exercise of power in the practice of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party in the New Era, and for ensuring that power always operates on the correct track through rigorous institutions and rigid enforcement.

习近平总书记在二十届中央纪委五次全会上发表的重要讲话中强调，“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”。这是新时代坚持和加强党的全面领导、推进党的自我革命的必然要求，也是推动党中央重大决策部署落到实处的坚实保障，对于在新时代全面从严治党实践中更加突出制度治权、依规管权、规范用权，以严密制度和刚性执行确保权力始终在正确轨道上运行具有深远意义。

I

一

“The self-revolution of the Party focuses on governing power” is a major thesis put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping at this session. This thesis fundamentally reveals the key orientation of the Party’s self-revolution under conditions of long-term governance, and is of great significance for advancing comprehensive and strict governance of the Party with higher standards and stricter measures. The issue of power has always been the core issue confronting the construction of a ruling party. Power is a double-edged sword; once it loses restraint, it can be alienated into a tool for private gain, thereby corroding the Party’s advanced nature and integrity, damaging relations between the Party and the masses and between cadres and the masses, and ultimately eroding the Party’s governing foundation. As a Marxist political party that has been in power for a long time, the CPC emphasizes that “the self-revolution of the Party focuses on governing power.” This is not a general work requirement, but the “ox nose” that must be grasped in advancing the Party’s self-revolution, and a key link in pushing comprehensive and strict governance of the Party to a deeper level.

“党的自我革命重在治权”，这是习近平总书记在此次会议上提出的一个重大论断。这一论断从根本上揭示了长期执政条件下党的自我革命的关键指向，对于以更高标准、更严举措推进全面从严治党具有重大意义。权力问题，从来就是执政党建设面对的核心问题。权力是一把双刃剑，一旦失去约束，就可能异化为谋私工具，进而腐蚀党的先进性纯洁性，破坏党群干群关系，最终侵蚀党的执政根基。中国共产党作为一个长期执政的马克思主义政党，强调“党的自我革命重在治权”，这不是一般性的工作要求，而是推进党的自我革命必须牵住的“牛鼻子”，是将全面从严治党向纵深推进的关键环节。

From the perspective of the laws governing the construction of Marxist political parties, the greatest risk for a ruling party is often not a lack of governing capacity or competence, but the political risks arising from the disorderly operation of power. Especially under conditions of long-term governance, the national governance system becomes more complex, and corruption often proceeds through channels such as power rent-seeking, power-money transactions, and interest transfers. The roots of these corruption problems all point to the supervision and restraint of power. That the Party’s self-revolution focuses on governing power means resolving, from the institutional level, major issues such as where power comes from, for whom it is used, how it is used, and who supervises it, placing the operation of power under supervision and restraint, and compressing the space for corruption to breed at its source.

从马克思主义政党建设规律来看，执政党的最大风险，往往不是缺乏执政能力和水平，而是权力运行失范所导致的政治风险。特别是在长期执政条件下，国家治理体系更为复杂，腐败往往通过权力寻租、权钱交易、利益输送等渠道来进行，这些腐败问题的根源都指向权力的监督与制约。党的自我革命重在治权，就是要从制度层面解决权力从哪里来、为谁用、怎么用、由谁监督等重大问题，把权力运行置于监督和约束之下，从源头上压缩腐败滋生空间。

From the experience of Party building in the New Era, since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee has broken new ground by formulating and implementing the Eight-Point Regulations, establishing iron rules and imposing rigid constraints, thereby bringing about a completely new atmosphere in the Party and government conduct. The reason why the Eight-Point Regulations have penetrating power and long-term effectiveness in the construction of clean governance and the fight against corruption is that they start from the links most prone to breeding privilege and most likely to damage relations between the Party and the masses and between cadres and the masses, using institutions and discipline to clarify the boundaries of power operation and compress the arbitrary space for the exercise of power, thereby bringing about profound changes in the political ecosystem. Practice shows that confining power in the institutional cage is an effective path for advancing comprehensive and strict governance of the Party and purifying Party and government conduct, and is also an important guarantee for enhancing the effectiveness of national governance.

从新时代党的建设经验来看，党的十八大以来，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。中央八项规定在党风廉政建设中之所以具有穿透力和长效性，就在于它能够从最容易滋生特权、最容易侵蚀党群干群关系的环节入手，用制度和纪律明确了权力运行的边界，压缩权力行使的任性空间，由此带来了政治生态的深刻变化。实践表明，把权力关进制度笼子，是推进全面从严治党、纯洁党风政风的有效路径，也是提升国家治理效能的重要保证。

From the perspective of the missions and tasks undertaken by our Party on the new journey of the New Era, the period of the 14th Five-Year Plan is a critical period for consolidating the foundation and making comprehensive efforts to basically realize socialist modernization. The tasks are heavy and the requirements for coordination are high. The more critical the period, the more necessary it is to ensure that major decisions and deployments are not distorted or deformed by standardizing the operation of power and strengthening institutional constraints. Only by making governing power the key focus for advancing self-revolution can we achieve the interconnection and linkage of rectifying conduct, enforcing discipline, and combating corruption at a deeper level, and only then can we provide a strong guarantee with a clean and upright political ecosystem for the smooth realization of the goals and tasks of the period of the 14th Five-Year Plan.

从新时代新征程我们党所承担的使命任务来看，“十五五”时期是基本实现社会主义现代化夯实基础、全面发力的关键时期，任务重、协同要求高。越是处于关键时期，越需要通过规范权力运行、强化制度约束，确保各项重大决策部署不走样、不变形。只有把治权作为推进自我革命的关键着力点，才能在更深层次上实现正风肃纪反腐的贯通联动，才能以风清气正的政治生态为顺利实现“十五五”时期目标任务提供坚强保障。

II

二

Whether the governance of power is effective depends crucially on whether the institutions are scientific, whether enforcement is rigid, and whether constraints are in place. This requires that, based on the provision of scientific institutions, with rigid institutional enforcement as the key, and with the maintenance of institutional authority as the guarantee, the entire process of power operation is always placed under institutional

治权是否有效，关键要看制度是否科学、执行是否刚性、约束是否到位。这就要求，必须以科学制度供给为基础、以刚性制度执行为关键、以维护制度权威为保障，使权力运行的全过程始终处于制度约束之下。习近平总书记明确指出，把权力关进制度笼子，既要不断完善制度规定，使制度密而不繁、有效管用，又要着力提高制度执行力，增强刚性约束。要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，确保制度规定真正成为带电的高压线。这一重要论断，从制度供给、制度执行、制度权威三个层面，系统回答了制度笼子如何才能真正扎紧、带电、有效等关键问题，深刻揭示了以制度治权的基本方法论。

To confine power within the cage of institutions, there must be a scientifically effective "cage." The key to institutional development lies in comprehensively incorporating the key links and risk points of power operation into the institutional track, achieving clarity of powers and responsibilities, definiteness of procedures, and clear boundaries. At the same time, institutions are not about having as many as possible, but about whether they are systematic, coordinated, and operable. "Dense but not cumbersome" emphasizes that institutional coverage should be comprehensive rather than fragmented; "effective and practical" emphasizes that institutional design should directly target problems and reach the crux of the matter, rather than remaining at the level of declaratory principles. Only by adhering to a problem-oriented and practice-oriented approach, and improving the institutional system around key areas, critical positions, and key matters, can institutional supply truly become a stable framework for regulating the operation of power.

把权力关进制度笼子，必须有科学有效的“笼子”。制度建设的关键，在于把权力运行的重点环节和风险节点全面纳入制度轨道，做到权责清晰、程序明确、边界分明。同时，制度并非越多越好，而在于是否系统、协调、可操作。“密而不繁”强调制度覆盖要全面而不碎片化，“有效管用”强调制度设计要直指问题、直达要害，而不能停留在原则宣示层面。只有坚持问题导向和实践导向，围绕重点领域、关键岗位、关键事项完善制度体系，制度供给才能真正成为规范权力运行的稳定框架。

The vitality of institutions lies in their implementation. If institutional development remains at the textual level and lacks rigid enforcement, it will be difficult to form a realistic constraint. General Secretary Xi Jinping, by simultaneously emphasizing the enhancement of institutional implementation capacity and the strengthening of rigid constraints, underscores that institutions must possess realistic coercive force and stable expectations. "Implementation capacity" addresses the issue of whether institutions can be strictly implemented; "rigid constraints" addresses the issue that violating institutions must inevitably incur costs. The two support each other, aiming to prevent selective implementation, flexible execution, and discounted enforcement in the process of institutional implementation, ensuring that the operation of institutions is not arbitrarily undermined or eroded by power.

制度的生命力在于执行。制度建设如果停留在文本层面，缺乏刚性执行，就难以形成现实约束。习近平总书记将提高制度执行力与增强刚性约束并举，强调的正是制度必须具备现实强制力和稳定预期。“执行力”解决的是制度能否严格落实的问题，“刚性约束”解决的是违反制度必然付出代价的问题。二者相互支撑，指向防止制度执行中的选择性落实、变通式执行和打折扣执行，确保制度运行不被随意消解、不被权力侵蚀。

The core of institutional authority lies not in the institutional provisions themselves, but in whether the institutions can constrain those with the greatest power. The three aspects—"equality for everyone," "no privileges," and "no exceptions"—progress in a layered manner, explicitly negating any space for special treatment or flexibility in institutional implementation, reflecting the unshakable rigid principle of governing power through institutions. The essence of this requirement is not a technical issue of implementation, but a serious political principle. Only by maintaining institutional authority through strict enforcement, and using institutional authority to compel the standardized operation of power, can it be ensured that institutions truly manage and govern power.

制度权威的核心，不在于制度条文本身，而在于制度是否能够约束最有权力的人。“人人平等”“没有特权”“没有例外”三个方面层层递进，明确否定了制度执行中的任何特殊化、弹性化空间，体现的是制度治权不可动摇的刚性原则。这一要求的实质不是技术层面的执行问题，而是严肃的政治原则问题。唯有以严格执行维护制度权威，以制度权威倒逼权力规范运行，才能确保制度真正管得住权、治得了权。

III

三

The key to tightening the institutional cage lies in making it take effect on the ground. General

把制度笼子扎紧，关键在于使其落地见效。习近平总书记强调，“一把手”要带头执行制度。要加强法规制度宣传教育，引导党员、干部懂法纪、明规矩、知敬畏。要进一步提高党务、政务的透明度，让权力在阳光下运行。这些要求从领导责任、思想认知和运行环境三个方面构成制度执行由要求走向实效的完整链条。

Whether the cage of institutions can be tightened depends not only on the strictness of the text, but also on whether the "key minority" abide by it. Whether an institution can be enforced depends first and foremost on whether those who hold the most concentrated power are the first to follow the rules. The "first-in-command" holds principal power and bears key responsibility, and their attitude and behavior toward enforcing institutions have a strong demonstration effect. If the "first-in-command" strictly exercises power in accordance with institutions and takes the lead in abiding by rules and discipline, they can promote the firm establishment of institutional authority within the organization; conversely, they will quickly weaken the seriousness of the institutions, even causing the operation of power to deviate from the track and triggering a "broken windows effect." [1]1 The "broken windows effect" is a criminological theory, often cited in Chinese political discourse, suggesting that visible signs of disorder (like a broken window left unrepaired) encourage further disorder and more serious violations; here it is used metaphorically to warn that lax enforcement of rules by leaders will lead to widespread non-compliance. Therefore, we must persist in the principle that those above set an example for those below, take leading by example in enforcing institutions as an important criterion for testing the political quality and political capability of leading cadres, place the supervision of the "first-in-command" in a prominent position, and promote the formation of a sound situation in which the "key minority" take the lead in setting an example and all cadres follow suit.

制度笼子能否扎紧，不仅在文本严不严，而且看“关键少数”守不守。制度能不能执行，首先取决于权力掌握最集中者是否率先守规矩。“一把手”掌握主要权力、承担关键责任，其对执行制度的态度和行为具有强烈示范效应。“一把手”严格依规用权、带头遵规守纪，就能推动制度权威在组织内部牢固树立，反之就会迅速削弱制度的严肃性，甚至使权力运行偏离轨道，引发“破窗效应”。因此，必须坚持以上率下，把带头执行制度作为检验领导干部政治品质、政治能力的重要标准，把对“一把手”的监督摆在突出位置，推动形成“关键少数”率先垂范、全体干部共同遵循的良好局面。

If institutions remain only at the level of external restraint, they can easily degenerate into "passive compliance." Only through sustained education on laws and regulations, enabling Party members and cadres to truly understand, identify with, and hold in awe the institutions, can institutions be transformed into stable behavioral norms and conscious action. Understanding legal discipline resolves the issue of "whether one knows"; clarifying rules resolves the issue of "whether the boundaries are clear"; holding in awe resolves the issue of "whether one dares to cross the line." Only by educating and guiding Party members and cadres to genuinely form in their thinking a reverence for institutions, an awe of discipline, and a sober understanding of power, can institutions rise from external restraint to internal consciousness, and can power be transformed from passive constraint into active acceptance of supervision.

制度如果只停留在外在约束层面，就容易演变为“被动遵守”。只有通过持续的法规制度教育，使党员、干部真正理解制度、认同制度、敬畏制度，制度才能转化为稳定的行为准则和行动自觉。懂法纪，解决“知不知道”的问题；明规矩，解决“边界清不清”的问题；知敬畏，解决“敢不敢越界”的问题。只有教育引导党员、干部在思想上真正形成对制度的尊崇、对纪律的敬畏、对权力的清醒认识，制度才能从外在约束上升为内在自觉，权力才能从被动受约束转化为主动受监督。

The more closed the operation of power, the easier it is for institutions to be evaded; the more open the operation of power, the easier it is for institutions to be enforced. Increasing transparency in Party and government affairs essentially compresses the space for power to operate in the dark and for institutional manipulation through the disclosure of information, the visibility of processes, and the verifiability of results, placing institutional enforcement in an environment subject to supervision and accountability. "Letting power operate in the sunshine" is not a mere issue of openness; rather, through a transparent operational mechanism, it enhances the visibility, supervisability, and accountability of institutions, thereby strengthening the firmness of institutional enforcement. This requires promoting standardization through openness and strengthening supervision through transparency, placing the operation of power under the supervision of the masses and of institutions, so that the institutional cage is truly visible and capable of exercising control.

权力运行越封闭，制度越容易被规避；权力运行越公开，制度越容易被执行。提高党务、政务透明度，本质上是通过信息公开、过程可视、结果可查，压缩权力暗箱操作和制度变通的空间，使制度执行处在可监督、可追责的环境中。“让权力在阳光下运行”，并不是单纯的公开问题，而是通过透明化运行机制，增强制度的可见性、可监督性和可追责性，从而提升制度执行的刚性。这就要求以公开促规范、以透明强监督，把权力运行置于群众监督和制度监督之下，使制度笼子真正看得见、管得住。

(Author: Song Fufan, Researcher at the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Professor at the School of Marxism, Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC [National Academy of Governance])

（作者：宋福范，系中央党校〔国家行政学院〕习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究中心研究员、马克思主义学院教授）