Unified state power

Unified state power is a principle that comes from Marxist–Leninist ideas about how a communist government should work. It is different from other systems where different parts of the government have separate jobs. In this system, there is one main group that has all the power to make laws, run the country, and decide on important matters. This main group is called the supreme state organ of power (SSOP).

All smaller groups in the government are part of this one big structure and must follow the rules set by the SSOP. The SSOP makes the laws, and everyone else in the government must obey them. This helps make sure that everyone works together in one way.

In countries like China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam, this idea of unified state power is very important. It helps these countries run by having one main group in charge, with smaller groups helping out under its direction.

Popular sovereignty as the source of unified power

Theoretical origins

In Marxist–Leninist theory, the highest state power is seen as the way the people’s will is expressed. It is chosen through elections and is thought to hold all the state’s powers together. This top state power brings together making laws, running the government, and handling justice.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Engels helped shape these ideas. Rousseau believed that all power comes from the people and should work for everyone’s good. The people’s choices, even if sometimes mislead, are always right because they aim for fairness. Later, during big changes in Russia, groups called soviets showed how people could govern themselves directly, though these groups were short-lived.

In institutionalised form

After a major revolution in Russia, leaders tried to put these ideas into practice. They created a new kind of government where the main power came from the people’s elected groups, called soviets. These groups were meant to hold all the state’s powers, ending fights between different government parts. Over time, rules were made to organize these groups, with the top group having the most authority.

Different communist countries have their own ways of choosing leaders, but they all aim to reflect the people’s will. Some let people vote directly for leaders, while others have indirect voting. These systems were built to support the idea that the people are in charge, even though there have been debates about how free these elections really are.

Administrative extension of state power

In these systems, the top state power was seen as the most important, and lower groups could only act within their areas. The people’s power flowed from them to the top group, which then gave out tasks to lower groups. These lower groups had their own power but had to follow the top group’s rules.

Countries like the Soviet Union, Romania, and Yugoslavia each had their own ways of organizing these groups. Some focused more on central control, while others allowed more local decision-making. Laws and rules changed over time to balance between central and local powers.

Constitution and laws

Leaders like Lenin believed that the government should serve the people, led by a party that represents workers. Early on, there was debate about whether laws would disappear, but later ideas said laws were needed to protect the new society.

In these states, the highest government body made the main rules, and the constitution was the most important law. It set out big ideas about how the country should work, but left details to other laws. Unlike in some other systems, there were no separate courts to check if laws followed the constitution. Instead, the party and other groups made sure everything followed the main ideas. The constitution was seen as strong and true because it matched the real life of the people and the country’s setup.

The unified powers of the supreme state organ of power

The idea of unified power comes from Marxist–Leninist ideas. It opposes separating different kinds of government powers, like making laws, running the government, and judging cases. Instead, it says all these powers should be together in one main group, called the supreme state organ of power (SSOP). This group is at the top and makes all the decisions.

This idea started because Marx and Lenin thought that separating powers gave too much control to leaders instead of the people. They liked how the Paris Commune worked, where the people chose leaders who could both make and carry out laws. Later, in Russia, the first SSOP was created in 1917. It tried to bring together making laws and running the government, so leaders had to report back to the people often. This helped make sure everyone worked together and followed the rules.

Evolution

In Chinese politics, the idea of unified state power is often called "the unity of deliberation and action." This means that all important decisions are made together, and then everyone works to carry them out. This idea is part of a bigger concept called democratic centralism, which is written into the country's rules. Some experts say that this unity of deliberation and action is the true meaning of democratic centralism.

The top group in charge, called the supreme state organ of power (SSOP), makes all the big decisions. In China, this group is known as the system of people's congress. Lower groups help carry out these decisions but do not make their own separate rules. Important leaders like Dong Biwu, who was the president of the Supreme People's Court, explained that China's system is designed so that all levels work together in discussion and action.

Some scholars believe that because the SSOP represents the will of the people, it cannot make rules that go against the country's basic laws. Others think that while the SSOP has great power, it still must follow the rules set by the people.

In Vietnam, the idea of unified state power also exists. The country's top group, called the National Assembly of Vietnam, is chosen by the people to make the main decisions. All other groups work together under this top group's guidance, sharing tasks but always staying focused on the same goals. This is different from systems where groups must keep each other in check, as in some Western countries. Instead, Vietnamese groups coordinate and support each other.

Leaders in Vietnam have talked about balancing central control with giving some power to local areas. They believe this helps prevent mistakes and keeps the system fair and effective. The country's current rules state that Vietnam is a "socialist state ruled by law and of the People, by the People and for the People." This means that the way power is used follows the law and supports democracy, even though the type of government is defined by its socialist nature.