One hundred years ago, Zhang Zhidong tried to advocate Chinese learning by saying: 'The course of a nation, be it bright or gloomy, the pool of talents, be it large or small, are about governance on the surface, and about learning at the root. ' At that time, the imperialist powers cast menacing eyes on our country, and the domestic situation was deteriorating. The quick infiltration of Western learning made the long-standing Chinese tradition come under heavy challenge.
Table of Contents
CHAPTEE I. Introduction : The Crisis and the Problem BOOK I.MODEKN CHINESE HISTORY AND POLITICS The Rise of Democracy The Triumph of the Republic The Return of Monarchy The Struggle over the Constitution The Civil War The Provisional Constitution——and Its Defects The Lessons of the Decade The Abolition of the Tuchun System The Framing and Adoption of the Permanent Constitution The Perils and the Salvation BOOK II. CONSTITUTIONNAL GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT Cabinet vs. Presidential System: Cabinet System Cabinet vs. Presidential System : Presidential System Federal vs. Unitary System: Federal System Federal vs. Unitary System : Unitary System Legislature : Its Structure and Composition Legislature : Its Functions add Powers Executive: His Election Executive: His Powers Judiciary: Its Independence and Functions Provincial Autonomous Government Local Self-Government
CONTENTS XXIII. Budget:lts Funotions anclProcedure XXIV. Political Partie8: Their Functions and Req-rusites XXV. Prnra,te Rights: Their Enumeration and Guarantees XXVI. NationalConvention XXVII. A Permanent Constitution for China
APPENDICES I. Constitutional Documents Under Manohu Regime II. The Prorrisiolusl Constitution III. The Constitutional Cornpaot, 1914 IV. Goodnow's Memorandum V. Goodnow's Constitutian VI. The NationalConstitution,1917 VII. The City Charter of Canton
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The National Assembly, the forerunner of Parliament, wasconvoked on October 3, 1910. Though unicameral, it con-sisted of the elements of two Chambers, the representatives of the privileged classes to serve as the foundation of the Upper House, and those from the Provincial Assemblies as that of the Lower House. An immediate consequence of the opening of the ProvincialAssemblies was theimpetus afforded to the morrement for an early comrocation of National Parliament and the adoption ofa constitution. In December, 1910,in response to the popularclamor for an effective control of the reins of the government,and protection of the rights of the people against the perils of Westem aressions, some fifty delegates from. the ProvincialAssemblies met in Shanghai, and, after holding preliminaryconferences, proceeded to Peking. They petitioned the Throne to grant an early convocation of National Assembly, whichwas, however, rerected. Another endeavor was made, only tomeet a like refusal." Meanwhile, as the National Assembly opened, within aweek of its convocation,it took up the question of the earlyassem'oling of a National Parliament. On October 22, amidstextraordinary enthusiasm, a resolution was adopted praying theThrone to call the Parhament at an early date.
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Selected Works of Modern Chinese Learning: Modern Democracy In China