Confining the exercise of power within an institutional cage

Xi Jinping introduced the idea of an "institutional cage" at the second plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in January 2013. He said that the move to confine the exercise of power within an institutional cage is meant to strengthen scrutiny of the work and deter possible misuse of power by officials. It entails establishing a mechanism that prevents, deters and punishes corruption.

Institutions are of fundamental, overall, and long-lasting importance, and have a profound impact on the stability of the country. To check the exercise of powers, there must be a solid cage of institutions. Administration holds the key to this goal. Powers should be properly designated so that making, execution, and supervision of decisions will check each other and coordinate with each other, and a system of institutions operates effectively to check and oversee the exercise of power.

The people should be granted powers of scrutiny as part of the efforts to build a sound mechanism for supervision with effective synergy. Powers must be exercised in the light of day, and this exercise of power should be procedure-based and made public. Party affairs, government operations, judicial affairs, and other affairs in relevant areas will be made more transparent. Lists of powers will be defined, so that powers and responsibilities are matched, and those exercising power bear correspondent responsibilities and are held accountable for any abuse. Any ideas and practices redolent of privilege will be opposed, and it is absolutely forbidden to seek privilege or to abuse one's power for personal gain.

把權力關進制度的籠子

2013年1月，習近平在十八屆中央紀委二次全會上強調，要加強對權力運行的制約和監(jiān)督，把權力關進制度的籠子里，形成不敢腐的懲戒機制、不能腐的防范機制、不易腐的保障機制。制度問題更帶有根本性、全局性、穩(wěn)定性、長期性。用制度管權，就是要把權力關進制度的籠子里。把權力關進制度的籠子里，首先要建好籠子。要抓住治權這個關鍵，編密扎緊制度的籠子，按照決策、執(zhí)行、監(jiān)督既相互制約又相互協調的原則區(qū)分和配置權力，構建嚴密的權力運行制約和監(jiān)督體系。要讓人民監(jiān)督權力，努力形成科學有效的監(jiān)督體系，增強監(jiān)督合力和實效。要讓權力在陽光下運行，推進權力運行公開化、規(guī)范化，完善黨務公開、政務公開、司法公開和各領域辦事公開制度。要建立權力清單、實行權責對應，堅持有權就有責，失職要問責。要反對特權思想、特權現象，決不允許以權謀私，決不允許搞特權。