Premier of the Republic of China
Encyclopedia
The President of the Executive Yuan , commonly known as the Premier of the Republic of China (sometimes as Prime Minister) , is the head of the Executive Yuan
, the executive branch of the Republic of China
(ROC), which currently administers Taiwan
, Matsu
, and Kinmen
. The premier is appointed by the President of the Republic of China
. The role is informally known as the Premier of Taiwan.
in 1928, the premier of the Republic of China was created as "Premier of Cabinet" in 1912. It was changed to the "Secretary of State" in 1914 and "Premier of State Council" in 1916 in the Beiyang Government
. In 1928, the Kuomintang
(KMT) Government established the Executive Yuan and Tan Yankai
served as the first President of the Executive Yuan.
, responding to the interpellations of legislators (much like Question Time
in some parliamentary systems), and, with the approval of the president, asking the Legislative Yuan to reconsider its resolutions. Laws and decrees promulgated by the President of the Republic must also be countersigned by the premier.
In the event of vacancies in both the presidency and the vice presidency, the premier serves as Acting President of the Republic for up to three months.
One-third of the Legislative Yuan may initiate a no-confidence vote against the premier. If approved with simple majority, the premier must resign from office within ten days and at the same time may request that the President dissolve the Legislative Yuan. If the motion fails, another no-confidence motion against the same premier cannot be initiated for one year. This power has never been used. In practice, the President has enough legitimacy and executive authority to govern in the face of a legislature controlled by the opposition, and would likely respond to a vote of no-confidence by nominating another person with similar views.
did not originally define strictly the relation between the premier and the president of the Republic and it was not clear whether the government would lean towards a presidential system
or parliamentary system
when divided. Power shifted to Premier Chiang Ching-kuo
after President Chiang Kai-shek
's death but shifted to the presidency again when Chiang Ching-kuo became president. After President Lee Teng-hui
succeeded Chiang as president in 1988, the power struggle within the KMT extended to the constitutional debate over the relationship between the president and the premier. The first three premiers under Lee, Yu Kuo-hwa
, Lee Huan
, and Hau Pei-tsun
were mainlanders who had initially opposed Lee's ascension to power. The appointment of Lee and Hau were compromises by President Lee to placate the conservative mainlander faction in the party. The subsequent appointment of the first native Taiwanese premier Lien Chan
was taken as a sign of Lee's consolidation of power. Moreover, during this time, the power of the premier to approve the president's appointments and the power of the Legislative Yuan to confirm the president's choice of premier was removed (out of fears that the Democratic Progressive Party
would one day gain control of the legislature), clearly establishing the president as the more powerful position of the two.
The relationship between the premier and the legislature again became a contentious issue after the 2000 Presidential election
, which led to the election of the Democratic Progressive Party's Chen Shui-bian
to the presidency, while the legislature has remained under the control of the Pan-Blue Coalition
. Initially, President Chen Shui-bian appointed to the premiership Tang Fei
, who was a member of the Kuomintang, but this arrangement proved unworkable and subsequent appointments were from the Democratic Progressive Party
. The established constitutional convention is that the premier is responsible to the President and does not have any responsibility to the legislature other than to report on his activities. However, the Pan-Blue Coalition has contended that Chen's actions are unconstitutional and has proposed to name its own choice of premier. Pan-Blue has since rejected, on principle, all legislative bills originating from the Executive Yuan (though some bills with inter-party support are simply rewritten and reintroduced by legislators), leading to legislative gridlock. This has renewed calls for a constitutional amendment to better define the relationship between the executive and legislative branches of government.
Executive Yuan
The Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...
, the executive branch of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(ROC), which currently administers Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, Matsu
Matsu Islands
The Matsu Islands are a minor archipelago of 19 islands and islets in the Taiwan Strait administered as Lienchiang County , Fujian Province of the Republic of China . Only a small area of what is historically Lienchiang County is under the control of the ROC...
, and Kinmen
Kinmen
Kinmen , also known as Quemoy , is a small archipelago of several islands administered by the Republic of China : Greater Kinmen, Lesser Kinmen, and some islets. Administratively, it is Kinmen County of Fujian Province, ROC. The county is claimed by the People's Republic of China as part of its...
. The premier is appointed by the President of the Republic of China
President of the Republic of China
The President of the Republic of China is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Republic of China . The Republic of China was founded on January 1, 1912, to govern all of China...
. The role is informally known as the Premier of Taiwan.
History
Before the establishment of the Executive YuanExecutive Yuan
The Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...
in 1928, the premier of the Republic of China was created as "Premier of Cabinet" in 1912. It was changed to the "Secretary of State" in 1914 and "Premier of State Council" in 1916 in the Beiyang Government
Beiyang Government
The Beiyang government or warlord government collectively refers to a series of military regimes that ruled from Beijing from 1912 to 1928 at Zhongnanhai. It was internationally recognized as the legitimate Government of the Republic of China. The name comes from the Beiyang Army which dominated...
. In 1928, the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
(KMT) Government established the Executive Yuan and Tan Yankai
Tan Yankai
Tan Yankai was a Chinese politician from Hunan.-Biography:A member of Liang Qichao's Constitutionalist Party, he campaigned for a parliament and restrained monarchy...
served as the first President of the Executive Yuan.
Powers and responsibilities
The premier presides over the Executive Yuan Council, which makes up the official cabinet. The deputy premier, ministers, and chairpersons of the Executive Yuan are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the premier. The premier's official duties also include presenting administrative policies and reports to the Legislative YuanLegislative Yuan
The Legislative Yuan is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of China .The Legislative Yuan is one of the five branches of government stipulated by the Constitution of the Republic of China, which follows Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People...
, responding to the interpellations of legislators (much like Question Time
Question Time
Question time in a parliament occurs when members of the parliament ask questions of government ministers , which they are obliged to answer. It usually occurs daily while parliament is sitting, though it can be cancelled in exceptional circumstances...
in some parliamentary systems), and, with the approval of the president, asking the Legislative Yuan to reconsider its resolutions. Laws and decrees promulgated by the President of the Republic must also be countersigned by the premier.
In the event of vacancies in both the presidency and the vice presidency, the premier serves as Acting President of the Republic for up to three months.
One-third of the Legislative Yuan may initiate a no-confidence vote against the premier. If approved with simple majority, the premier must resign from office within ten days and at the same time may request that the President dissolve the Legislative Yuan. If the motion fails, another no-confidence motion against the same premier cannot be initiated for one year. This power has never been used. In practice, the President has enough legitimacy and executive authority to govern in the face of a legislature controlled by the opposition, and would likely respond to a vote of no-confidence by nominating another person with similar views.
Premier as head of government
The Constitution of the Republic of ChinaConstitution of the Republic of China
The Constitution of the Republic of China is the fundamental law of the Republic of China . Drafted by the Kuomintang as part of its third stage of national development , it established a centralized Republic with five branches of government...
did not originally define strictly the relation between the premier and the president of the Republic and it was not clear whether the government would lean towards a presidential system
Presidential system
A presidential system is a system of government where an executive branch exists and presides separately from the legislature, to which it is not responsible and which cannot, in normal circumstances, dismiss it....
or parliamentary system
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
when divided. Power shifted to Premier Chiang Ching-kuo
Chiang Ching-kuo
Chiang Ching-kuo , Kuomintang politician and leader, was the son of President Chiang Kai-shek and held numerous posts in the government of the Republic of China...
after President Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
's death but shifted to the presidency again when Chiang Ching-kuo became president. After President Lee Teng-hui
Lee Teng-hui
Lee Teng-hui is a politician of the Republic of China . He was the 7th, 8th, and 9th-term President of the Republic of China and Chairman of the Kuomintang from 1988 to 2000. He presided over major advancements in democratic reforms including his own re-election which marked the first direct...
succeeded Chiang as president in 1988, the power struggle within the KMT extended to the constitutional debate over the relationship between the president and the premier. The first three premiers under Lee, Yu Kuo-hwa
Yu Kuo-hwa
Yu Kuo-hwa was the Premier of the Republic of China from 1984 to 1989.-Biography:He was born on 10 January 1914 in Fenghua, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China...
, Lee Huan
Lee Huan
Lee Huan was a politician in the Republic of China. He was Premier of the Republic of China from 1989 to 1990, serving for one year under former President Lee Teng-hui. He was the father of current KMT legislators Lee Ching-hua and Diane Lee...
, and Hau Pei-tsun
Hau Pei-tsun
Hau Pei-tsun was Premier of the Republic of China from May 30, 1990 to February 10, 1993 and a 4-star general in the ROC Army.-Biography:Born to a well-to-do family in Yancheng, Jiangsu, Hau received a military education from the Chinese Military Academy, Chinese Army University, U.S. Army Command...
were mainlanders who had initially opposed Lee's ascension to power. The appointment of Lee and Hau were compromises by President Lee to placate the conservative mainlander faction in the party. The subsequent appointment of the first native Taiwanese premier Lien Chan
Lien Chan
Lien Chan is a politician in Taiwan. He was Premier of the Republic of China from 1993 to 1997, Vice President of the Republic of China from 1996 to 2000, and was the Chairman of the Kuomintang from 2000 to 2005...
was taken as a sign of Lee's consolidation of power. Moreover, during this time, the power of the premier to approve the president's appointments and the power of the Legislative Yuan to confirm the president's choice of premier was removed (out of fears that the Democratic Progressive Party
Democratic Progressive Party
The Democratic Progressive Party is a political party in Taiwan, and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition. Founded in 1986, DPP is the first meaningful opposition party in Taiwan. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights and a distinct Taiwanese identity,...
would one day gain control of the legislature), clearly establishing the president as the more powerful position of the two.
The relationship between the premier and the legislature again became a contentious issue after the 2000 Presidential election
ROC presidential election, 2000
The Election for the 10th-term President and Vice-President of the Republic of China , the second ever direct elections for President and Vice President of the Republic of China on Taiwan and the 10th under the 1947 Constitution, were held on March 18, 2000...
, which led to the election of the Democratic Progressive Party's Chen Shui-bian
Chen Shui-bian
Chen Shui-bian is a former Taiwanese politician who was the 10th and 11th-term President of the Republic of China from 2000 to 2008. Chen, whose Democratic Progressive Party has traditionally been supportive of Taiwan independence, ended more than fifty years of Kuomintang rule in Taiwan...
to the presidency, while the legislature has remained under the control of the Pan-Blue Coalition
Pan-Blue Coalition
The Pan-Blue Coalition 泛藍聯盟 or Pan-Blue Force is a political alliance in the Republic of China , consisting of the Kuomintang , the People First Party , and the New Party . The name comes from the party colours of the Kuomintang...
. Initially, President Chen Shui-bian appointed to the premiership Tang Fei
Tang Fei
Tang Fei is a retired ROC Air Force General and the Premier of the Republic of China between May 20 and October 6, 2000 under the Chen Shui-bian Government, even though he was a member of the Kuomintang during his tenure as premier.-Biography:...
, who was a member of the Kuomintang, but this arrangement proved unworkable and subsequent appointments were from the Democratic Progressive Party
Democratic Progressive Party
The Democratic Progressive Party is a political party in Taiwan, and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition. Founded in 1986, DPP is the first meaningful opposition party in Taiwan. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights and a distinct Taiwanese identity,...
. The established constitutional convention is that the premier is responsible to the President and does not have any responsibility to the legislature other than to report on his activities. However, the Pan-Blue Coalition has contended that Chen's actions are unconstitutional and has proposed to name its own choice of premier. Pan-Blue has since rejected, on principle, all legislative bills originating from the Executive Yuan (though some bills with inter-party support are simply rewritten and reintroduced by legislators), leading to legislative gridlock. This has renewed calls for a constitutional amendment to better define the relationship between the executive and legislative branches of government.
See also
- List of premiers of the Republic of China
- List of premiers of China
- President of the Republic of ChinaPresident of the Republic of ChinaThe President of the Republic of China is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Republic of China . The Republic of China was founded on January 1, 1912, to govern all of China...
- KuomintangKuomintangThe Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
- History of the Republic of ChinaHistory of the Republic of ChinaThe History of the Republic of China begins after the Qing Dynasty in 1912, when the formation of the Republic of China put an end to over two thousand years of Imperial rule. The Qing Dynasty, also known as the Manchu Dynasty, ruled from 1644 to 1912...
- Politics of the Republic of ChinaPolitics of the Republic of ChinaThe politics of the Republic of China ,takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is head of state and the premier is head of government, and of a dominant party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative...
- Elections in the Republic of ChinaElections in the Republic of ChinaElections of the Republic of China gives information on election and election results in the Republic of China with effective control over Taiwan Area since 1949. The Republic of China elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a...