Article 1: Chinese workers, peasants, servicemen, intellectuals, and other advanced elements from all social strata who have reached the age of eighteen, recognize the Party’s program and constitution, are willing to join a Party organization, actively engage in its work, implement the Party’s resolutions, and pay Party dues on time, may apply for membership in the Communist Party of China.

　　Article 2: Members of the Communist Party of China are the vanguard fighters of the Chinese working class, armed with communist consciousness.

　　Members of the Communist Party of China must serve the people wholeheartedly, be willing to sacrifice everything personal, and dedicate their entire lives to the cause of communism.

　　Members of the Communist Party of China are always ordinary members of the working people. Except for personal interests and official powers as prescribed by law and policy, no Communist Party member may seek any private gain or privilege.

　　Article 3 Party members must fulfill the following obligations:

　　(1) Earnestly study Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Important Thought of the Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; study the Party’s line, principles, policies, and resolutions; study the Party’s basic knowledge and history; and study science, culture, law, and professional knowledge, striving to enhance one’s ability to serve the people.

　　(2) Strengthen the “four consciousnesses,” firmly uphold the “four confidences,” and ensure the “two safeguards”; conscientiously implement the Party’s basic line and all its principles and policies; take the lead in participating in reform, opening up, and socialist modernization; mobilize the masses to strive arduously for economic development and social progress; and set an exemplary and pioneering example in production, work, study, and social life.

　　(3) Uphold the interests of the Party and the people above all else; subordinate personal interests to those of the Party and the people; take the lead in hardship and enjoy benefits only after others; practice self-discipline and dedicate oneself to public service; and make greater contributions.

　　(4) Consciously abide by the Party’s discipline, with primary emphasis on the Party’s political discipline and political norms; set an exemplary example in observing the state’s laws and regulations; strictly safeguard state and Party secrets; implement the Party’s decisions; obey organizational assignments; and actively fulfill the Party’s tasks.

　　(5) Safeguard the Party’s unity and solidarity; be loyal and honest to the Party, ensure consistency between words and deeds; resolutely oppose all factional organizations and clique activities; and oppose duplicitous, hypocritical behavior as well as all forms of intrigue and scheming.

　　(6) Earnestly conduct criticism and self-criticism, courageously expose and correct言行 that violate the Party’s principles as well as shortcomings and errors in our work, and resolutely combat negative and corrupt practices.

　　(7) Maintain close ties with the masses, propagate the Party’s principles and policies among them, consult with them on all matters, promptly report their views and demands to the Party, and safeguard their legitimate interests.

　　(8) Promote the new socialist ethos, take the lead in practicing the core socialist values and the socialist concept of honor and disgrace, advocate communist morality, carry forward the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation, and, in order to safeguard the interests of the state and the people, bravely step forward and fight heroically in all times of difficulty and danger, fearlessly sacrificing oneself.

　　Article 4 Party members shall enjoy the following rights:

　　(1) Attend relevant Party meetings, study relevant Party documents, and receive Party education and training.

　　(2) Participate in discussions on Party policies at Party meetings and in Party newspapers and journals.

　　(3) To put forward suggestions and initiatives regarding the Party’s work.

　　(4) At Party meetings, to make well-founded criticisms of any Party organization or any Party member; to responsibly expose and report to the Party any instances of lawbreaking or disciplinary violation by any Party organization or any Party member; to demand disciplinary action against Party members who have violated laws or disciplines; and to demand the removal or replacement of incompetent cadres.

　　(5) The right to vote and to be elected.

　　(6) When the Party organization deliberates and decides on disciplinary sanctions against a Party member or renders an assessment of such a member, the member has the right to attend and present a defense; other Party members may testify on his or her behalf and offer a defense.

　　(7) If one holds dissenting views on the Party’s resolutions and policies, one may, while firmly implementing them, declare a reservation and submit one’s views to higher Party organizations up to and including the Central Committee.

　　(8) To submit requests, appeals, and complaints to higher Party organizations up to the Central Committee, and to demand that the relevant organizations provide responsible replies.

　　No Party organization at any level, up to and including the Central Committee, has the authority to deprive a Party member of the aforementioned rights.

　　Article 5: In developing new Party members, political criteria must be given top priority; the process shall be conducted through Party branches and adhere to the principle of individual admission.

　　Individuals applying to join the Party must complete an application form, have two formal Party members serve as their recommenders, be approved by the branch general meeting and the higher-level Party organization, and undergo a period of probationary observation before they can be admitted as full Party members.

　　The recommender shall thoroughly investigate the applicant’s ideology, moral character, background, and work performance; explain to the applicant the Party’s program and constitution; clarify the qualifications, duties, and rights of Party members; and submit a responsible report to the Party organization.

　　The branch committee of the Party shall solicit the opinions of relevant masses both within and outside the Party regarding applicants for Party membership, conduct a rigorous review, and submit those deemed qualified to the branch general meeting for discussion.

　　Before approving an applicant’s admission to the Party, the higher-level Party organization shall dispatch personnel to conduct a conversation with the applicant, gain a deeper understanding of him, and help him enhance his understanding of the Party.

　　Under special circumstances, the Central Committee of the Party and the committees of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government may directly admit members.

　　Article 6: Prospective Party members must take the Party Oath before the Party flag. The text of the oath is as follows: “I voluntarily join the Communist Party of China, uphold the Party’s program, abide by the Party Constitution, fulfill my duties as a Party member, implement the Party’s decisions, strictly observe Party discipline, safeguard Party secrets, remain loyal to the Party, work diligently, dedicate my entire life to the cause of communism, be ever ready to sacrifice everything for the Party and the people, and never betray the Party.”

　　Article 7: The probationary period for a candidate party member shall be one year. Party organizations shall provide thorough education and assessment of candidate party members.

　　The duties of a probationary party member are the same as those of a full party member. With the exception of the rights to vote, to elect, and to be elected, the rights of a probationary party member are also the same as those of a full party member.

　　Upon the expiration of the probationary period for a candidate member, the Party branch shall promptly deliberate whether the individual may be admitted as a full member. Those who conscientiously fulfill their duties as Party members and meet the requirements for Party membership shall be admitted as full members on schedule; those who require further observation and education may have their probationary period extended, but such extension shall not exceed one year; and those who fail to fulfill their duties as Party members or do not meet the requirements for Party membership shall have their status as candidate members revoked. The admission of a candidate member as a full member, the extension of the probationary period, or the revocation of the candidate member’s status must all be deliberated and approved by the branch general meeting and endorsed by the higher-level Party organization.

　　The probationary period for a candidate party member shall be calculated from the date on which the branch general meeting approves his admission as a candidate party member. The length of a party member’s Party membership shall be calculated from the date on which the probationary period expires and he is admitted as a full party member.

　　Article 8: Every Party member, regardless of rank or position, must be assigned to a Party branch, Party group, or other designated organizational unit, participate in the Party’s organizational life, and submit to oversight by both Party members and non-Party masses. Leading Party members and cadres must also attend democratic life meetings of Party committees and Party leading groups. No special privileges shall be granted to any Party member who fails to participate in the Party’s organizational life or to submit to oversight by Party members and non-Party masses.

　　Article 9: Party members have the freedom to resign from the Party. When a party member requests to resign, the branch general meeting shall deliberate the matter and then announce the expulsion, with the decision to be filed with the higher-level Party organization.

　　If a Party member lacks revolutionary will, fails to fulfill Party obligations, or no longer meets the criteria for Party membership, the Party branch shall educate him and require him to make corrections within a specified time limit; if, after such education, he still shows no sign of improvement, the branch shall advise him to resign from the Party. The recommendation that a Party member resign must be deliberated and decided upon at a branch general meeting and submitted for approval to the higher-level Party organization. If the Party member who has been advised to resign persists in refusing to do so, the matter shall be submitted to the branch general meeting for deliberation and decision to expel him from the Party, with the decision then submitted for approval to the higher-level Party organization.

　　A Party member who, without justifiable reason, fails to participate in Party organizational activities for six consecutive months, or fails to pay Party dues, or fails to carry out tasks assigned by the Party, shall be deemed to have voluntarily withdrawn from the Party. The branch general meeting shall decide to expel such a member and submit the decision to the higher-level Party organization for approval.