National Assembly (Republic of China)

National Assembly (Republic of China) was a constitutional electoral and constitutional-amendment body established under the Constitution of the Republic of China promulgated in 1947. It functioned as an electoral college for the election of the President of the Republic of China and as the organ empowered to amend the constitution, impeach the president, and ratify territorial or constitutional changes, interacting with institutions such as the Kuomintang, Democratic Progressive Party, Legislative Yuan, and Judicial Yuan throughout its existence.

History

The assembly traces its lineage to early republican institutions including the Provisional Assembly (Republic of China), the National Assembly (1913) conflict with Yuan Shikai, and the 1928 reunification under the Nationalist Government (Republic of China). The 1947 Constitution of the Republic of China created the assembly as a national convocation intended to embody the sovereignty expressed in the Three Principles of the People developed by Sun Yat-sen. During the Chinese Civil War the assembly's role became contentious as many delegates for mainland constituencies were unable to convene after relocation to Taipei. The assembly was invoked for emergency measures under the Temporary Provisions against the Communist Rebellion, influenced by figures such as Chiang Kai-shek and later participants including Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian as Taiwan democratized in the 1980s and 1990s. Constitutional reforms culminating in the 1990s reduced many powers of the assembly ahead of its abolition in 2005 under amendments championed by Ma Ying-jeou-era reformists and cross-party negotiations involving New Party (Taiwan), People First Party, and others.

Constitutional Role and Powers

Under the 1947 constitution the assembly was vested with power to elect the President of the Republic of China and Vice President of the Republic of China until direct presidential elections were introduced. It was authorized to adopt or amend the constitution, ratify territorial changes, recall or impeach the president, and decide on national mobilization measures related to the Second Sino-Japanese War aftermath and potential conflict with the People's Republic of China. The assembly's authority intersected with adjudicative institutions like the Control Yuan and Council of Grand Justices in matters of constitutional interpretation. During martial governance under the Temporary Provisions against the Communist Rebellion the assembly's plenary sessions endorsed emergency decrees issued by leaders associated with the Kuomintang leadership such as Yuan Shih-kai-era precedents and later Chiang Ching-kuo policies.

Composition and Election

Delegates were elected from provincial, municipal, and overseas constituencies including representation from areas such as Taiwan, Fujian, Guangdong, and expatriate communities in United States, Canada, and Southeast Asia. Early delegates included members affiliated with the Kuomintang, Chinese Communist Party-era opponents prior to separation, as well as independents and representatives of organizations like the Chinese Youth Party. During the frozen-party era after 1949, many delegates elected from mainland constituencies retained seats until supplementary elections were held in Taiwan in the 1960s and 1990s. Electoral arrangements evolved through amendments involving the Central Election Commission (Taiwan) and reforms introduced by leaders like Lee Teng-hui that gradually shifted selection toward direct popular elections and reduced appointed seats.

Functions and Procedures

The assembly met in plenary sessions and special sessions to deliberate on constitutional amendments, impeachment trials, and presidential elections. Procedures required proposal thresholds and supermajority votes for constitutional revisions, often involving interaction with the Legislative Yuan for ratification steps. The assembly convened as an electoral college under rules that dictated the nomination process, ballot procedures, and electoral oversight by the Central Election Commission (Taiwan). Impeachment and recall mechanisms involved coordination with the Control Yuan and judicial review by the Judicial Yuan or the Council of Grand Justices in cases of constitutional dispute. During transition periods the assembly conducted important functions such as endorsing the 1991 cessation of the Temporary Provisions and facilitating the first direct Presidential elections in Taiwan.

Major Amendments and Political Impact

Key amendments redefined the assembly's role: elimination of first-instance presidential elections in favor of popular vote, curtailment of indefinite mainland delegate tenures, and transfer of amendment initiation powers to the Legislative Yuan and citizen-initiated referendums. These reforms were driven by democratization movements linked to actors like Tangwai, Formosa Magazine, and leaders including Chen Shui-bian and Lee Teng-hui. The assembly's shrinking authority altered party competition dynamics among the Kuomintang, Democratic Progressive Party, People First Party, and New Power Party, reshaping Taiwan's constitutional order and cross-strait policy debates involving the 1992 Consensus and interactions with the People's Republic of China.

Dissolution and Legacy

The assembly was formally abolished following the 2005 constitutional amendments that transferred remaining constitutional amendment and presidential election functions to the Legislative Yuan and direct popular mechanisms, reflecting cumulative reforms initiated by political actors such as Ma Ying-jeou and civil society movements. Its legacy persists in Taiwan's institutional memory through the evolution of the Constitution of the Republic of China, the development of the Central Election Commission (Taiwan), and ongoing debates about constitutional reform, sovereignty, and cross-strait relations with the People's Republic of China and entities such as the United States and Japan. Category:Politics of Taiwan