Chinese Political History II: Chapter 10, Exercise 1 — Possible Solution
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TASK
Trace the 2018 amendment through the six stages and name the earlier
chapter that supplies the tool for each.

STAGES
1. The rule and how it can be changed: Article 79 (two-consecutive-term limit)
   and Article 64 (proposal by the NPC Standing Committee or over one-fifth
   of deputies; adoption by more than two-thirds of all deputies).
   Tool: Chapter 2, the two hierarchies and the NPC's formal powers.
2. Preconditions: three top posts held by one person, one written limit,
   "leadership core" status, a discipline campaign, unverifiable informal
   norms.
   Tools: Chapters 4 and 6.
3. The proposal: announced by Xinhua on 25 February 2018 as coming from the
   Central Committee, kept secret until then.
   Tool: Chapter 3, decisions taken in a small circle and announced later.
4. The vote: 11 March 2018; 2,958 for, 2 against, 3 abstentions.
   Tool: Chapter 2 (the 1992 Three Gorges comparison) and Chapter 7.
5. The package and rationale: party leadership in the text, Xi Jinping
   Thought, the National Supervisory Commission, oaths; state media said the
   aim was to align three posts.
   Tools: Chapters 6 and 7.
6. Consequences: a third term as general secretary (October 2022), a third
   presidential term (2023).
   Tool: Chapter 7.

CAUTION
Article 64 names state bodies as the source of a proposal; the announced
source was a party body. That is the Chapter 2 point in one case.