The political system in the Chinese Constitution is unique in many
respects. The four political powers of the people are exercised in the
Central Government by the National Assembly, composed of delegates
of the whole body of citizens, elected by universal, equal and direct
suffrage, and by secret ballot.6 The present constitution deviates
somewhat from Dr. Sun's theory by providing for initiative and referendum only for constitutional amendments, not for ordinary legislation, and limiting election and recall to the offices of President and
Vice President.7 The five administrative powers of government are
vested in five independent departments called the five "Yuan"; hence
the Executive Yuan, the Legislative Yuan, the Judicial Yuan, the
Examination Yuan and the Control Yuan. For this reason, the Chinese
Constitution is generally known as the "Five-Power Constitution."
The Control Yuan, which independently exercises the power of censorship and impeachment, is on an equal level with the other four "Yuan."
However, Dr. Sun Yat-sen emphasized that the five powers, though
separated, are not unrelated. The purpose of separating the exercise
of the five powers is to achieve co-ordination and not to check each
other."