The 2018 constitutional shift that removed presidential term limits

Health · Published 7 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In March 2018, China enacted its fifth constitutional amendment since 1982. While it introduced new local legislative powers and a national supervisory body, the most consequential change was the removal of a specific restriction on the presidency—a move that paved the way for unprecedented leadership longevity.

The process began in late 2017 when Xi Jinping chaired a Politburo meeting to launch the amendment work. A dedicated group, led by Zhang Dejiang with Li Zhanshu and Wang Huning as deputies, was tasked with drafting the changes. By January 2018, the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee approved the proposal, which was subsequently passed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress before reaching the full assembly.

The amendment codified several structural shifts. It formally integrated the CCP's leadership into the constitution as an 'essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics.' It also established a constitutional oath of office for state officials and created the National Supervisory Commission, which replaced five separate oversight bodies including the Ministry of Supervision and the National Bureau of Corruption Prevention.

Crucially, Article 79 was amended to delete the clause preventing the President and Vice President from serving more than two consecutive terms. This change was intended to strengthen the 'three-in-one' leadership system, aligning the presidency with the roles of CCP General Secretary and Chairman of the CMC—both of which lack term limits. The practical result was realized in March 2023, when Xi Jinping was elected for an unprecedented third term.

Public sentiment regarding these changes remains complex. A 2023 study using 2018 survey experiments found that while 59.6% of people supported removing the term limit in direct surveys, only 37% did so in indirect surveys. The researchers noted that because the confidence interval crossed 50%, they could not conclude that a minority opposed the move, suggesting the public may hold nuanced reservations about government power.

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