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The Republic Of China (ROC) currently has jurisdiction over Taiwan , Kinmen , Matsu , and the Pescadores Islands (Penghu) and several smaller islands. Taiwan's two major cities, Taipei and Kaohsiung , are centrally administered municipalities. The rest of Taiwan and the Penghu Islands are administered together as the Province Of Taiwan . Kinmen, Matsu, and smaller nearby islands are administered as counties of Fukien (Fujian) Province. Politics of the Republic of China takes place in a framework of a Semi-presidential Representative Democratic Republic , whereby the President is Head Of State and the Premier (President Of The Executive Yuan) is Head Of Government , and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive Power is exercised by the government. Legislative Power is vested in both the Government and parliament. The party system is dominated by the liberal and pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party and the conservative and pan-Chinese Kuomintang . The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. OVERVIEW The ROC is governed under the Constitution Of The Republic Of China which was drafted in 1947 before the fall of Mainland China and outlined a government for all of China. Significant amendments were made to the Constitution in 1991 , and there have been a number of judicial interpretations made to take into account the fact that the Constitution covers a much smaller area than originally envisioned. Previously the ROC-KMT government in Taiwan governed as a One Party authoritarian state, disseminating Propaganda and Censoring opponents. Until 1991, the government in Taipei claimed to be the sole legitimate government of all of China , including the mainland, Tibet , and Outer Mongolia . In keeping with that claim, when the Nationalists (Kuomintang) fled to Taipei in 1949, they re-established the full array of central political bodies, which had existed on the mainland in Nanking . While much of this structure remains in place, the President Lee Teng-hui in 1991 unofficially abandoned the government's claim of sovereignty over Mainland China , stating that they do not "dispute the fact that the Communists control mainland China." However, the National Assembly has not officially changed the national borders, as doing so would be seen as a prelude to Taiwan Independence . It should be noted that neither the National Assembly nor the Supreme Court has actually defined what "existing national boundaries", as stated in the constitution, actually is. The latter refused to do so claiming that it is a "major political issue". See also: Political Status Of Taiwan NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS The National Assembly Of The Republic Of China was elected on the mainland in 1947 officially to carry out the duties of choosing the President and to amend the constitution, and to exercise the sovereignty of the citizens, but in actuality, the assembly was meant to reconfirm the authoritarian power of Chiang Kai-shek. The National Assembly was re-established on Taiwan when the government moved. Because it was impossible to hold subsequent elections to represent constituencies on the mainland, representatives elected in 1947-48 held these seats "indefinitely." In June 1990 , however, the Council of Grand Justices mandated the retirement, effective December 1991, of all remaining "indefinitely" elected members of the National Assembly, Legislative Yuan, and other bodies. The second National Assembly, elected in 1991, was composed of 325 members. The majority was elected directly; 100 were chosen from party slates in proportion to the popular vote. This National Assembly amended the constitution in 1994 , paving the way for the direct election of the president and vice president that was held in March 1996. The National Assembly retained the authority to amend the constitution, recall or impeach the president and the vice president, and ratify certain senior-level presidential appointments. In April 2000 , the members of the National Assembly voted to permit their terms of office to expire without holding new elections. They also determined that such an election would be called in the event the National Assembly is needed to decide a presidential recall or a constitutional amendment. In recent years, the National Assembly has handed most of its powers to the Legislative Yuan, including the power of impeachment. In 2005, the National Assembly permanently abolished itself by ratifying a constitution amendment passed by the Legislative Yuan. Passing an amendment to the ROC constitution now requires approval from three-fourths of the quorum of members of the Legislative Yuan. This quorum requires at least three-fourths of all members of the Legislature. After passing the legislature, the amendments needs ratification from at least fifty percent of all eligible voters of the ROC regardless of voter turnout. EXECUTIVE BRANCH
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