| Abstract | In July 1997, the Constitution of the Republic of China underwent its fourth significant change following three previous series of amendments (1991, 1992, 1993). The purpose was to democratise the institutions set up for China as a whole in 1947. Right from the start the Constitution of the Republic of China was hybrid in nature. Some Taiwanese experts are pointing out, that one of the aims of those who drafted the 1947 Constitution was to restrict the prerogatives of Chiang Kai-shek. The subsequent provisions for the election of the president and vice-president by universal suffrage introduced by Lee Teng-hui in 1994, has been to reinforce the powers of the head of state. And the constitutional basis is common to all semi-presidential regimes, that is states with a president elected by universal suffrage and a government responsible to parliament. |
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