_Frontispiece_--Generalissimo Chiang K'ai-shek PAGE INTRODUCTION 1 The Chinese Political Inheritance: Some Continuing Aspects 1 China at the Outbreak of War 6 The Beginning of Active Hostilities 11 The Hankow Period 15 The Chungking Period 19 I. THE CONSTITUTION 21 The _Yüeh-fa_ of 1931 22 The Draft Permanent or Double Five Constitution 25 The Issue of Constitutional Change 31 II. THE POLITICAL ORGANS OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT 41 The Five-Power Constitution 42 The Supreme National Defense Council 46 The President of the National Government 52 The Council of State 53 The Executive _Yüan_ 56 The Military Affairs Commission 60 The Judicial, Legislative, Examination and Control _Yüan_ 65 III. CONSULTATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANS 69 The People's Political Council 69 The Administrative Pattern 79 The Political Ministries 81 Social and Cultural Agencies 83 The Economic Ministries 85 IV. PROVINCIAL, LOCAL, AND SPECIAL-AREA GOVERNMENT 98 Chart on Provincial and Urban Government facing 98 The Provinces 99 Local Government 103 The Communist Zone 111 Guerrilla Governments 116 V. THE KUOMINTANG 124 The Party Constitutional System 125 Party Organization 129 The Kuomintang Bid for Leadership 140 Intra-Kuomintang Politics 142 The New Life Movement and Other Affiliates 149 VI. THE COMMUNIST AND MINOR PARTIES 159 The Chinese Communists: Party and Leaders 160 Communism: Patriotism or Betrayal? 171