"This book explores the role and work of China's supreme court - the Supreme People's Court - focusing especially on the court's role in the struggle concerning the establishment of the rule of law in China's judicial system. It discusses the differing positions of those who favor 'the rule of law' option, where there is organizational separation of legislature and judicial responsibility, and those who argue for the retention of China's present system where judges and the courts are subordinate to the Party and who are concerned by any increase in the court's independent interpretative activities. It shows how the independence of courts has in fact grown, examines how the supreme court has established its supremacy over lower courts, and discusses the supreme court's handling of the politics of death penalty reform. The book covers the supreme court's involvement in criminal, administrative and civil law"--Page i.