执政党依法执政的能力是加强党的执政能力建设这一崭新课题的重要内容。依法执政指执政党依照宪法和法律确定的国家政权运作方式来掌握国家政权的执政方式。依法执政是党领导人民长期执政兴国实践的经验总结,是共产党执政兴国的成功之道,是在改革开放条件下,加快发展、维护社会稳定的保障。依法执政的主要任务包括驾驭社会主义市场经济;发展社会主义民主政治;建设社会主义先进文化;构建和谐社会 The ability of the ruling party to rule by law is an important part of the new task of strengthening the party’s ability to govern. Ruling by law means that the ruling party grasps the ruling pattern of the state power in accordance with the operation of the state power determined by the Constitution and laws. Governing the country according to law is the summing-up of the party’s experience in leading the people in a long-term practice of governing and rejuvenating the country. It is a successful way for the CPC to govern and rejuvenate the country. It is a guarantee for speeding up development and maintaining social stability under the conditions of reform and opening up. The main tasks of governing by law include: controlling the socialist market economy; developing socialist democratic politics; building an advanced socialist culture; building a harmonious society