中国从古至今有民本的传统。这个传统有三大特点:一是倾听群众意见;二是以善为主,不轻信简单多数;三是有以民为主的观念,没有完善的制度。当代西方选举总统的民主制度是比较进步的,但不是最好的,其中也有许多缺点,如不能保护少数弱者等。民本与民主各有优势,最好的制度应该是两者的综合创新。中国共产党在革命与建设的实践中继承中国传统的民本观念,吸取西方投票选举的形式,创造了协商民主的形式,这就是现行的人民代表制度与政治协商制度。 China has a people-based tradition from ancient times. This tradition has three major characteristics: one is to listen to the opinions of the masses; the other is to give priority to goodness and not to credulity; and third, there is a people-centered concept and no sound system. The democratic system of the presidential election in present-day Western countries is rather progressive, but not the best. There are also many shortcomings in it, such as the inability to protect the handful of the weak and so on. People-oriented and democratic have their own advantages. The best system should be the comprehensive innovation of both. In the practice of revolution and construction, the Chinese Communist Party has inherited the traditional people-based concept of China, drawn on the form of voting in the West and created the form of deliberative democracy. This is the current system of people’s representative system and political consultation.