Party members and cadres should develop a strong consciousness of abiding by rules and discipline.

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the second plenary session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection that discipline construction should be given a more prominent position, allowing the iron discipline to "grow teeth" and exert power, while also making cadres pay attention, stay alert, and know their limits, so that the entire Party forms a high degree of consciousness in abiding by rules and discipline. This important requirement provides clear and specific goals and action guidelines for thoroughly implementing the important strategy of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party in the new era.

The Party's discipline is coercive, but it must also be based on the consciousness of Party members and cadres. Our Party has always emphasized cultivating "conscious discipline." Discipline is a rigid set of rules and constraints, a fine tradition and working practice formed through long-term Party practice, and a firm belief and inviolable red line rooted in the hearts of Party members. Party rules and discipline are stricter than national laws, which is determined by the Party's vanguard nature. As members of the vanguard with special political missions and strict organizational constraints, Party members and cadres must set an example and establish benchmarks among the people. The Party oath's phrase "strictly observe the Party's discipline" engraves the Party's original aspiration and mission over the past century. Every Party member who has sworn before the Party flag has made a solemn commitment to abide by rules and discipline. No matter where they go, what work they do, how long they have been Party members, or their position, they must strictly observe Party rules and discipline. This is an important test of Party character and a practical test of Party members' loyalty to the Party. Discipline is a strict "ruler," a standard and guideline for Party members and cadres to restrain their words and deeds. Once Party rules and discipline are ignored or treated as "straw men" or "rubber bands," it inevitably leads to stepping on "minefields" and "bottom lines," even causing the "river" of selfish desires to overflow and the "train" of life to derail. Only when Party members and cadres develop a high degree of consciousness in abiding by rules and discipline can they walk steadily and far on the road of life, realize self-value and social value, and contribute to the Party and the country's cause.

Since entering the new era, our Party, based on the Party Constitution and adhering to a problem-oriented approach, has summarized practical experience and integrated strict requirements throughout the entire process of formulating Party rules, educating Party discipline, and supervising discipline enforcement. The Party's discipline construction has been increasingly strengthened, and the institutional cage has become tighter. The vast majority of Party members and cadres have become more conscious in observing and maintaining Party discipline. However, a few Party members and cadres still have weak awareness of laws and discipline, repeatedly violate rules and discipline, some are careless, unaware, or unfamiliar with Party rules and discipline, and do not realize the seriousness of problems when being dealt with; some speak recklessly without restraint, make irresponsible comments, criticize the Party's policies, and bargain over the Party's decisions and deployments; some only consider personal interests when dealing with matters, distort the implementation of Party rules and discipline, habitually seek favors through connections or rely on relationships to "pass" matters; some think that as long as they do not engage in corruption, minor violations are not a big deal; some ignore the spirit of the Central Committee's eight-point regulations, indulge in extravagance and pleasure, fail to curb bad habits, do not restrain themselves from embezzling public funds, repeatedly accept or actively request high-end dining, tourism arrangements, and other activities from those with vested interests... All these irregular and abnormal phenomena fundamentally stem from weak Party consciousness, insufficient Party character cultivation, disregard for the Party Constitution, and deviation from Party rules. A thousand-mile dike can be destroyed by an ant's nest. "Illegal acts" always start with "breaking discipline," and crossing the "red line" to touching the "bottom line" is often just a step away. Party members and cadres lack full understanding of the seriousness and authority of Party rules and discipline, do not pay attention to early signs of violations, and over time, this easily leads to the "broken window effect," where mistakes become bigger and bigger, eventually leading to going astray and irreparable consequences.

The way of governance for a gentleman is based on self-cultivation. Developing a high degree of consciousness in abiding by rules and discipline first requires strengthening the concept of Party character, holding reverence and fear for the Party Constitution, rules, and discipline, and always keeping the string of Party rules and discipline tightly stretched deep in one's mind. Using Party discipline as the boundary and Party rules as the limit, regularly reflecting and clarifying what can and cannot be done, understanding what powers can and cannot be used, handling matters according to rules, and executing according to rules, not being an "outsider" to the rules, and always maintaining the political character of a Communist Party member. One must consciously accept the education and supervision of the organization, obey organizational arrangements, strictly implement all Party systems such as intra-Party organizational life and democratic centralism, strictly enforce the reporting and approval system, reduce instances of ignoring organizational procedures such as "jumping over the stove to the kang" or "cutting first and reporting later," and strengthen consciousness through actively accepting external discipline, developing the habit of working and living under supervision and restraint. Attention should be paid to small matters and details, starting from every little thing, not neglecting small matters or minor issues. Every discipline, no matter how small, must be enforced, and every rule, no matter how minor, must be observed. In dealing with every specific issue in life and work, one must properly handle the relationships between public and private, duty and interest, right and wrong, good and evil, hardship and pleasure, imprint abiding by rules and discipline in the heart, and internalize it as a "daily unconscious" code of conduct.

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