Introduction to the Control Yuan OS¡GUnder a sunny sky, peace and joy abound. Hope and vitality can be felt everywhere. ¡§The movement of heaven is full of power; the superior man thus makes himself strong and untiring.¡¨ We devote ourselves to sowing seeds over this land and caring for it carefully so that it will not be harmed and can prosper and generate a bountiful harvest. OS¡GWhen Dr. Sun Yat-sen founded the first democratic republic in Asia, construction of this Baroque building already got underway. OS¡GThe control system in China could be traced back to the Chin and Han dynasties more than 2,000 years ago. After founding the Republic of China, Dr. Sun promoted a constitution of five powers that would integrate Western government systems and China¡¦s own traditional ways. That is, examination and control, or supervision, were added to the executive, legislative, and judiciary powers commonplace in the West. Captions¡G29 Control Yuan Members, Including President and Vice President OS¡GAccording to the Constitution, the Control Yuan shall have 29 members, with one serving as president and another vice president. Their six-year tenure is provided for by nomination by the President of the Republic of China and parliamentary endorsement. The Control Yuan also has a secretary-general and deputy secretary-general as well as four departments, six offices, and seven committees. Meanwhile, there is a Ministry of Audit placed under the Control Yuan. The auditor general also serves a six-year term upon presidential nomination and parliamentary endorsement. OS¡GThe Control Yuan is the nation¡¦s highest watchdog agency; its one and only purpose is to serve the people. As respected members of the community, Control Yuan members are responsible for upholding a disciplined bureaucracy, protecting human rights, and responding to people¡¦s complaints. As protectors of human rights, they carry out the duty of keeping an eye on the government¡¦s personnel, actions, and finances. OS¡GWhile the Constitution has laid down clearly defined guidelines for the Control Yuan, what is it exactly that it can do for the people? Captions¡GAcceptance of people¡¦s petitions, Investigation, Impeachment, Censure, Corrective Measures. OS¡GFirst, conduct investigations of public functionaries for alleged violations of the law and dereliction; undertake impeachment, censure, and other corrective measures. Captions¡GAcceptance of people¡¦s petitions OS¡GAcceptance of people¡¦s petitions: The Control Yuan is supposed to take in people¡¦s written complaints charging violations or dereliction on the part of public functionaries and take whatever action warranted. Captions¡GInvestigation Investigation of the Government¡¦s Disaster Relief Mechanism after the Sept. 21 Earthquake in 1999 OS¡GInvestigation: Based on people¡¦s petitions or media reports, Control Yuan members may take the initiative to launch an investigation or do so on a rotational basis. Captions¡GImpeachment Impeachment of Taipower Officials Responsible for the Nationwide Blackout on July 29, 1999 OS¡GImpeachment: Control Yuan members may initiate an impeachment of any public functionary determined to have neglected his or her duty or violated the law. Captions¡GCensure Censure of Taipei County Government Officials for Collapse of the Lincoln Residential Compound OS¡GCensure: A Control Yuan member may file a written censure against a civil servant if the former determines that suspension from office or other immediate action is required due to dereliction or violation of the law. Captions¡GCorrective Measures Request for Corrective Measures by Taipei Rapid Transit Corp. after Overcrowding at Its Elevators Caused Injuries OS¡GCorrective Measures: The Control Yuan may propose corrective measures to administrative agencies for improving their work or facilities. Captions¡GCircuit supervision, Invigilation, Audit OS¡GComing next are circuit supervision, invigilation, and audit. Captions¡GCircuit supervision OS¡GCircuit supervision: Divided into the central and local levels, this activity is meant to uncover people¡¦s woes and determine the aptitude of government practices. Captions¡GCircuit Supervision at Central Level: Executive Yuan Captions¡GCircuit Supervision at Central Level: Taiwan Railway Administration¡¦s Tseng-Wen-Hsi Reconstruction Project Captions¡GCircuit Supervision at Local Level: Inspection of Typhoon Mindulle¡¦s Aftermath at Erhshui, Changhua County Captions¡GInvigilation OS¡GInvigilation: Control Yuan members are assigned to watch over examinations held by the Examination Yuan. Captions¡GAudit OS¡GAudit: The financial accounts of central and local governments are subject to auditing by Ministry of Audit and its subordinate units. Captions¡GThe Public Functionaries Assets Disclosures, The Public Functionaries¡¦ Conflict of Interests Prevention, The Political Contributions OS¡GFurther, the Control Yuan enforces ¡§sunshine laws¡¨ designed to ensure the integrity and impartiality of public functionaries during their tenure and when they perform their duties including Assets Disclosures by Public Functionaries, the Public Functionaries¡¦ Conflict of Interests Prevention and Political Contributions. Captions¡GThe Public Functionaries Assets Disclosures OS¡GAcceptance of Public Functionaries Assets Disclosures: Public functionaries from the President of the republic to the township administrators and local representatives are required to report their assets to the Control Yuan. Captions¡GThe Public Functionaries¡¦ Conflict of Interests Prevention OS¡GThe Control Yuan accepts applications for handling investigation results of interest prevention cases of public functionaries and decides on penalties when warranted. Captions¡GThe Political Contributions OS¡GIt also accepts applications for setting up exclusive accounts for collecting Political Contributions and submissions of pertinent accounting reports. OS¡GFrom the functions and powers mentioned above, it is clear that Control Yuan members directly serve the community in a humanistic spirit. They independently perform their duties to uphold human rights. OS¡GAlthough Taiwan has prospered economically over the half century, the young democracy is now on the threshold of moving into the next stage of transformation. Some mechanisms remain out of step with the times. It remains a necessity for the Control Yuan and the populace alike to keep an eye on how the government conducts its business. OS¡GAgainst the hustle and bustle surrounding it, this building appears even more solemn. More than just an architectural heritage, it is above all a guardian of the people. The sole mission of the Control Yuan is to nurture a harmonious society where people have little to complaint about. Further, future generations can thus flourish in an environment of fairness and justice. OS¡GHonest, just, wise, and compassionate ¡V Control Yuan members stand tall as our guardians. Day in, day out -- they will keep watch over us. OS and Captions¡GThe populace learns more about the Control Yuan; the Control Yuan protects people¡¦s rights.