BEIJING - The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is being held in Beijing. Here are some basic facts about the CPC:

Q: How does the CPC discipline its members?

A: Party discipline refers to the rules of conduct that must be observed by Party organizations at all levels and by all Party members.

Following is a brief introduction on how the CPC punishes its members over disciplinary violations, according to the Party Constitution amended and adopted in 2007:

-- Party organizations should criticize, educate or take disciplinary measures against members who violate Party discipline.

-- Party members who have seriously violated the criminal law shall be expelled from the Party.

-- Any offending organization or individual must be dealt with according to Party discipline and the laws of the state.

-- There are five measures for enforcing Party discipline: warning, serious warning, removal from Party posts, probation within the Party, and expulsion from the Party. Expulsion is the ultimate Party disciplinary measure.

-- A member or alternate member of the CPC Central Committee who has seriously violated the criminal law shall be expelled from the Party on decision by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

-- A member or alternate member of a local Party committee who has seriously violated the criminal law shall be expelled from the Party on decision by the standing committee of the Party committee at the corresponding level.