Discovering Controversies through Reversions: A Text-based Analysis of China’s Two-phase Bill Changes

Abstract This study uncovers hidden disputes in China’s law-making process by systematically tracking bill changes across executive and legislative phases. Utilizing an original dataset of 45 executive-initiated bills (2008–2023), it identifies a consistent pattern of reversions – instances where executive-approved changes to draft bills were overridden in the legislature – revealing the National People’s Congress to be a key policy battleground. Reversions are concentrated in bills concerning health, safety and environment, often involving scope, regulatory frameworks and legal liability. Combined with qualitative case studies, these findings demonstrate the legislature’s crucial role in facilitating monitoring and negotiation in the policy process, offering new insights into executive–legislative dynamics in China’s single-party regime.