In our daily life, these three words are often mentioned, as if they are inseparable. In reality, however, despite the close links between the three organs, they represent different functions and levels. In order to better understand the relationship between them, we must first provide a brief overview of the functions of these three organs.
Public security, the full name of "people's public security", is an armed criminal law enforcement and public security administrative organ under China's democratic regime. Police is a broad concept that covers multiple functions such as public security, national security, justice, and prisons. The public security police have the right to arrest and detain offenders, and to serve the people wholeheartedly and to solve and mediate all kinds of problems encountered by the people in their lives.
The procuratorate, the full name of the "Supreme People's Procuratorate", is a department in the judicial system that is mainly responsible for supervising the laws of the state. The procuratorate plays a pivotal role in the judicial system, for example, the public prosecution department is responsible for prosecuting criminals, and the investigation supervision department is responsible for supervising the investigation, arrest and transfer of public security organs.
The courts, the full name of the "Supreme People's Court", also belong to the category of judicial organs, and are mainly responsible for resolving social contradictions and disputes that are difficult to mediate, trying and convicting criminals, and safeguarding social fairness and justice.
So, who is higher and who is lower in terms of rank among the public security, the procuratorate and the courts?
From the perspective of departmental specifications, the highest leadership organs of the procuratorate and the court are at the same level, and they are both at the ministerial level. The supreme leading organ of public security is the Ministry of Public Security, the supreme leading organ of the procuratorate is the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and the supreme leading organ of the courts is the Supreme People's Court. However, the leadership of the courts and prosecutors' offices is higher than that of the police. The chief ** officer of the court and the chief prosecutor of the procuratorate are both deputy positions at the national level, that is, at the deputy state level. Although the leadership of the Ministry of Public Security is also at the vice-national level, it is mainly because the minister of public security is generally concurrently held by state councilors, rather than the post of minister of public security itself.
From a legal point of view, the actual legal level of the public security is lower than that of the procuratorate and the courts. The police only have the right to arrest criminals, and cannot prosecute criminals, nor can they convict or try criminals. The Public Prosecutor's Office is responsible for prosecution and the courts are responsible for trial and conviction. Therefore, at the legal level, the procuratorate and the courts have a higher status.
From the perspective of the nature of armed and law enforcement, public security has an armed nature and is responsible for maintaining public order. The Public Prosecutor's Office and the courts are primarily responsible for the administration of justice. From this point of view, the level of public security seems to be higher.
There is no absolute distinction between the public security, the procuratorate, and the courts in terms of rank. Each of them has different functions and jointly upholds the rule of law and social order of the country. In practice, the three need to cooperate closely and work together to safeguard national interests and citizens' rights and interests.