During the Qin and Han dynasties,it was clearly stated in the laws and regulations that administrative departments at all levels and administrative staff must strictly observe the time limit for fixed,regular or periodic sessions in the process of administrative jurisdictions.At the court level,the emperor,though holding supreme power,more often sought the advice of his cabinet and other ministers before making decisions and when revoking them.He often assembled leading officials for debates or discussions on policy via court conferences.At local levels,government functionaries also convened regular sessions to debate and deliberate on various issues,such as the installment of educational and agricultural policies,the establishment of new ancestral temples,reforms to the state religion,the monetary or tax systems,management of government monopolies on salt and iron,the introduction of new laws or the repeal of old ones,complex lawsuits,etc.Thus,the time limit for convening such sessions was established for officials to observe.Those who violated the time limit or administrative formalities or procedures would face due punishment for conviction.As a result of these efforts,the management of government affairs in the Qin and Han dynasties,on the whole,had been satisfactorily conducted within certain time limit,ensuring high efficiency and quality in handling government affairs.%秦汉法律法规明确规定了各级行政部门及行政工作人员在行政办事中相对固定的、经常的或定期的＂常会＂时限。中央有皇帝五日一听事的朝会、十月朔和岁旦定期举行的百官会。秦汉地方各级政府向中央汇报工作和处理行政事务大都有固定的时间,主要的＂常会＂有汇报行政工作的月会、四时会、岁会,有限期办理行政事务的八月案比户口、八月底上报农田丰歉情况、十月上报库存粮食的数量、八月望上刍稾数、五月望报已垦田数、五月出赋和十月出刍、十二月到三月任免官吏、学童会八月朔日试、行书日毕、限时司法审判、九月会都试,有监督检查行政工作的刺史八月行部、守相春季行县。这就以法令的形式从正面规定了官员行政办事的＂常会＂时限;而且用＂正刑定罪＂的律来强制＂常会＂办事程限的实施,对违背行政办事＂常会＂时限的行为进行处罚,简牍常见有＂不会会日＂＂不中程＂＂失期＂、＂留迟＂＂留＂等罪名。秦汉政事的处理大都能够按照法定的＂常会＂时间,保证行政办事依据法定时间完成,一定程度上保障了行政办事正常有序进行以及较高的质量和效率。
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