近代史上, 中国在190 9年、1912年、1917年、194 8年分别举行了四次议会选举, 这是议会思想进入中国的结果。介绍议会思想的人物, 大约可分为三类: 政府官员、西方传教士、功名绅士。这些知识分子对西方议会政治的认识, 大约分为四个时期: 从184 0— 1870年30年间是知识性的介绍, 只是一些初步的了解, 并无袭用的观念。1871— 1895年这2 5年间, 士人视议会有“君民一体”, “下情上达”的功能, 可以团结人心, 众志成城, 已含有价值观念。1895— 190 4年这10年间, 民权说代起, 强调议会是人民权力表现的场所, “不出代议士不纳税”的观念取代“君民一体”而风行。190 5年以后, 议会思想根植国内, 人民要求付诸实现, 因此有清政府之派遣五大臣出洋考察宪政, 不仅深入议会理论, 同时考求实施的技术, 至此中国进入锣密鼓紧的实行时期

In the history of modern times the parliamentary election was held in China for four times in 1909, 1912, 1917 and 1948 respectively, which resulted from introductions of the parliamentary thought into China. The figures introducing such an idea might be roughly classified into three: governmental officials, missionaries from the West, and distinguished personages. These intellectuals' recognition of Western parliamentary politics went through four stages. From 1840 to 1870 there were only its preliminary introductions, just some knowledge and no inherited ideas. During the period from 1871 to 1895 it was regarded as having a function of rallying minds, involving some values. In the decade of 1895-1904 the theory of civil rights rose, stressing that the parliament was an expression of the people's power. And after 1905 the people required the parliamentary idea to be put into reality.