作者：丁衡祁

中共中央關于加強黨的執政能力建設的決定：中國共產黨第十六屆中央委員會第四次全體會議，全面分析了當前的形勢和任務，著重研究了加強黨的執政能力建設的若干重大問題，作出如下決定。“我們黨要帶領全國各族人民全面建設小康社會，實現繼續推進現代化建設、完成祖國統一、維護世界和平與促進共同發展這三大歷史任務，必須大力加強執政能力建設。”

黨的執政能力指的是什么？

第十六屆中央委員會第四次全體會議的決定指出：“黨的執政能力，就是黨提出和運用正確的理論、路線、方針、政策和策略，領導制定和實施憲法和法律，采取科學的領導制度和領導方式，動員和組織人民依法管理國家和社會事務、經濟和文化事業，有效治黨治國治軍，建設社會主義現代化國家的本領。”很顯然，這里指的是領導、動員和組織的能力。這是由我們黨的性質所決定的：
The Communist Party is the sole party in power in China.
The CPC is the vanguard of the Chinese working class, the faithful representative of the interests of the Chinese people of all ethnic groups and the core of leadership over the socialist cause of China.

各家媒體都把“加強黨的執政能力建設”翻譯為enhancing the governance capability of the Party：

Important program for enhancing thegovernance capability of the Party: People's Daily Editorial

The People's Daily issues an editorial Tuesday, Sept. 21, entitled "Important program for enhancing the governance capability of the Party".

CPC stresses importance, urgency to enhancegovernance capability

The Communist Party of China (CPC) has conceded that it needs to enhancegovernance capabilityto consolidate itsruling statusand meet domestic and global challenges.

To enhance thegovernance capabilityof the Communist Party of China (CPC) is vital to China's socialist cause, the Chinese nation and the CPC itself, says the CPC Central Committee in a communique issued Sunday at the close of its four-day plenum.

Only by constantly improving itsgoverning capabilitycan the Party remain to be thecore of leadershipin the historic mission of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, says the communique.

但實際上 Governance Capability 是指行政方面的能力，例如加拿大的一個組織對 governance capabilities 的解釋：

Governance Capabilities：CESO （Canadian Executive Service Organization） provides a unique wealth of theoretical and practical knowledge, skills and experience atall levels of government.

Does your community need help withgovernance, meaning Council and Board developmentor in the areas of health and education? With its outstanding talent bank, CESO strives to make a difference through understanding and team work. The underlying tenet of our services is that CESO is there to listen to what your community needs and to assist you in finding the right solution to fit the individual situation.

We can help you develop yourgovernance capabilities, focusing on internal organizational needs including: 

human resource development

management skills

project management

information systems

而在加強黨的執政能力建設過程中，提高政府行政能力是一個重要方面，但只是其中一部分。

行政能力建設，首要的是提高推進發展的能力，筑牢黨的執政根基。其次是要努力提高依法行政能力。第三，要提高保持穩定的能力，努力構建社會主義和諧社會。加強政府自身建設，確保政府履行各項職責，是加強黨的執政能力的重要基礎。要鼓勵廣大公務員特別是領導干部更新知識結構，注重學習市場經 濟、科技、法律和管理等方面的知識，解決"本領恐慌"問題，以適應經濟全球化和知識經濟的要求，并樹立"管理就是服務"的理念。要加大政務公開力度，公開 辦事程序、時限和質量要求，接受社會監督，健全和完善反腐倡廉的監督制約機制……

那么應該怎樣翻譯“加強黨的執政能力建設”比較恰當呢？

Definition ofcompetence: the ability to apply particular knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to the standard of performance required in specified contexts

加強黨的執政能力建設:

enhance the leadership competence of the Party

enhance the competence of the Party as the core of leadership

elevate the level of competence of the Party of power

strengthen the competence of the Party for exercising power