This chapter explores the impact of principles of democratic centralism on China’s particular version of ‘socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics’. It argues that democratic centralism is influential at three levels. The first is ideological. The second is institutional. The third, less commonly examined that the first two, is its impact on day to day administration. It develops the analysis of the third point; the impact of democratic centralism on governance, through discussion of the use of campaigns in the field of labour law. These campaigns purport to respond to perceived (and real) social order crises stemming from systemic failures to enforce regulatory law and to protect workers’ lawful rights. Whilst portrayed as exceptional, this chapter demonstrates that campaigns have been used so commonly and across such a wide range of regulatory fields that they can legitimately be understood as an ordinary part of governance.