中文摘要 　　一九四九年成立的「中國人民政治協商會議」（以下簡稱「政協」），除了成為中共政權合法化的工具外，也提供了諸如參政議政、議事諮詢、統戰聯誼、政治宣傳等多種功能。綜觀五十餘年來政協的發展，研究其角色與功能之間的關係，大致可以分為兩個階段，前階段係指在改革開放政策提出之前的政協，當時的政協是扮演在中共授意下所定位的統戰角色，角色確定之後，其所能發揮的功能自然有限。至於改革開放政策提出之後的現階段政協，則是在原有的角色上賦予統戰功能外的其他多種不同功能，換言之，前階段的政協是先有定位，再根據定位發揮有限的功能，但現階段政協已不斷擴充其功能，我們必須從政協所發揮的功能來探求政協的定位變遷。 　　政協最明顯的改變首先在於不斷擴大其參與的範圍，增加不同階級的成員，其次則是試圖藉由提案、專題調研及考察等多種方式，提升政協在中共決策過程中的影響力。有了政協這樣的組織，可以減緩中國大陸非共黨人士對參政的要求，可以滿足日漸多元的社會主張，也提供了各階層、階級（或稱界別）對利益的要求，更重要的，這些要求都在政協掌控的範圍，它阻絕了界別、社團、人民再向上層突破的機會，政協就像是一塊防火牆或防護墊，做為民主黨派、社團與中共、政府之間的緩衝，維護了中國共產黨的領導。中共已提出「三個代表」來爭取更長久的政治領導地位，而政協勢必也將配合扮演鞏固領導、團結群眾的重要角色。 　　政協的未來發展可能有以下幾種可能：一是維持原來聯誼性質的統戰組織；二是走向類似西方「上議院」的權力機關；三是有可能在兩岸中發揮對話功能，扮演溝通的「窗口」角色；最後則是成為中共的政治宣傳組織。以作者的觀察，比較有創造性且令人期盼的，可能是政協在兩岸交流中能否加速催化的效果，增進兩岸的接觸與瞭解，特別是新任政協主席確定擔任中共對台工作小組中的重要職務，以政協特殊的發展歷程及與台灣的長期淵源，相信政協會比其他中共涉台事務機構更容易接觸台灣民眾，聽到台灣社會多元的聲音，可以扮演一個較為暢達的溝通管道。 / Abstract The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (hereinafter referred to as Consultative Conference) was founded in 1949. The Consultative Conference turned Chinese Communists into a legitimate power and served a number of political functions, such as participation in public affairs, political consultation, united front, and political propaganda. Reviewing the Consultative Conference’s development with emphasis on the relationship between the role and functions in the last 50 years, the history of the Consultative Conference is divided into two phases. In the first phase, no reform policy had been launched in Mainland China. At that time, the Consultative Conference undertook the tasks related to the united front as required by the PRC. With its designated role, the Consultative Conference was unable to play a constructive role. In the second phase, the PRC had launched its reform policy. As a result, the Consultative Conference had been delegated with several functions other than the united front. In the first phase, the Consultative Conference was assigned a certain mission and brought its capability to achieve its goal. In the second phase, the Consultative Conference had been delegated with more and more functions. Therefore, it is necessary to find out the Consultative Conference’s changes of position based upon its functions. Obviously, the Consultative Conference had participated in more and more areas and had accepted members from all walks of life. Secondly, the Consultative Conference had successfully promoted its position in the PRC’s decision-making process through motions, special topic researchstudies, and investigation tours. The Consultative Conference had successfully satisfied the political ambitions of the non-Communists and the plural Communists; and provided a channel for all walks of life to demand for interests. Most importantly, these demands are under the control of the Consultative Conference. As a result, the PRC’s governing body didn’t have to worry about the demands from all over Mainland China. In this connection, the Consultative Conference serves as a firewall or cushion between the democratic parties and PRC government; and had thus successfully safeguarded the PRC’s leadership. In an effort to maintain its leadership, the PRC has brought up the concept of “3 Representatives”. In this regard, the Consultative Conference is likely to play an active role so as to fortify the PRC’s leadership and unite the crowds together. The following are the possible developments for the Consultative Conference: 1, to remain a united front organization; 2, to become a power institution similar to the Western nations’ “Upper House”; 3, to serve as a “liaison” so as to enhance the dialogue between both sides of Taiwan Strait; and finally, to act as a political propaganda organization for the PRC. According to the author’s observation, the Consultative Conference is most likely to accelerate the contacts and understanding between both sides of Taiwan Strait in the future. The new Chairperson of Consultative Conference will assume the key position regarding the PRC’s Taiwan policy. In consideration of the Consultative Conference’s unique development and its existing relationship with Taiwan, the Consultative Conference is closer to the Taiwanese and is willing to hear the opinions from all walks of life in Taiwan; and thus serves as a effective channel for communication.