In 2006，more than 3500 residents’ neighborhood committees in Shanghai have legally undertaken regular elections，half of those adopting direct and general approach. The direct election，manifested as a democratic way of empowering the community，has made it more feasible for residents to participate in public affairs，has increased people’s desire to get involved，and has further more enhanced the community’s capacity of self-regulating. In the light of a traditional “big government versus small society” in China，empowering the community tends to be an important way to facilitate the growing of a society. Institutional arrangements based on the residents’ committee，such as “Four-level Network”，“Three open meeting system” and “Rules of procedure committee” etc.，have been the new driving force in maturing the community，and been the active playing role in motivating the residents and providing them with new access.