(Adopted at the third Session of the Ninth National People's Congress on March 15, 2000 and promulgated by Order No. 31 of the President of the People's Republic of China on March 15, 2000)

Contents

Chapter I     General Provisions

Chapter II    Laws

  Section 1   Limits of Legislative Power

  Section 2   Legislation Procedures for the National People's Congress

  Section 3   Legislation Procedures for the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress

  Section 4   Legal Interpretation

  Section 5   Other Provisions

Chapter III   Administrative Regulations

Chapter IV    Local Regulations, Autonomous Regulations, Separate  Regulations and Rules

  Section 1   Local Regulations, Autonomous Regulations and  Separate Regulations

  Section 2   Rules

Chapter V     Application and Record

Chapter VI    Supplementary Provisions

 

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1  This Law is enacted in accordance with the Constitution with a view to standardizing legislation, establishing a sound legislative system of the State, establishing and improving the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics, safeguarding and developing socialist democracy, promoting the government of the country according to law and building a socialist country under the rule of law.

Article 2  This Law shall be applicable to the enactment, revision and nullification of laws, administrative regulations, local regulations, autonomous regulations and separate regulations.

The rules of the departments under the State Council and of the local governments shall be formulated, revised and nullified in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Law.

Article 3  Laws shall be made in compliance with the basic principles laid down in the Constitution, principles of taking economic development as the central task, adhering to the socialist road and the people's democratic dictatorship, upholding leadership by the Communist Party of China, upholding Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zetong Thought and Deng Xiaoping theory and persevering in reform and in opening to the outside world.

Article 4  Laws shall be made in accordance with the statutory limits of power and procedures, on the basis of the overall interests of the State and for the purpose of safeguarding the uniformity and dignity of the socialist legal system.

Article 5  Laws shall be made in order to embody the will of the people, enhance socialist democracy and guarantee that the people participate in legislative activities through various channels.

Article 6  Law shall be made by proceeding from reality and scientifically and rationally prescribing the rights and duties of citizens, legal persons and other organizations, and the powers and responsibilities of State organs.

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