Article 89. The State Council exercises the following functions and powers: (1) To adopt administrative¹ measures,enact² administrative rules and regulations and issue decisions and orders in accordance with the Constitution and the statutes³; (2) To submit proposals to the National People's Congress or its Standing⁴ Committee; (3) To lay down the tasks and responsibilities of the ministries⁵ and commissions of the State Council, to exercise unified⁶ leadership over the work of the ministries and commissions and to direct all other administrative work of a national character that does not fall within the jurisdiction⁷ of the ministries and commissions; (4) To exercise unified leadership over the work of local organs of state administration at different levels throughout the country, and to lay down the detailed⁸ division of functions and powers between the Central Government and the organs of state administration of provinces, autonomous⁹ regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government; (5) To draw up and implement¹⁰ the plan for national economic and social development and the state budget; (6) To direct and administer economic work and urban and rural development; (7) To direct and administer the work concerning education, science, culture, public health, physical culture and family planning; (8) To direct and administer the work concerning civil affairs, public security, judicial¹¹ administration, supervision¹² and other related matters; (9) To conduct foreign affairs and conclude treaties and agreements with foreign states; (10) To direct and administer the building of national defence; (11) To direct and administer affairs concerning the nationalities and to safeguard the equal rights of minority nationalities and the right of autonomy of the national autonomous areas; (12) To protect the legitimate¹³ rights and interests of Chinese nationals residing abroad and protect the lawful¹⁴ rights and interests of returned overseas Chinese and of the family members of Chinese nationals residing abroad; (13) To alter or annul¹⁵ inappropriate orders, directives and regulations issued by the ministries or commissions; (14) To alter or annul inappropriate decisions and orders issued by local organs of state administration at different levels; (15) To approve the geographic¹⁶ division of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, and to approve the establishment and geographic division of autonomous prefectures, counties, autonomous counties and cities; (16) To decide on the enforcement of martial¹⁷ law in parts of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government; (17) To examine and decide on the size of administrative organs and, in accordance with the law, to appoint, remove and train administrative officers, appraise¹⁸ their work and reward or punish them; and (18) To exercise such other functions and powers as the National People's Congress or its Standing Committee may assign it.

　　Article 90. The ministers in charge of ministries or commissions of the State Council are responsible for the work of their respective departments and convene¹⁹ and preside over their ministerial meetings or commission meetings that discuss and decide on major issues in the work of their respective departments. The ministries and commissions issue orders, directives and regulations within the jurisdiction of their respective departments and in accordance with the statutes and the administrative rules and regulations, decisions and orders issued by the State Council.

　　Article 91. The State Council establishes an auditing²⁰ body to supervise through auditing the revenue and expenditure²¹ of all departments under the State Council and of the local governments at different levels, and those of the state financial and monetary²² organizations and of enterprises and undertakings²³. Under the direction of the Premier²⁴ of the State Council,the auditing body independently exercises its power to supervise through auditing in accordance with the law, subject to no interference by any other administrative organ or any public organization or individual.

　　Article 92. The State Council is responsible, and reports on its work, to the National People's Congress or, when the National People's Congress is not in session, to its Standing Committee.

　　SECTION 4. THE CENTRAL MILITARY COMMISSION

　　Article 93. The Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China directs the armed forces of the country. The Central Military Commission is composed of the following: The Chairman; The Vice-Chairmen; and Members. The Chairman of the Central Military Commission has overall responsibility for the commission. The term of office of the Central Military Commission is the same as that of the National People's Congress.

　　Article 94. The Chairman of the Central Military Commission is responsible to the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee.

　　SECTION 5. THE LOCAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS AND THE LOCAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENTS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS

　　Article 95. People's congresses and people's governments are established in provinces, municipalities directly under the Central Government, counties, cities, municipal districts, townships, nationality townships and towns. The organization of local people's congresses and local people's governments at different levels is prescribed by law. Organs of self-government are established in autonomous regions, autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties. The organization and working procedures of organs of self-government are prescribed by law in accordance with the basic principles laid down in Sections V and VI of Chapter Three of the Constitution.

　　Article 96. Local people's congresses at different levels are local organs of state power. Local people's congresses at and above the county level establish standing committees.

　　Article 97. Deputies to the people's congresses of provinces, municipalities directly under the Central Government, and cities divided into districts are elected by the people's congresses at the next lower level; deputies to the people'scongresses of counties, cities not divided into districts, municipal districts, townships, nationality townships and towns are elected directly by their constituencies. The number of deputies to local people's congresses at different levels and the manner of their election are prescribed by law.

　　Article 98. The term of office of the people's congresses of provinces, municipalities directly under the Central Government and cities divided into districts is five years. The term of office of the people's congresses of counties, cities not divided into districts, municipal districts, townships, nationality townships and towns is three years.

　　Article 99. Local people's congresses at different levels ensure the observance and implementation²⁵ of the Constitution, the statutes and the administrative rules and regulations in their respective administrative areas. Within the limits of their authority as prescribed by law, they adopt and issue resolutions and examine and decide on plans for local economic and cultural development and for development of public services. Local people's congresses at and above the county level examine and approve the plans for economic and social development and the budgets of their respective administrative areas, and examine and approve reports on their implementation. They have the power to alter or annul inappropriate decisions of their own standing committees. The people's congresses of nationality townships may, within the limits of their authority as prescribed by law, take specific measures suited to the peculiarities²⁶ of the nationalities concerned.

　　Article 100. The people's congresses of provinces and municipalities directly under the Central Government, and their standing committees, may adopt local regulations, which must not contravene²⁷ the Constitution, the statutes and the administrative rules and regulations, and they shall report such local regulations to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for the record.

　　Article 101. At their respective levels, local people's congresses elect, and have the power to recall, governors and deputy governors, or mayors and deputy mayors, or heads and deputy heads of counties, districts, townships and towns. Local people's congresses at and above the county level elect, and have the power to recall, presidents of people's courts and chief procurators of people's procuratorates at the corresponding level. The election or recall of chief procurators of people's procuratorates shall be reported to the chief procurators of the people's procuratorates at the next higher level for submission²⁸ to the standing committees of the people's congresses at the corresponding level for approval.

　　Article 102. Deputies to the people's congresses of provinces, municipalities, directly under the Central Government and cities divided into districts are subject to supervision by the units which elected them; deputies to the people's congresses of counties, cities not divided into districts, municipal districts, townships, nationality townships and towns are subject to supervision by their constituencies. The electoral units and constituencies which elect deputies to local people's congresses at different levels have the power, according to procedures prescribed by law, to recall deputies whom they elected.

　　Article 103. The standing committee of a local people's congress at and above the county level is composed of a chairman, vice-chairmen and members, and is responsible, and reports on its work, to the people's congress at the corresponding level. The local people's congress at and above the county level elects, and has the power to recall, anyone on the standing committee of the people's congress at the corresponding level. No one on the standing committee of a local people's congress at and above the county level shall hold any post in state administrative, judicial and procuratorial organs.

　　Article 104. The standing committee of a local people's congress at and above the county level discusses and decides on major issues in all fields of work in its administrative area; supervises the work of the people's government, people's court and people's procuratorate at the corresponding level; annuls²⁹ inappropriate decisions and orders of the people's government at the corresponding level; annuls inappropriate resolutions of the people's congress at the next lower level; decides on the appointment and removal of functionaries³⁰ of state organs within its jurisdiction as prescribed by law; and, when the people's congress at the corresponding level is not in session, recalls individual deputies to the people's congress at the next higher level and elects individual deputies to fill vacancies³¹ in that people's congress.

　　Article 105. Local people's governments at different levels are the executive bodies of local organs of state power as well as the local organs of state administration at the corresponding level. Local people's governments at different levels practise the system of overall responsibility by governors, mayors, county heads, district heads, township heads and town heads.

　　Article 106. The term of office of local people's governments at different levels is the same as that of the people's congresses at the corresponding level.

　　Article 107. Local people's governments at and above the county level, within the limits of their authority as prescribed by law, conduct the administrative work concerning the economy, education, science, culture, public health, physical culture, urban and rural development, finance, civil affairs, public security, nationalities affairs, judicial administration, supervision and family planning in their respective administrative areas; issue decisions and orders; appoint, remove and train administrative functionaries, appraise their work and reward or punish them. People's governments of townships, nationality townships and towns carry out the resolutions of the people's congress at the corresponding level as well as the decisions and orders of the state administrative organs at the next higher level and conduct administrative work in their respective administrative areas. People's governments of provinces and municipalities directly under the Central Government decide on the establishment and geographic division of townships, nationality townships and towns.

　　Article 108. Local people's governments at and above the county level direct the work of their subordinate departments and of people's governments at lower levels, and have the power to alter or annul inappropriate decisions of their subordinate departments and people's governments at lower levels.

　　Article 109. Auditing bodies are established by local people's governments at and above the county level. Local auditing bodies at different levels independently exercise their power to supervise through auditing in accordance with the law and are responsible to the people's government at the corresponding level and to the auditing body at the next higher level.

　　Article 110. Local people's governments at different levels are responsible, and report on their work, to people's congresses at the corresponding level. Local people's governments at and above the county level are responsible, and report on their work, to the standing committee of the people's congress at the corresponding level when the congress is not in session. Local people's governments at different levels are responsible, and report on their work, to the state administrative organs at the next higher level. Local people's governments at different levels throughout the country are state administrative organs under the unified leadership of the State Council and are subordinate to it.

　　Article 111. The residents' committees and villagers' committees established among urban and rural residents on the basis of their place of residence are mass organizations of self-management at the grass-roots level. The chairman, vice-chairmen and members of each residents' or villagers' committee are elected by the residents. The relationship between the residents' and villagers' committees and the grass-roots organs of state power is prescribed by law. The residents' and villagers' committees establish committees for people's mediation³², public security, public health and other matters in order to manage public affairs and social services in their areas, mediate³³ civil disputes, help maintain public order and convey residents' opinions and demands and make suggestions to the people's government.

　　SECTION 6. THE ORGANS OF SELF-GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL AUTONOMOUS AREAS

　　Article 112. The organs of self-government of national autonomous areas are the people's congresses and people's governments of autonomous regions, autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties.

　　Article 113. In the people's congress of an autonomous region, prefecture or county, in addition to the deputies of the nationality or nationalities exercising regional autonomy in the administrative area, the other nationalities inhabiting the area are also entitled to appropriate representation. The chairmanship and vice- chairmenships of the standing committee of the people's congress of an autonomous region, prefecture or county shall include a citizen or citizens of the nationality or nationalities exercising regional autonomy in the area concerned.

　　Article 114. The administrative head of an autonomous region, prefecture or county shall be a citizen of the nationality, or of one of the nationalities, exercising regional autonomy in the area concerned.

　　Article 115. The organs of self-government of autonomous regions, prefectures and counties exercise the functions and powers of local organs of state as specified³⁴ in Section V of Chapter Three of the Constitution. At the same time, they exercise the right of autonomy within the limits of their authority as prescribed by the Constitution, the law of regional national autonomy and other laws, and implement the laws and policies of the state in the light of the existing local situation.

　　Article 116. People's congresses of national autonomous areas have the power to enact autonomy regulations and specific regulations in the light of the political, economic and cultural characteristics of the nationality or nationalities in the areas concerned. The autonomy regulations and specific regulations of autonomous regions shall be submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for approval before they go into effect. Those of autonomous prefectures and counties shall be submitted to the standing committees of the people's congresses of provinces or autonomous regions for approval before they go into effect, and they shall be reported to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for the record.

　　Article 117. The organs of self-government of the national autonomous areas have the power of autonomy in administering the finances of their areas. All revenues accruing³⁵ to the national autonomous areas under the financial system of the state shall be managed and used independently by the organs of self- government of those areas.

　　Article 118. The organs of self-government of the national autonomous areas independently arrange for and administer local economic development under the guidance of state plans. In developing natural resources and building enterprises in the national autonomous areas, the state shall give due consideration to the interests of those areas.

　　Article 119. The organs of self-government of the national autonomous areas independently administer educational, scientific, cultural, public health and physical culture affairs in their respective areas, sort out and protect the cultural legacy³⁶ of the nationalities and work for the development and prosperity of their cultures.

　　Article 120. The organs of self-government of the national autonomous areas may, in accordance with the military system of the state and concrete local needs and with the approval of the State Council, organize local public security forces for the maintenance of public order.

　　Article 121. In performing their functions, the organs of self-government of the national autonomous areas, in accordance with the autonomy regulations of the respective areas, employ the spoken and written language or languages in common use in the locality.

　　Article 122. The state gives financial, material and technical assistance to the minority nationalities to accelerate their economic and cultural development. The state helps the national autonomous areas train large numbers of cadres at different levels and specialized³⁷ personnel and skilled workers of different professions and trades from among the nationality or nationalities in those areas.

　　SECTION 7. THE PEOPLE'S COURT AND THE PEOPLE'S PROCURATORATES

　　Article 123. The people's courts in the People's Republic of China are the judicial organs of the state.

　　Article 124. The People's Republic of China establishes the Supreme³⁸ People's Court and the local people's courts at different levels, military courts and other special people's courts. The term of office of the President of the Supreme People's Court is the same as that of the National People's Congress; he shall serve no more than two consecutive³⁹ terms. The organization of people's courts is prescribed by law.

　　Article 125. All cases handled by the people's courts, except for those involving special circumstances as specified by law, shall be heard in public. The accused has the right of defence.

　　Article 126. The people's courts shall, in accordance with the law, exercise judicial power independently and are not subject to interference by administrative organs, public organizations or individuals.

　　Article 127. The Supreme People's Court is the highest judicial organ. The Supreme People's Court supervises the administration of justice by the local people's courts at different levels and by the special people's courts; people's courts at higher levels supervise the administration of justice by those at lower levels.

　　Article 128. The Supreme People's Court is responsible to the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee. Local people's courts at different levels are responsible to the organs of state power which created them.

　　Article 129. The people's procuratorates of the People's Republic of China are state organs for legal supervision.

　　Article 130. The People's Republic of China establishes the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the local people's procuratorates at different levels, military procuratorates and other special people's procuratorates. The term of office of the Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate is the same as that of the National People's Congress; he shall serve no more than two consecutive terms. The organization of people's procuratorates is prescribed by law.

　　Article 131. People's procuratorates shall, in accordance with the law, exercise procuratorial power independently and are not subject to interference by administrative organs, public organizations or individuals.

　　Article 132. The Supreme People's Procuratorate is the highest procuratorial organ. The Supreme People's Procuratorate directs the work of the local people's procuratorates at different levels and of the special people's procuratorates; people's procuratorates at higher levels direct the work of those at lower levels.

　　Article 133. The Supreme People's Procuratorate is responsible to the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee. Local people's procuratorates at different levels are responsible to the organs of state power at the corresponding levels which created them and to the people's procuratorates at the higher level. Article 134. Citizens of all nationalities have the right to use the spoken and written languages of their own nationalities in court proceedings⁴⁰. The people's courts and people's procuratorates should provide translation for any party to the court proceedings who is not familiar with the spoken or written languages in common use in the locality. In an area where people of a minority nationality live in a compact community or where a number of nationalities live together, hearings should be conducted in the language or languages in common use in the locality; indictments⁴¹, judgments⁴², notices and other documents should be written, according to actual needs, in the language or languages in common use in the locality.

　　Article 135. The people's courts, people's procuratorates and public security organs shall, in handling criminal cases, divide their functions, each taking responsibility for its own work, and they shall co- ordinate their efforts and check each other to ensure correct and effective enforcement of law.

　　CHAPTER IV. THE NATIONAL FLAG, THE NATIONAL EMBLEM⁴³ AND THE CAPITAL

　　Article 136. The national flag of the People's Republic of China is a red flag with five stars.

　　Article 137. The national emblem of the People's Republic of China is Tian'anmen in the centre illuminated⁴⁴ by five stars and encircled by ears of grain and a cogwheel.

　　Article 138. The capital of the People's Republic of China is Beijing.

　　AMENDENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

　　AMENDMENT⁴⁵ ONE

　　(Approved on April 12, 1988, by the 7th NPC at its 1st Session)

　　1. Article 11 of the Constitution shall include a new paragraph which reads: "The State permits the private sector⁴⁶ of the economy to exist and develop within the limits prescribed by law. The private sector of the economy is a complement⁴⁷ to the socialist⁴⁸ public economy. The State protects the lawful rights and interests of the private sector of the economy, and exercises guidance, supervision and control over the private sector of the economy."

　　2. The fourth paragraph of Article 10 of the Constitution, which provides that "no organization or individual may appropriate, buy, sell or lease land or otherwise engage in the transfer of land by unlawful means," shall be amended⁴⁹ as: "no organization or individual may appropriate, buy, sell or otherwise engage in the transfer of land by unlawful means. The right to the use of land may be transferred according to law."

　　AMENDMENT TWO

　　(Approved on March 29, 1993, by the 8th NPC at its 1st Session)

　　3. The last two sentences of the seventh paragraph of the Preamble⁵⁰ which reads "The basic task of the nation in the years to come is to concentrate its effort on socialist modernization⁵¹. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the guidance of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, the Chinese people of all nationalities will continue to adhere to the people's democratic dictatorship and follow the socialist road, steadily⁵² improve socialist institutions, develop socialist democracy, improve the socialist legal system and work hard and self-reliantly to modernize⁵³ industry, agriculture, national defense⁵⁴ and science and technology step by step to turn China into a socialist country with a high level of culture and democracy," shall be amended as: "China is at the primary stage of socialism. The basic task of the nation is, according to the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, to concentrate its effort on socialist modernization. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the guidance of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, the Chinese people of all nationalities will continue to adhere to the people's democratic dictatorship and follow the socialist road, persevere⁵⁵ in reform and opening to the outside, steadily improve socialist institutions, develop socialist democracy, improve the socialist legal system and work hard and self-reliantly to modernize industry, agriculture, national defense and science and technology step by step to turn China into a socialist country with prosperity and power, democracy and culture."

　　4. At the end of the tenth paragraph of the Preamble, add "The system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation⁵⁶ led by the Communist Party of China will exist and develop in China for a long time to come."

　　5. article 7 which reads "The State economy is the sector of socialist economy under ownership by the whole people; it is the leading force in the national economy. The State ensures the consolidation⁵⁷ and growth of the State economy," shall be changed to: "The State-owned economy, that is, the socialist economy under ownership by the whole people, is the leading force in the national economy. The State ensures the consolidation and growth of the State-owned economy."

　　6. The first item of Article 8 which reads "Rural people's communes, agricultural producers' cooperatives, and other forms of cooperative economy such as producers', supply and marketing⁵⁸, credit and consumers' cooperatives, belong to the sector of socialist economy under collective ownership by the working people. Working people who are members of rural economic collectives have the right, within the limits prescribed by law, to farm plots of cropland and hilly land allotted⁵⁹ for private use, engage in household sideline production and raise privately⁶⁰-owned livestock⁶¹," shall be amended as: "Rural household-based contract responsibility system with remuneration linked to output, and other forms of cooperative economy such as producers', supply and marketing, credit and consumers' cooperatives, belong to the sector of socialist economy under collective ownership by the working people. Working people who are members of rural economic collectives have the right, within the limits prescribed by law, to farm plots of cropland and hilly land allotted for private use, engage in household sideline production and raise privately-owned livestock."

　　7. Article 15 which reads "The State practices economic planning on the basis of socialist public ownership. It ensures the proportionate and coordinated⁶² growth of the national economy through overall balancing by economic planning and the supplementary⁶³ role of regulation by the market.

　　Disturbance⁶⁴ of the orderly functioning of the social economy or disruption of the State economic plan by any organization or individual is prohibited," shall be changed to: "The state has put into practice a socialist market economy. The State strengthens formulating⁶⁵ economic laws, improves macro adjustment and control and forbids according to law any units or individuals from interfering⁶⁶ with the social economic order."

　　8. Article 16 which reads "State enterprises have decision-making power in operation and management within the limits prescribed by law, on condition that they submit to unified leadership by the State and fulfil and their obligations under the State plan.

　　State enterprises practice democratic management through congresses of workers and staff and in other ways in accordance with the law," shall be revised as: "Stated-owned enterprises have decision-making power in operation and management within the limits prescribed by law. State-owned enterprises practice democratic management through congresses of workers and staff and in other ways in accordance with the law."

　　9. Article 17 which reads "Collective economic organizations have decision-making power in conducting independent economic activities, on condition that they accept the guidance of the State plan and abide⁶⁷ by the relevant laws.

　　Collective economic organizations practice democratic management in accordance with the law, with the entire body of their workers electing or removing their managerial personnel and deciding on major issues concerning operation and management", shall be amended as: "Collective economic organizations have decision-making power in conducting independent economic activities, on condition that they abide by the relevant laws. Collective economic organizations practice democratic management, elect or remove their managerial personnel and decide on major issue concerning operation and management according to law."

　　10. The their item of Article 42 which reads "Work is the glorious duty of every able-bodied citizen. All working people in State enterprises and in urban and rural economic collectives should perform their tasks with an attitude consonant⁶⁸ with their status as masters of the country. The State promotes socialist labor⁶⁹ emulation⁷⁰, and commends and rewards model and advanced workers. The state encourages citizens to take part in voluntary labor," shall be amended as: "Work is the glorious duty of every able-bodied citizen. All working people in State-owned enterprises and in urban and rural economic collectives should perform their tasks with an attitude consonant with their status as masters of the country. The State promotes socialist labor emulation, and commends and rewards model and advanced workers. The State encourages citizens to take part in voluntary labor."

　　11. Article 98 which reads "The term of office of the people's congresses of provinces, municipalities directly under the Central Government and cities divided into districts is five years. The term of office of the people's congresses of countries, cities not divided into districts, municipal districts, townships, nationality townships and towns is three years," shall be revised as: "The term of office of the people's congresses of provinces, municipalities directly under the Central Government, counties, cities and municipal districts is five years. The term of office of the people's congresses of townships, nationality townships and towns is three years."

　　AMENDMENT THREE

　　(Approved on March 15, 1999, by the 9th NPC at its 2nd Session)

　　The original text of paragraph seven in the Preamble of the Constitution is: "Both the victory of China's new-democratic revolution and the successes of its socialist cause have been achieved by the Chinese people of all nationalities under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the guidance of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, and by upholding truth, correcting errors and overcoming numerous difficulties and hardships. China is currently in the primary stage of socialism. The basic task of the nation is to concentrate its effort on socialist modernization in accordance with the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the guidance of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, the Chinese people of all nationalities will continue to adhere to the people's democratic dictatorship, follow the socialist road, persist in reform and opening-up, steadily improve socialist institutions, develop socialist democracy, improve the socialist legal system and work hard and self-reliantly to modernize industry, agriculture, national defense and science and technology step by step to turn China into a powerful and prosperous socialist country with a high level of culture and democracy."

　　It is revised into: "Both the victory of China's new-democratic revolution and the successes of its socialist cause have been achieved by the Chinese people of all nationalities under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the guidance of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, and by upholding truth, correcting errors and overcoming numerous difficulties and hardships. China will stay in the primary stage of socialism for a long period of time. The basic task of the nation is to concentrate its efforts on socialist modernization by following the road of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the guidance of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Chinese people of all nationalities will continue to adhere to the people's democratic dictatorship, follow the socialist road, persist in reform and opening-up, steadily improve socialist institutions, develop a socialist market economy, advance socialist democracy, improve the socialist legal system and work hard and self-reliantly to modernize industry, agriculture, national defense and science and technology step by step to turn China into a powerful and prosperous socialist country with a high level of culture and democracy."

　　One section is added to Article Five of the Constitution as the first section: "The People's Republic of China practices ruling the country in accordance with the law and building a socialist country of law."

　　The original text of Article Six of the Constitution is: "The basis of the socialist economic system of the People's Republic of China is socialist public ownership of the means of production, namely, ownership by the whole people and collective ownership by the working people." "The system of socialist public ownership supersedes⁷¹ the system of exploitation of man by man; it applies the principle of 'from each according to his ability, to each according to his work'."

　　It is revised into:"The basis of the socialist economic system of the People's Republic of China is socialist public ownership of the means of production, namely, ownership by the whole people and collective ownership by the working people. The system of socialist public ownership supersedes the system of exploitation of man by man; it applies the principle of 'from each according to his ability, to each according to his work'." "During the primary stage of socialism, the State adheres to the basic economic system with the public ownership remaining dominant⁷² and diverse sectors⁷³ of the economy developing side by side, and to the distribution system with the distribution according to work remaining dominant and the coexistence of a variety of modes of distribution."

　　The original text of the first section in Article Eight of the Constitution is:"The rural household-based output-related contracted responsibility system and other forms of the cooperative economy such as producers', supply and marketing, credit and consumers' cooperatives belong to the sector of the socialist economy under collective ownership by the working people. Working people who are members of rural economic collectives have the right, within the limits prescribed by law, to farm plots of cropland and hilly land allotted for private use, engage in household sideline production and raise privately owned livestock."

　　It is revised into:"Rural collective economic organizations practice the double-tier management system that combines unified and separate operations on the basis of the household-based output-related contracted responsibility system. Various forms of the cooperative economy in rural areas such as producers', supply and marketing, credit and consumers' cooperatives belong to the sector of the socialist economy under collective ownership by the working people.

　　Working people who are members of rural economic collectives have the right, within the limits prescribed by law, to farm plots of cropland and hilly land allotted for private use, engage in household sideline production and raise privately owned livestock."

　　The original text of Article 11 of the Constitution is: "The individual economy of urban and rural working people, operating within the limits prescribed by law, is a complement to the socialist public economy. The State protects the lawful rights and interests of the individual economy." "The State guides, helps and supervises the individual economy by exercising administrative control." "The State permits the private economy to exist and develop within the limits prescribed by law. The private economy is a complement to the socialist public economy. The State protects the lawful rights and interests of the private economy, and guides, supervises and administers the private economy."

　　It is revised into: "Individual, private and other non-public economies that exist within the limits prescribed by law are major components⁷⁴ of the socialist market economy." "The State protects the lawful rights and interests of individual and private economies, and guides, supervises and administers individual and private economies."

　　The original text of Article 28 of the Constitution is: "The State maintains public order and suppresses treasonable and other counter-revolutionary activities; it penalizes⁷⁵ actions that endanger public security and disrupt the socialist economy and other criminal activities, and punishes and reforms criminals."

　　It is revised into: "The State maintains public order and suppresses treasonable and other criminal activities that endanger State security; it penalizes actions that endanger public security and disrupt the socialist economy and other criminal activities, and punishes and reforms criminals.

　　AMENDMENT FOURTH

　　(Approved on March 14, 2004, by the 10th NPC at its 2nd Session)

　　1 "…… along the road of building socialism with Chinese characteristics……" and "……under the guidance of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory……"

　　Revised to: "…… along the road of Chinese-style socialism……" and "……under the guidance of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of 'Three Represents'……"

　　2 Seventh paragraph of the Preamble: After "…… to modernize the industry, agriculture, national defence and science and technology step by step……"

　　Is added: "…… promote the co-ordinated development of the material, political and spiritual civilizations……"

　　3 The second sentence of the 10th paragraph of the Preamble: "In the long years of revolution and construction, there has been formed under the leadership of the Communist Party of China a broad patriotic⁷⁶ united front that is composed of the democratic parties and people's organizations and embraces all socialist working people, all patriots⁷⁷ who support socialism, and all patriots who stand for the reunification of the motherland. This united front will continue to be consolidated⁷⁸ and developed."

　　After "…… a broad patriotic united front that is composed of the democratic parties and people's organizations and embraces all socialist working people……" is added "…… all builders of socialism, ……"

　　4 Third paragraph of Article 10: "The State may, in the public interest, requisition land for its use in accordance with the law."

　　Revised to: "The State may, in the public interest and in accordance with the provisions of law, expropriate or requisition land for its use and shall make compensation for the land expropriated or requisitioned."

　　5 Second paragraph of Article 11:"The State protects the lawful rights and interests of the individual and private sectors of the economy, and exercises guidance, supervision and control over individual and the private sectors of the economy."

　　Revised to: "The State protects the lawful rights and interests of the non-public sectors of the economy such as the individual and private sectors of the economy. The State encourages, supports and guides the development of the non-public sectors of the economy and, in accordance with law, exercises supervision and control over the non-public sectors of the economy."

　　6 Article 13: "The State protects the right of citizens to own lawfully⁷⁹ earned income, savings⁸⁰, houses and other lawful property." and "The State protects according to law the right of citizens to inherit private property."

　　Revised to: "Citizens' lawful private property is inviolable" and "The State, in accordance with law, protects the rights of citizens to private property and to its inheritance" and "The State may, in the public interest and in accordance with law, expropriate or requisition private property for its use and shall make compensation for the private property expropriated or requisitioned."

　　7 Article 14 has a fourth paragraph added: "The State establishes a sound social security system compatible with the level of economic development."

　　8 Article 33 has a third paragraph added: "The State respects and preserves human rights."

　　9 The first paragraph of Article 59 is revised to: "The National People's Congress is composed of deputies elected from the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government and of deputies elected from the armed forces. All the minority nationalities are entitled to appropriate representation."

　　Revised to: "The National People's Congress is composed of deputies elected from the provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, and the special administrative regions, and of deputies elected from the armed forces. All the minority nationalities are entitled to appropriate representation."

　　10 On "State of Emergency"

　　Subparagraph 20 of Article 67: "…… to decide on the imposition of martial law throughout the country or in particular provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government."

　　Revised to: "…… to decide on entering the state of emergency throughout the country or in particular provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government."

　　Article 80: "The President of the People's Republic of China …… proclaims martial law, ……"

　　Revised to: "…… proclaims entering of the state of emergency, ……"

　　Subparagraph 16 of Article 89: "…… to decide on the imposition of martial law in parts of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government……"

　　Revised to: "…… in accordance with the provisions of law, to decide on entering the state of emergency in parts of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government……"

　　11 Article 81: "The President of the People's Republic of China receives foreign diplomatic representatives on behalf of the People's Republic of China."

　　Revised to: "The President of the People's Republic of China, on behalf of the People's Republic of China, engages in activities involving State affairs and receives foreign diplomatic representatives."

　　12 Article 98: "The term of office of people's congresses of provinces, municipalities directly under the Central Government, counties, cities and municipal districts is five years. The term of office of the people's congresses of townships, nationality townships and towns is three years."

　　Revised to: "The term of office of the local people's congresses at various levels is five years."

　　13 Provision on the National Anthem⁸¹:

　　Title of Chapter IV: "The National Flag, the National Emblem and the Capital"

　　Revised to: "The National Flag, the National Anthem, the National Emblem and the Capital"

　　Article 136 has a second paragraph added: "The National Anthem of the People's Republic of China is the March of the Volunteers." (Updated on March 22, 2004)

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