介紹中華人民共和國 The People's Republic of China's Details


重要資訊：這個世上只有一個中國，全名為中華人民共和國。香港特別行政區、澳門特別行政區和台灣省也是中華人民共和國不可分離的一部分。中華人民共和國是奉行社會主義民主集中制兼多黨合作和政治協商制度的國家。領導們都明白尊重和平主義、多邊主義和市場經濟的重要。中華人民共和國内地的經濟制度與香港特別行政區、澳門特別行政區的經濟制度是不同的，這是一國兩制帶來的結果。

Important information: There is only one China called the People's Republic of China in the world. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region and the Taiwan Province are parts of the People's Republic of China. The People's Republic of China is a socialist democratic centralism system country with multi-party cooperation and political consultation. The leadership understands the importance of respect for pacifism, multilateralism and market economy. The economic system of the People's Republic of China's Mainland is different from the economic systems of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region because of "one country, two systems".

2019年，慶祝中華人民共和國成立70週年大會閱兵式
The 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China in 2019
2015年，中國人民抗日戰爭和世界反法西斯戰爭勝利70週年閲兵式
In 2015, the victory anniversary for the Chinese people battle against JP aggressors and fascists in the Second World War
The National Flag of the People's Republic of China is a red rectangle emblazoned with five stars. The proportion of its length and height is 3 to 2. The upper left of the face of the Flag is studded with five yellow five-pointed stars. One of the stars is bigger than the others, with its circumcircle's diameter being three-tenth of the height of the Flag, and is placed in the left; the other four stars are smaller, with their circumcircle's diameter being one-tenth of the height of the Flag, encircling the big star on its right in the shape of an arch.






The People's Republic of China is located in the eastern part of the Asian continent, on the western Pacific rim. It is a vast land, covering 9.6 million square kilometers. China is approximately seventeen times the size of France, 1 million square kilometers smaller than all of Europe, and 600,000 square kilometers smaller than Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, and the islands of the south and central Pacific). Additional offshore territory, including territorial waters, special economic areas, and the continental shelf, totals over 3 million square kilometers, bringing China's overall territory to almost 13 million square kilometers.

Western China's Himalayan Mountains are often referred to as the roof of the world. Mount Qomolangma (known to the West as Mount Everest), at over 8800 meters in height, is the roof's highest peak. China stretches from its westernmost point on the Pamir Plateau to the confluence of the Heilongjiang and Wusuli Rivers, 5200 kilometers to the east.

When inhabitants of eastern China are greeting the dawn, people in western China still face four more hours of darkness. The northernmost point in China is located at the midpoint of the-Heilongjiang River, north of Mohe in Heilongjiang Province. The southernmost point is located at Zengmu' ansha in the Nansha Islands, approximately 5500 kilometers away. When northern China is still gripped in a world of ice and snow, flowers are already blooming in the balmy south. The Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea border China to the east and south, together forming a vast maritime area. The Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea connect directly with the Pacific Ocean, while the Bohai Sea, embraced between the two "arms" of the Liaodong and Shandong peninsulas, forms an inland sea. China's maritime territory includes 5400 islands, which have a total area of 80,000 square kilometers. The two largest islands, Taiwan and Hainan, cover 36,000 square kilometers and 34,000 square kilometers respectively.

From north to south, China's ocean straits consist of the Bohai, Taiwan, Bashi, and Qiongzhou Straits. China possesses 20,000 kilometers of land border, plus 18,000 kilometers of coastline. Setting out from any point on China's border and making a complete circuit back to the starting point, the distance traveled would be equivalent to circling the globe at the equator.


China is a unified nation consisting of many different ethnic groups. Fifty-six different ethnic groups make up the great Chinese national family. Because the Han people accounts for more than ninety percent of China's population, there maining fifty-five groups are generally referred to as "ethnic minorities." Next to the majority Han, the Mongolian, Hui, Tibetan, and Uygur peoples comprise the largest ethnic groups. Although China's ethnic minorities do not account for a large portion of the population, they are distributed over a vast area, residing in every corner of China.


Particularly since the implementation of China's opening and reform policy, the central government has increased investment in minority areas and accelerated their opening to the outside world. This has resulted in an upsurge of economic development in these areas. Each of China's ethnic minority groups possesses a distinctive culture. The Chinese government respects minority customs, and works to preserve, study, and collate the cultural artifacts of China's ethnic minority groups. The government vigorously supports the development of minority culture and the training of minority cultural workers, and fosters the development of traditional minority medicine.


The relation among China's ethnic groups can be described as "overall integration, local concentration, mutual interaction." Concentrations of ethnic minorities reside within predominantly Han areas, and the Han people also reside in minority areas, indicating that there has been extensive exchanges among China's ethnic groups since ancient times. With the development of the market economy, interaction among ethnic groups has become even more active in the areas of government, economics, culture, daily life, and marriage. Linked by interdependence, mutual assistance, and joint development, their common goals and interests creating a deep sense of solidarity, China's ethnic groups resemble a great national family, together building Chinese civilization.


The simplified Chinese characters are standardized Chinese characters used in China's Mainland, Malaysia, and Singapore, as prescribed by the Table of General Standard Chinese Characters. Along with traditional Chinese characters, they are one of the two standard character sets of the contemporary Chinese written language. The government of the People's Republic of China has promoted them for use in printing since the 1950s and 1960s to encourage literacy. The traditional Chinese characters are commonly used in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan Province.
(Caution: Chinese characters and pronunciations in Japan are almost totally different with Chinese characters and pronunciations in Chinese nation's areas. The Japanese term Kanji for the Chinese characters literally means "Han characters". It is written with the same characters as in Chinese to refer to the character writing system, Hanzi. Although some Kanji will have similar meaning and pronunciation as Chinese, some Kanji can have very different meanings and pronunciations as well, such as "誠". The meaning is "honest" in both Chinese and Japanese, The character is pronounced "sei" in Japanese, but the character is pronounced "chéng" in standard Mandarin Chinese. The above information is searched from internet.)

More details: 

CONSTITUTION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Chapter I General Principles
Article 1
The People's Republic of China is a socialist  state under  the  people's democratic dictatorship led by the working class and based on the alliance of workers and peasants.  The socialist system is the basic system of  the People's Republic of China. Disruption of  the  socialist  system  by  any organization or individual is prohibited.
Article 2
All power in the People's Republic of China belongs to the people. The National People's  Congress  and  the  local  people's  congresses  at various levels are the organs through  which  the  people  exercise  state power. The people administer state affairs  and  manage  economic,  cultural  and social affairs through various channels and in various ways in  accordance with the law.
Article 3
The state organs of the People's Republic of China apply the principle of democratic centralism. The National People's  Congress  and  the  local  people's  congresses  at various levels are constituted  through  democratic  elections.  They  are responsible to the people and subject to their supervision. All administrative, judicial and procuratorial organs  of  the  state  are created by the people's congresses to which they are  responsible  and  by which they are supervised.  The division of functions and  powers  between the central and local state organs is guided by the  principle  of  giving full scope to the initiative and enthusiasm of the local authorities under the unified leadership of the central authorities.
Article 4
All nationalities in the People's Republic of China are equal.  The  state protects the lawful rights and interests of the minority nationalities and upholds  and  develops  a  relationship  of  equality,  unity  and  mutual assistance among all of China's nationalities. Discrimination against  and oppression of any nationality are prohibited; any act which undermines the unity of the nationalities or instigates division is prohibited. The  state  assists  areas  inhabited   by   minority   nationalities   in accelerating their economic and  cultural  development  according  to  the characteristics and needs of the various minority nationalities. Regional  autonomy  is  practised  in  areas  where  people  of   minority nationalities live in concentrated communities; in these areas  organs  of self-government are established to exercise the  power  of  autonomy.  All national autonomous areas are integral parts of the People's  Republic  of China. All nationalities have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages and  to  preserve  or  reform  their  own  folkways  and customs.
Article 5
The state upholds the  uniformity  and  dignity  of  the  socialist  legal system. No laws or administrative or local rules and  regulations  may  contravene the Constitution. All  state  organs,  the  armed  forces,  all  political parties and public organizations and all enterprises and institutions must abide by the Constitution and the  law.  All  acts  in  violation  of  the Constitution or the law must be investigated. No organization or individual is privileged to be beyond the  Constitution or the law.
Article 6
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."
Article 7
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 consolidation and growth of the state economy.
Article 8
Rural people's communes, agricultural  producers cooperatives  and  other forms of cooperatives 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 collective have the  right,  within  the limits prescribed by law,  to  farm  plots  of  cropland  and  hilly  land allotted for their private use, engage in  household  sideline  production and raise privately owned livestock. The various forms of cooperative economy in the cities and towns, such  as those in the handicraft, industrial, building, transport,  commercial  and service trades, all belong  to  the  sector  of  socialist  economy  under collective ownership by the working people.  The state protects the lawful rights and interests of  the  urban  and  rural  economic  collective  and encourages, guides and helps the growth of the collective economy.
Article 9
All mineral resources, waters, forests, mountains, grassland,  unreclaimed land, beaches and other natural resources are owned by the state, that is, by the whole  people,  with  the  exception  of  the  forests,  mountains, grasslands, unreclaimed land and beaches that are owned by  collective  in accordance with the law. The state ensures the rational use of natural resources and protects  rare animals and plants. Appropriation or damaging of natural resources by  any organization or individual by whatever means is prohibited.
Article 10
Land in the cities is owned by the state. Land in the rural and suburban areas is owned by  collectives  except  for those portions which belong to the state in accordance with the law; house sites and privately farmed plots of cropland and hilly land are also owned by collectives. The state may, in the public interest, requisition land  for  its  use  in accordance with the law. No organization or individual may appropriate, buy, sell or lease land  or otherwise engage in the transfer of land by unlawful means. All organizations and individuals using land must ensure its rational use.
Article 11
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,  assists  and  supervises  the  individual  economy  by administrative control.
Article 12
Socialist public property is inviolable. The state protects socialist public property. Appropriation or damaging of state or collective property by any organization or individual by whatever means is prohibited.
Article 13
The state protects the right of citizens to own  lawfully  earned  income, savings, houses and other lawful property. The state protects according to law  the  right  of  citizens  to  inherit private property.
Article 14
The state  continuously  raises  labour  productivity,  improves  economic results and develops the productive forces by enhancing the enthusiasm  of the  working  people,  raising  the  level  of  their   technical   skill, disseminating advanced science and technology, improving  the  systems  of economic  administration  and   enterprise   operation   and   management, instituting the socialist system of responsibility in  various  forms  and improving the organization of work. The state practises strict economy and combats waste. The state  properly  apportions  accumulation  and  consumption,  concerns itself with the interests of the collective and the individual as well  as of the state and, on the basis of expanded production, gradually  improves the material and cultural life of the people.
Article 15
The state practises planned economy  on  the  basis  of  socialist  public ownership. It ensures the proportionate  and  coordinated  growth  of  the national economy through overall balancing by economic  planning  and  the supplementary role of  regulation  by  the  market.   Disturbance  of  the socioeconomic order or disruption  of  the  state  economic  plan  by  any organization or individual is prohibited.
Article 16
State enterprises have decision-making power with regard to operation  and management within the limits prescribed by law,  on  condition  that  they submit to unified leadership by the state and fulfil all their obligations under the state plan.  State enterprises  practise  democratic  management through congresses of workers and staff and in other  ways  in  accordance with the law.
Article 17
Collective economic organizations have decision-making power in conducting independent  economic  activities,  on  condition  that  they  accept  the guidance of the state plan and abide by the relevant laws. Collective  economic  organizations  practise  democratic  management   in accordance with the law. The  entire  body  of  their  workers  elects  or removes their managerial personnel and decides on major issues  concerning operation and management.
Article 18
The People's Republic of China permits foreign enterprises, other  foreign economic organizations and individual foreigners to invest in China and to enter into various forms of economic cooperation with Chinese  enterprises and other Chinese economic organizations in accordance with the law of the People's Republic  of  China.   All  foreign  enterprises,  other  foreign economic organizations as well as Chinese-foreign  joint  ventures  within Chinese territory shall abide by the  law  of  the  People's  Republic  of China. Their lawful rights and interests are protected by the law  of  the People's Republic of China.
Article 19
The state undertakes the development of socialist education and  works  to raise the scientific and cultural level of the whole nation. The  state  establishes  and  administers  schools   of   various   types, universalizes  compulsory  primary  education  and   promotes   secondary, vocational and higher education as well as preschool education. The state develops educational facilities in order to eliminate illiteracy and provide political, scientific, technical and professional education as well as general education for workers, peasants, state  functionaries  and other working people. It encourages  people  to  become  educated  through independent study. The  state  encourages  the  collective  economic   organizations,   state enterprises and institutions and other sectors  of  society  to  establish educational institutions of various types in accordance with the law. The state promotes the nationwide use of Putonghua (common speech based on Beijing pronunciation).
Article 20
The state promotes the development of the  natural  and  social  sciences, disseminates knowledge of science and technology, and commends and rewards achievements in scientific research as well as  technological  innovations and inventions.
Article 21
The state develops medical and health services, promotes  modern  medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, encourages and supports the  setting  up of  various  medical  and  health  facilities  by   the   rural   economic collectives,  state  enterprises  and   institutions   and   neighbourhood organizations, and promotes health and sanitation  activities  of  a  mass character, all for the protection of the people's health. The state develops physical culture and promotes mass sports activities to improve the people's physical fitness.
Article 22
The state promotes the development of art and literature, the press, radio and  television  broadcasting,  publishing  and   distribution   services, libraries, museums, cultural centres and other cultural undertakings  that serve the people and socialism, and it sponsors mass cultural activities. The state protects sites  of  scenic  and  historical  interest,  valuable cultural monuments and relics  and  other  significant  items  of  China's historical and cultural heritage.
Article 23
The state trains specialized personnel in all fields who serve  socialism, expands the ranks of intellectuals and creates  conditions  to  give  full scope to their role in socialist modernization.
Article 24
The state strengthens the building of a socialist society with an advanced culture and ideology  by  promoting  education  in  high  ideals,  ethics, general  knowledge,  discipline  and  legality,  and  by   promoting   the formulation and observance of rules  of  conduct  and  common  pledges  by various sections of the people  in  urban  and  rural  areas.   The  state advocates the civic virtues of love of the motherland, of the  people,  of labour, of science and of  socialism.  It  conducts  education  among  the people in patriotism and collectivism, in internationalism  and  communism and in dialectical  and  historical  materialism,  to  combat  capitalist, feudal and other decadent ideas.
Article 25
The state promotes family planning so that population growth may  fit  the plans for economic and social development.
Article 26
The state protects and improves the environment in which people  live  and the ecological environment. It prevents and controls pollution  and  other public hazards.  The state organizes and encourages afforestation and  the protection of forests.
Article 27
All  state  organs  carry  out  the  principle  of  simple  and  efficient administration, the system of responsibility for work and  the  system  of training  functionaries and  appraising  their   performance   in   order constantly to improve the  quality  of  work  and  efficiency  and  combat bureaucratism. All state organs and functionaries must rely on the support of the people, keep in close touch with them, heed their opinions and suggestions, accept their supervision and do their best to serve them.
Article 28
The state maintains public order  and  suppresses  treasonable  and  other counter-revolutionary activities; it penalizes  criminal  activities  that endanger public security and disrupt the  socialist  economy  as  well  as other criminal activities; and it punishes and reforms criminals.
Article 29
The armed forces of the People's Republic of China belong to the people. Their tasks are to strengthen national defence, resist aggression,  defend the motherland, safeguard the people's  peaceful  labour,  participate  in national reconstruction and do their best to serve the people. The   state   strengthens   the   revolutionization,   modernization   and regularization of the armed forces in order to increase  national  defence capability.
Article 30
The administrative division of  the  People's  Republic  of  China  is  as follows:
(1)  The  country  is  divided  into  provinces,  autonomous  regions  and municipalities directly under the Central Government;
(2)  Provinces  and  autonomous  regions  are  divided   into   autonomous prefectures, counties, autonomous counties, and cities;
(3)  Counties  and  autonomous  counties  are  divided   into   townships, nationality townships, and towns. Municipalities directly under  the  Central  Government  and  other  large cities are divided into districts and counties. Autonomous prefectures are divided into counties, autonomous counties, and cities. All autonomous regions, autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties are national autonomous areas.
Article 31
The state may establish special administrative regions when necessary. The systems to be  instituted  in  special  administrative  regions  shall  be prescribed by law enacted by the National People's Congress in  the  light of specific conditions.
Article 32
The People's Republic of China protects the lawful rights and interests of foreigners within Chinese territory; foreigners on Chinese territory  must abide by the laws of the People's Republic of China. The People's Republic of China may grant asylum to foreigners who  request it for political reasons.
    Chapter II The Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens
Article 33
All persons holding the nationality of the People's Republic of China  are citizens of the People's Republic of China. All citizens of the People's Republic of China are equal before the law. Every citizen is entitled to the rights and at the same time must  perform the duties prescribed by the Constitution and the law.
Article 34
All citizens of the People's Republic of China who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote and stand for  election,  regardless  of  ethnic status,  race,  sex,  occupation,  family  background,  religious  belief, education, property status or length of residence, except persons deprived of political rights according to law.
Article 35
Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration.
Article 36
Citizens of the People's Republic of  China  enjoy  freedom  of  religious belief.  No state organ, public  organization  or  individual  may  compel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion; nor  may  they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not  believe  in,  any religion. The state protects normal religious activities. No one  may  make  use  of religion to engage in activities that disrupt  public  order,  impair  the health of citizens or interfere with the educational system of the state. Religious bodies and religious affairs are  not  subject  to  any  foreign domination.
Article 37
Freedom of the person of citizens of the People's  Republic  of  China  is inviolable.  No citizen may be arrested except with  the  approval  or  by decision of a people's procuratorate or by decision of a  people's  court, and arrests must be made by a public security organ. Unlawful detention or deprivation or restriction of  citizens  freedom  of the person by other means is prohibited, and unlawful search of the person of citizens is prohibited.
Article 38
The personal dignity of citizens of the  People's  Republic  of  China  is inviolable.   Insult,  libel,  false  accusation  or  false  incrimination directed against citizens by any means is prohibited.
Article 39
The  residences  of  citizens  of  the  People's  Republic  of  China  are inviolable. Unlawful search of, or intrusion into, a  citizen's  residence is prohibited.
Article 40
Freedom and privacy of correspondence of citizens of the People's Republic of China are protected by law. No organization or individual may,  on  any ground, infringe upon citizens  freedom  and  privacy  of  correspondence, except in cases where, to meet the needs of state security or of  criminal investigation, public security or procuratorial organs  are  permitted  to censor correspondence in accordance with procedures prescribed by law.
Article 41
Citizens of the People's Republic of China have the right to criticize and make suggestions regarding any state organ or functionary.  Citizens  have the right to make to relevant state organs complaints or charges  against, or exposures of, any state organ or functionary for violation of  the  law or dereliction of  duty;  but  fabrication  or  distortion  of  facts  for purposes of libel or false incrimination is prohibited. The state organ concerned must deal with complaints, charges or  exposures made by citizens in a responsible manner after ascertaining the facts. No one may suppress such  complaints,  charges  and  exposures  or  retaliate against the citizens making them.  Citizens who have suffered losses as  a result of infringement of  their  civic  rights  by  any  state  organ  or functionary have the right to compensation in accordance with the law.
Article 42
Citizens of the People's Republic of China have the right as well  as  the duty to work.  Through various channels, the state creates conditions  for employment, enhances occupational  safety  and  health,  improves  working conditions  and,  on  the  basis   of   expanded   production,   increases remuneration for work and welfare benefits.  Work is a  matter  of  honour for every citizen who is  able  to  work.  All  working  people  in  state enterprises and in urban and rural economic  collectives  should  approach their work as the masters of the country that they are. The state promotes socialist labour emulation, and commends and rewards  model  and  advanced workers. The state encourages citizens to take part in voluntary labour. The state provides necessary vocational training for citizens before  they are employed.
Article 43
Working people in the People's Republic of China have the right to rest. The state expands facilities for the rest and recuperation of the  working people and prescribes working hours and vacations for workers and staff.
Article 44
The state applies the system  of  retirement  for  workers  and  staff  of enterprises and institutions and for  functionaries  of  organs  of  state according to law. The livelihood of retired personnel is  ensured  by  the state and society.
Article 45
Citizens of the People's Republic of China  have  the  right  to  material assistance from the state and society when they are old, ill or disabled. The state develops social insurance, social relief and medical and  health services that are required for citizens to enjoy this right. The state and society ensure the livelihood of  disabled  members  of  the armed forces, provide  pensions  to  the families  of  martyrs  and  give preferential treatment to the families of military personnel. The state and society help make arrangements for the work, livelihood  and education of the blind, deaf-mutes and other handicapped citizens.
Article 46
Citizens of the People's Republic of China have the duty as  well  as  the right to receive education. The state promotes the all-round development of children and young people, morally, intellectually and physically.
Article 47
Citizens of the People's Republic of China have the freedom to  engage  in scientific research, literary and artistic  creation  and  other  cultural pursuits. The state encourages and assists creative endeavors conducive to the interests  of  the  people  that  are  made  by  citizens  engaged  in education, science, technology, literature, art and other cultural work.
Article 48
Women in the People's Republic of China enjoy equal rights with men in all spheres of life, in political, economic, cultural, social and family life. The state  protects  the  rights  and  interests  of  women,  applies  the principle of equal pay for equal work to men and women  alike  and  trains and selects cadres from among women.
Article 49
Marriage, the family and mother and child are protected by the state. Both husband and wife have the duty to practise family planning. Parents have the duty to rear and educate their children who  are  minors, and children who have come of age have the  duty  to  support  and  assist their parents.  Violation of the freedom of marriage is prohibited. Maltreatment of old people, women and children is prohibited.
Article 50
The  People's  Republic  of  China  protects  the  legitimate  rights  and interests of Chinese nationals residing abroad  and  protects  the  lawful rights and interests of  returned  overseas  Chinese  and  of  the  family members of Chinese nationals residing abroad.
Article 51
Citizens of the People's Republic of China, in exercising  their  freedoms and rights, may not infringe upon the interests of the state,  of  society or of the collective, or upon the lawful  freedoms  and  rights  of  other citizens.
Article 52
It is the duty of citizens of the People's Republic of China to  safeguard the unification of the country and the unity of all its nationalities.
Article 53
Citizens of the People's Republic of China must abide by the  Constitution and the law, keep state secrets, protect public property,  observe  labour discipline and public order and respect social ethics.
Article 54
It is the duty of citizens of the People's Republic of China to  safeguard the security, honour and interests of the motherland; they must not commit acts detrimental to the security, honour and interests of the motherland.
Article 55
It is the sacred duty of every citizen of the People's Republic  of  China to defend the motherland and resist aggression. It is the honorable duty of citizens of the People's Republic of China  to perform military service and join the militia in accordance with the law.
Article 56
It is duty of citizens of the People's Republic of China to pay  taxes  in accordance with the law.
    Chapter III The Structure of the State
Section 1 The National People's Congress
Article 57
The National People's Congress of the People's Republic of  China  is  the highest organ of state power. Its permanent body is the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
Article 58
The National People's Congress and its  Standing  Committee  exercise  the legislative power of the state.
Article 59
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. Election of deputies to the National People's Congress is conducted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. The number of deputies to the National People's Congress and the procedure of their election are prescribed by law.
Article 60
The National People's Congress is elected for a term of five years. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress must  ensure  the completion of election of deputies to  the  succeeding  National  People's Congress two months prior to the expiration of the term of office  of  the current National People's  Congress.  Should  extraordinary  circumstances prevent such an election, it may be postponed and the term  of  office  of the current National People's Congress extended by the decision of a  vote of more than two-thirds of all those on  the  Standing  Committee  of  the current National People's  Congress.  The  election  of  deputies  to  the succeeding National People's Congress must be completed  within  one  year after the termination of such extraordinary circumstances.
Article 61
The National People's Congress  meets  in  session  once  a  year  and  is convened by its Standing Committee. A session  of  the  National  People's Congress may be convened at any  time  the Standing  Committee  deems  it necessary or when more than one-fifth of  the  deputies  to  the  National People's Congress so propose. When the National People's  Congress  meets,  it  elects  a  Presidium  to conduct its session.
Article 62
The National People's  Congress  exercises  the  following  functions  and powers:
(1) to amend the Constitution;
(2) to supervise the enforcement of the Constitution;
(3) to enact and amend  basic  laws  governing  criminal  offences,  civil affairs, the state organs and other matters;
(4) to elect the President and the Vice-President of the People's Republic of China;
(5) to decide on the choice of the  Premier  of  the  State  Council  upon nomination by the President of the People's Republic of China, and on  the choice of the Vice-Premiers, State Councillors,  Ministers  in  charge  of ministries or commissions, the Auditor-General and  the  Secretary-General of the State Council upon nomination by the Premier;
(6) to elect the Chairman of the Central  Military  Commission  and,  upon nomination by the Chairman, to decide on the choice of all  other  members of the Central Military Commission;
(7) to elect the President of the Supreme People's Court;
(8) to elect the Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate;
(9) to examine and approve the  plan  for  national  economic  and  social development and the report on its implementation;
(10) to examine and approve  the  state  budget  and  the  report  on  its implementation;
(11) to alter or annul inappropriate decisions of the  Standing  Committee of the National People's Congress;
(12) to approve the establishment of provinces,  autonomous  regions,  and municipalities directly under the Central Government;
(13) to decide on the establishment of special administrative regions  and the systems to be instituted there;
(14) to decide on questions of war and peace; and
(15) to exercise such other functions and powers as the highest  organ  of state power should exercise.
Article 63
The National People's Congress has the power to  remove  from  office  the following persons:
(1) the President and the  Vice-President  of  the  People's  Republic  of China;
(2) the Premier, Vice-Premiers, State Councillors, Ministers in charge  of ministries or commissions, the Auditor-General and  the  Secretary-General of the State Council;
(3) the Chairman of the Central Military Commission and other  members  of the Commission;
(4) the President of the Supreme People's Court; and
(5) the Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate. Article 64 Amendments to  the  Constitution  are  to  be  proposed  by  the  Standing Committee of the National People's Congress or by more than  one-fifth  of the deputies to the National People's Congress and adopted by  a  vote  of more than two-thirds of all the deputies to the Congress. Laws and resolutions are to be adopted by  a  majority  vote  of  all  the deputies to the National People's Congress.
Article 65
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress  is  composed  of the following: the Chairman; the Vice-Chairmen; the Secretary-General; and the members. Minority nationalities are entitled to appropriate representation  on  the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. The National People's Congress  elects,  and  has  the  power  to  recall, members of its Standing Committee. No one on the Standing Committee of the National People's  Congress  shall hold office in any of the administrative, judicial or procuratorial organs of the state.
Article 66
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress  is  elected  for the same term as the National People's Congress;  it  shall  exercise  its functions and powers until a new Standing  Committee  is  elected  by  the succeeding National People's Congress.  The Chairman and Vice-Chairmen  of the Standing Committee shall serve no more than two consecutive terms.
Article 67
The Standing Committee of the National  People's  Congress  exercises  the following functions and powers:
(1) to interpret the Constitution and supervise its enforcement;
(2) to enact and amend laws, with the exception of those which  should  be enacted by the National People's Congress;
(3) to partially supplement and amend, when the National People's Congress is not in session, laws enacted by the National People's Congress provided that the basic principles of these laws are not contravened;
(4) to interpret laws;
(5) to review and approve, when the National People's Congress is  not  in session, partial adjustments to the plan for national economic and  social development or to the state budget that prove necessary in the  course  of their implementation;
(6) to supervise the work of  the  State  Council,  the  Central  Military Commission,  the  Supreme  People's  Court  and   the   Supreme   People's Procuratorate;
(7) to annul those administrative  rules  and  regulations,  decisions  or orders of the State Council that contravene the Constitution or the law;
(8) to annul those local regulations or decisions of the organs  of  state power of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly  under the Central Government that contravene the Constitution, the  law  or  the administrative rules and regulations;
(9) to decide, when the National People's Congress is not in  session,  on the choice of Ministers  in  charge  of  ministries  or  commissions,  the Auditor-General  or  the  Secretary-General  of  the  State  Council  upon nomination by the Premier of the State Council;
(10) to decide, upon nomination by the Chairman of  the  Central  Military Commission, on the choice of other members of  the  Commission,  when  the National People's Congress is not in session;
(11) to appoint or remove, at the recommendation of the President  of  the Supreme People's Court, the Vice-Presidents  and  Judges  of  the  Supreme People's Court, members of its Judicial Committee and the President of the Military Court;
(12) to appoint or remove, at the recommendation of the Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Deputy Procurators-General  and procurators  of  the  Supreme  People's  Procuratorate,  members  of   its Procuratorial  Committee  and  the  Chief  Procurator  of   the   Military Procuratorate, and to approve the appointment  or  removal  of  the  chief procurators  of  the  people's  procuratorates  of  provinces,  autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government;
(13)  to  decide  on  the  appointment  or   recall   of   plenipotentiary representatives abroad;
(14) to decide on the ratification or abrogation of treaties and important agreements concluded with foreign states;
(15) to institute systems of titles and ranks for military and  diplomatic personnel and of other specific titles and ranks;
(16) to institute state medals and titles of honour and  decide  on  their conferment;
(17) to decide on the granting of special pardons;
(18) to decide, when the National People's Congress is not in session,  on the proclamation of a state of war in the event of an armed attack on  the country or in fulfillment of international treaty  obligations  concerning common defence against aggression;
(19) to decide on general mobilization or partial mobilization;
(20) to decide on the imposition of martial law throughout the country  or in particular provinces, autonomous regions,  or  municipalities  directly under the Central Government; and
(21) to exercise such other functions and powers as the National  People's Congress may assign to it.
Article 68
The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National  People's  Congress directs the work of the Standing Committee and convenes its meetings.  The Vice-Chairmen and the Secretary-General assist the Chairman in his work. The Chairman, the Vice-Chairmen and the Secretary-General  constitute  the Council of Chairmen which handles the important  day-to-day  work  of  the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
Article 69
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress is responsible to the National People's Congress and reports on its work to the Congress.
Article 70
The National People's Congress establishes a  Nationalities  Committee,  a Law Committee, a Finance and Economic Committee,  an  Education,  Science, Culture and Public Health  Committee,  a  Foreign  Affairs  Committee,  an Overseas Chinese Committee  and  such  other  special  committees  as  are necessary. These special  committees  work  under  the  direction  of  the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress when the Congress  is not in session. The special committees examine, discuss and draw  up  relevant  bills  and draft resolutions under the direction of the  National  People's  Congress and its Standing Committee.
Article 71
The National People's Congress and its Standing Committee may,  when they deem it necessary, appoint committees of inquiry into  specific  questions and adopt relevant resolutions in the light of their reports.  All  organs of state, public organizations  and  citizens  concerned  are  obliged  to furnish necessary information to  the  committees  of  inquiry  when  they conduct investigations.
Article 72
Deputies to the National People's Congress and  members  of  its  Standing Committee have the right, in accordance with procedures prescribed by law, to submit bills and proposals within the scope of the respective functions and powers of the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee.
Article 73
Deputies to the National People's Congress and  members  of  the  Standing Committee have the right, during the sessions  of  the  Congress  and  the meetings of the  Committee,  to  address  questions,  in  accordance  with procedures prescribed by law, to the State Council or the  ministries  and commissions under the State Council, which must answer the questions in  a responsible manner.
Article 74
No deputy to the National People's Congress may be arrested or  placed  on criminal trial without the consent of the Presidium of the current session of the National People's Congress or, when the National People's  Congress is not in session, without the consent of its Standing Committee.
Article 75
Deputies to the National People's Congress may not be held legally  liable for their speeches or votes at its meetings.
Article 76
Deputies to the National People's Congress must play an exemplary role  in abiding by the Constitution and the law and keeping state secrets and,  in public activities, production and other work, assist in the enforcement of the Constitution and the law.  Deputies to the National People's  Congress should maintain close contact with the units which elected them  and  with the people, heed and convey the opinions and demands  of  the  people  and work hard to serve them.
Article 77
Deputies to the National People's Congress are subject to  supervision  by the units which elected them. The electoral units have the power,  through procedures prescribed by law, to recall deputies they elected.
Article 78
The organization and working procedures of the National People's  Congress and its Standing Committee are prescribed by law. Section  2   The   President   of   the   People's   Republic   of   China
Article 79
The President and Vice-President of the People's  Republic  of  China  are elected by the National People's Congress. Citizens of the People's Republic of China who have the right to vote  and to stand for election and who have reached the age of 45 are eligible  for election as President or Vice-President of the People's Republic of China. The term of office of the President and  Vice-President  of  the  People's Republic of China is the same as that of the National  People's  Congress, and they shall serve no more than two consecutive terms.
Article 80
The President of the People's Republic  of  China,  in  pursuance  of  the decisions of the National People's Congress and  its  Standing  Committee, promulgates statutes, appoints  or  removes  the  Premier,  Vice-Premiers, State Councillors, Ministers in charge of ministries or  commissions,  the Auditor-General and the Secretary-General of the  State Council;  confers state medals and titles of honour; issues orders of special pardons; proclaims martial law; proclaims a state of war; and  issues  mobilization orders.
Article 81
The  President  of  the  People's  Republic  of  China  receives   foreign diplomatic representatives on behalf of the  People's  Republic  of  China and, in pursuance of the  decisions  of  the  Standing  Committee  of  the National  People's   Congress,   appoints   or   recalls   plenipotentiary representatives abroad, and ratifies or abrogates treaties  and  important agreements concluded with foreign states.
Article 82
The Vice-President of the People's Republic of China assists the President in his work.  The Vice-President of the People's  Republic  of  China  may exercise such functions and powers of the President as the  President  may entrust to him.
Article 83
The President  and  Vice-President  of  the  People's  Republic  of  China exercise their functions and powers until  the  new  President  and  Vice- President elected by the  succeeding  National  People's  Congress  assume office.
Article 84
In the event that the office of the President of the People's Republic  of China falls vacant, the Vice-President  succeeds  to  the  office  of  the President. In the event that  the  office  of  the  Vice-President  of  the  People's Republic of China falls vacant, the National People's Congress shall elect a new Vice-President to fill the vacancy. In the event that the office  of both the President and the Vice-President  of  the  People's  Republic  of China fall vacant, the  National  People's  Congress  shall  elect  a  new President and a new Vice-President. Prior to such election,  the  Chairman of  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  National  People's  Congress  shall temporarily act as the President of the People's Republic of China. Section 3 The State Council
Article 85
The State Council, that  is,  the  Central  People's  Government,  of  the People's Republic of China is the executive body of the highest  organ  of state power; it is the highest organ of state administration.
Article 86 The State Council is composed of the following: the Premier; the Vice-Premiers; the State Councillors; the Ministers in charge of ministries; the Ministers in charge of commissions; the Auditor-General; and the Secretary-General. The Premier assumes overall responsibility  for  the  work  of  the  State Council. The Ministers assume overall responsibility for the work  of  the ministries and commissions.  The organization  of  the  State  Council  is prescribed by law.
Article 87
The term of office of the State  Council  is  the  same  as  that  of  the National People's Congress. The Premier, Vice-Premiers and State Councillors shall serve no more  than two consecutive terms.
Article 88
The Premier directs the work of the State Council. The  Vice-Premiers  and State Councillors assist the Premier in his work. Executive meetings of the State Council are to be attended by the Premier, the Vice-Premiers, the State Councillors and the Secretary-General of  the State Council.  The Premier  convenes  and  presides  over  the  executive meetings and plenary meetings of the State Council.
Article 89
The State Council exercises the following functions and powers:
(1) to adopt  administrative  measures,  enact  administrative  rules  and regulations  and  issue  decisions  and  orders  in  accordance  with  the Constitution and the law;
(2) to submit proposals to the National People's Congress or its  Standing Committee;
(3) to formulate the tasks and  responsibilities  of  the  ministries  and commissions of the State Council, to exercise unified 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 jurisdiction of the ministries and commissions;
(4) to exercise unified leadership over the work of local organs of  state administration at various levels throughout the country, and to  formulate the  detailed  division  of  functions  and  powers  between  the  Central Government and the organs of state administration of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government;
(5) to draw up and implement the plan for  national  economic  and  social development and the state budget;
(6) to  direct  and  administer  economic  affairs  and  urban  and  rural development;
(7) to direct and administer the affairs of education,  science,  culture, public health, physical culture and family planning;
(8) to direct and administer  civil  affairs,  public  security,  judicial administration, supervision 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  to autonomy of the national autonomous areas;
(12) to protect the legitimate rights and interests of  Chinese  nationals residing abroad and protect the lawful rights and  interests  of  returned overseas Chinese and of the family members of Chinese  nationals  residing abroad;
(13) to alter or annul 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 various levels;
(15) to approve the geographic 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 imposition of martial 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 or  remove  administrative  officials, train them, appraise their performance 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 to it.
Article 90
Ministers in charge of the ministries or commissions of the State  Council are responsible for the work of  their  respective  departments  and  they convene and preside over ministerial meetings  or  general  and  executive meetings of the commissions to 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   law   and   the administrative rules and regulations, decisions and orders issued  by  the State Council.
Article 91
The State Council  establishes  an  auditing  body  to  supervise  through auditing the revenue and expenditure of all departments  under  the  State Council and of the local governments at various levels,  and  the  revenue and expenditure of all financial and monetary  organizations,  enterprises and institutions of the state. Under the direction of the Premier of the State Council, the auditing body independently exercises its  power  of  supervision  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 the members. The Chairman assumes overall responsibility for the work  of  the  Central Military 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 Congresses and Local People's Governments  at Various 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 various 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 5 and 6 of
    Chapter III of the Constitution.
Article 96
Local people's congresses at various 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's congresses  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 various 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 various  levels  ensure  the  observance  and implementation of the Constitution and  the  law  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 the development of  public  services.   Local people's congresses at and  above  the  county  level  shall  examine  and approve the plans for economic and social development and the  budgets  of their respective administrative areas and examine and approve the  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 characteristics 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 contravene the Constitution and  the  law  and 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
Local people's congresses at their respective levels 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 submission 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  various  levels  have  the  power  to  recall  the deputies according to procedures prescribed by law.
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. A local people's congress at or above the county level elects, and has the power to recall, members of its standing committee. No one on the standing committee of a local people's congress at or  above the county level shall hold office in state administrative,  judicial  and procuratorial organs.
Article 104
The standing committee of a local people's congress at or 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; annuls 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 or removal of functionaries of state organs  within  the  limits  of  its  authority  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 vacancies in that people's congress.
Article 105
Local people's governments at various levels are the executive  bodies  of local organs of  state  power  as  well  as  the  local  organs  of  state administration at the corresponding levels. Governors, mayors and heads of counties, districts,  townships  and  towns assume overall responsibility for local people's  governments at  various levels.
Article 106
The term of office of local people's governments at various levels is  the same as that of the people's congresses at the corresponding levels.
Article 107
Local people's governments at and  above  the  county  level,  within  the limits of their authority as prescribed  by  law,  conduct  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   or   remove   administrative functionaries, train them, appraise their performance and reward or punish them. People's  governments  of  townships,  nationality  townships,  and  towns execute the resolutions of the people's congresses  at  the  corresponding levels 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 of the  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  various  levels  independently exercise their power of supervision 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 various levels are responsible and report on their work to people's  congresses  at  the  corresponding  levels.  Local people's governments at and above the county  level  are  responsible  and report on their work to the standing committees of the people's congresses at the corresponding levels when the congresses are not in session. Local people's governments at various levels are responsible and report on their work to the state administrative organs at the next higher level. Local people's governments at various 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  sub-committees  for people's mediation, public security, public health and  other  matters  in order to manage public affairs and social services in their areas, mediate 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, autonomous prefecture or autonomous  county,  in  addition  to  the  deputies  of  the  nationality exercising  regional  autonomy  in  the  administrative  area,  the  other nationalities  inhabiting  the  area  are  also  entitled  to  appropriate representation. Among the chairman and vice-chairmen of  the  standing  committee  of  the people's congress  of  an  autonomous  region,  autonomous  prefecture  or autonomous county there shall be one or more citizens of  the  nationality or nationalities exercising regional autonomy in the area concerned.
Article 114
The chairman of  an  autonomous  region,  the  prefect  of  an  autonomous prefecture or the head of an autonomous county shall be a citizen  of  the nationality exercising regional autonomy in the area concerned.
Article 115
The  organs  of  self-government   of   autonomous   regions,   autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties exercise the functions and  powers  of local organs of state as specified in Section 5  of  Chapter  III  of  the Constitution. At the same time, they exercise the power of autonomy within the limits of their authority as prescribed by the Constitution,  the  Law of the People's Republic of China on 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
The people's congresses of national autonomous areas  have  the  power  to enact  regulations  on  the  exercise  of  autonomy  and  other   separate regulations  in  the  light  of  the  political,  economic  and   cultural characteristics  of  the  nationality  or  nationalities  in   the   areas concerned. The regulations on the exercise of autonomy and other  separate 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  committee  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 accruing to the national autonomous  areas  under  the  financial system of the state shall be managed and  used  by  the  organs  of  self- government of those areas on their own.
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 exploiting 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, protect  and  sift through the cultural heritage of the nationalities and work for a vigorous development 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 practical 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  regulations  on  the exercise of autonomy  in  those  areas,  employ  the  spoken  and  written language or languages in common use in the locality.
Article 122
The state provides 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 various levels and specialized personnel and skilled workers  of various professions and trades from among the nationality or nationalities in those areas. Section  7  The  People's   Courts   and   the   People's   Procuratorates
Article 123
The people's courts of the People's Republic of  China  are  the  judicial organs of the state.
Article 124
The People's Republic of China establishes the Supreme People's Court  and the people's courts at various local 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. The President shall serve no more than two consecutive terms. The organization of the people's courts is prescribed by law.
Article 125
Except in special circumstances as specified by  law,  all  cases  in  the people's courts are heard in public. The accused has the right to defence.
Article 126
The people's courts exercise judicial power independently,  in  accordance with the provisions of the law, and are not subject to interference by any administrative organ, public organization or individual.
Article 127
The Supreme People's Court is the highest judicial organ. The Supreme People's Court supervises the administration of justice by the people's courts at various  local  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  various 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 people's procuratorates  at  various  local  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;  the Procurator-General shall serve no more than two consecutive terms. The organization of the people's procuratorates is prescribed by law.
Article 131
The people's procuratorates exercise procuratorial power independently, in accordance with the  provisions  of  the  law,  and  are  not  subject  to interference  by  any  administrative  organ,   public   organization   or individual.
Article 132
The Supreme People's Procuratorate is the highest procuratorial organ. The Supreme People's  Procuratorate  directs  the  work  of  the  people's procuratorates at  various  local  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. People's  procuratorates  at  various local levels are responsible to the organs of state  power  which  created them and to the people's procuratorates at higher levels.
Article 134
Citizens of all China's nationalities have the right to use  their  native spoken and written languages in court proceedings. 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 commonly used in the locality. In an area where people of a minority nationality live in  a  concentrated community or where a number of nationalities live together, court hearings should be conducted in the language or  languages  commonly  used  in  the locality; indictments, judgments, notices and other  documents  should  be written, according to actual needs, in the language or languages  commonly used in the locality.
Article 135
The people's courts, the people's procuratorates and the  public  security organs shall, in handling criminal cases,  divide  their  functions,  each taking responsibility for its own work, and they  shall  coordinate  their efforts  and  check  each  other  to  ensure  the  correct  and  effective enforcement of the law.
    Chapter IV The National Flag, the National Emblem 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 consists of an image of Tian'anmen in its centre illuminated 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.