China launched a weeklong campaign to improve public knowledge about the country's Constitution on Sunday (December 4), the ninth national Constitution Day.

The campaign will focus not only on promoting the comprehensive implementation of the Constitution, but also studying, publicizing and implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held in October.

Legal counsels at the grassroots level are expected to carry out at least one activity to publicize the Constitution in the villages or communities they serve.

A series of activities will be organized during the week, including online Constitution-related knowledge contests and the airing of Constitution publicity videos aboard high-speed trains and at railway stations across the nation.

The first Constitution Week publicity campaign was held in 2018, making this year's campaign the fifth of its kind. 

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the implementation of the country's Constitution, as China's current Constitution was adopted in 1982.

National Constitution Day

In 2014, China's top legislature decided to designate December 4 as national Constitution Day amid efforts to enhance public awareness of the Constitution, promote its spirit, strengthen its implementation and advance the rule of law. Nationwide activities to promote the Constitution are organized on this day every year.

The Constitution is comprised of the country's basic law and general guidelines for managing state affairs. It has supreme legal status, authority and efficacy, the decision read.

Fully implementing the Constitution is the primary task and basic work for building a socialist nation ruled by law, it added.

Rule of law in the 20th CPC National Congress  

The 20th CPC National Congress on October 22 approved the report presented by Xi Jinping on behalf of the 19th CPC Central Committee, of which an entire section was dedicated to the rule of law, reflecting the great importance the CPC Central Committee attaches to the matter.

"The comprehensive advancement of law-based governance has been a profound revolution in China's governance. Law-based governance is important for the Party's success in governing and rejuvenating the country, for the wellbeing of the people, and for the long-term stability of the Party and the country," Xi, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese president, said in the report.

"We must give better play to the role of the rule of law in consolidating foundations, ensuring stable expectations, and delivering long-term benefits, and we must strive to build a modern socialist country in all respects under the rule of law," Xi stressed.

Xi also hailed the importance of improving the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics with the Constitution at its core, steadily advancing law-based government administration, ensuring strict and impartial administration of justice and stepping up efforts to establish the rule of law throughout society.

"We will make all-around efforts to ensure sound legislation, strict law enforcement, impartial administration of justice, and society-wide observance of the law and see that all work of the state is carried out under the rule of law," Xi noted.

The report is a political declaration of the CPC to advance law-based governance in all respects and a programmatic document for the CPC to advance the rule of law in China, said Chen Yixin, secretary general of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee.

It provides a comprehensive explanation of the role, overall requirements and key tasks of the rule of law, Chen noted.

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New focus of Constitution Day: Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law

History of China's Constitution

The People's Republic of China enacted its first Constitution in 1954. The current Constitution was adopted in 1982 and amended in 1988, 1993, 1999, 2004 and 2018.

While the reform and opening-up drive, which began 40 years ago, has made remarkable progress, it brought major changes to the country's Constitution.

From 1988 to 1999, amendments included reform of land-use rights, a legal status for the private economy, the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, replacing the phrase "planned economy" with "socialist market economy," and incorporation of Deng Xiaoping Theory.

The amendment in 2004 protected private property and human rights and gave the Theory of Three Represents constitutional authority.

The most recent amendment in 2018 enshrined Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in the country's Constitution, codifying its guiding role.

The amendment, adopted at the first session of the 13th NPC with an overwhelming majority, wrote Xi's thought into the Constitution's preamble, along with other guiding theories including Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the Theory of Three Represents.

The amendment has also enriched clauses on the patriotic united front, harmonious relations among ethnic groups, and peaceful foreign policies, including the addition of building a community with a shared future for humanity.

China's Constitution has been developed along with the people's practices of building socialism with Chinese characteristics under the CPC leadership, according to Li Shuzhong, vice president of the China University of Political Science and Law.

"The amendment makes the Constitution in keeping with the times by incorporating new achievements, experiences and requirements of the Party and the country's development as socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era," Li said.

A constitutional change is either proposed by the NPC Standing Committee or by more than one-fifth of all NPC deputies, and then requires the approval of two-thirds or more of NPC deputies during the annual session.

(With input from Xinhua)