China's legislative work in 2022 has been progressing steadily in an orderly manner, and the country will further enhance legislative institutions and mechanisms and implement whole-process democracy, Zang Tiewei, spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said on Saturday.

Two days before the 38th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee, Zang told reporters in a group interview that the NPC and its Standing Committee have enacted six laws, revised nine laws, adopted seven decisions on major legal issues and 18 bills have been under deliberating so far this year. 

He also outlined the progress and status of some draft revisions and laws that were recently published on the NPC website for public opinion. 

Amendments to China's Legislation Law

Touching on the draft amendment to China's Legislation Law, Zang said the NPC Standing Committee has received a total of 978 suggestions and two letters during the public consultation period after it published the first draft amendment following its deliberation in October. 

The public's opinions and suggestions are focused on improving the guidance of legislation, promoting the openness of legislation, and improving the system and mechanism of scientific, democratic and law-based legislation, Zang said, adding their relevant opinions and suggestions will be reflected in the second review of the draft.

The revision will also improve relevant norms and regulations to ensure the timely resolution of issues concerning constitutionality and legality during the drafting and deliberation of the law. For example, it clarifies that the description of a draft law should include relevant comments on issues of constitutionality and bills that the constitutionality involved shall be explained in the report after the Constitution and Law Committee of the NPC has conducted deliberation on the bill.

Revisions to the Administrative Reconsideration Law

Zang said the NPC Standing Committee received 1,015 suggestions and 30 letters from the public after it published the first draft revision of the Administrative Reconsideration Law in October. The public put forward opinions and suggestions on further clarifying the scope of accepting cases for administrative reconsideration, improving the hearing procedures, enhancing the administrative reconsideration committee system, and strengthening the supervision measures for the execution of decisions, opinions and conciliation statements made by the administrative reconsideration organs.

"The Standing Committee of the 13th NPC since taking office has received a large number of suggestions on the review of regulations, judicial interpretations and other normative documents from citizens and organizations, which is a great increase in numbers and reflects the public's concerns for the rule of law and the protection of citizens' legitimate rights and interests," Zang said.

He added that the NPC Standing Committee will further intensify its examination of the archiving of normative documents by local provincial governments and certain central government departments, and urged the enacting organs to correct errors in normative documents that contravene or are inconsistent with the Law. As for the archiving of normative documents, the committee will improve the reporting system for hearing and deliberating the review of archiving, standardize the procedure and establish an information platform for archiving and a national law and regulation database to ensure the constitutionality and legality of normative documents, Zang said.

The spokesperson noted that receiving, studying and handling suggestions over normative documents from citizens and organizations and giving them timely feedback have become an important embodiment of whole-process democracy.

Zang also brought up revisions to the wildlife conservation law and other draft laws on military reservists, a barrier-free society for the disabled and elderly and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau ecological restoration and protection.