China widens research on constitutional affairs

China has ramped up research on constitutional matters in its legislative process over the past year to safeguard the authority of the Constitution and ensure that every provision aligns with the country's fundamental law, senior legislators said.

"Last year, we conducted research on constitutional issues and proposed opinions for every draft law before they were submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, for review," said Hou Xiaoguang, an official with the NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission.

"This has also become a regular and institutionalized workflow that we've developed in line with the newly revised Legislation Law, aiming to ensure that every piece of legislation conforms to the spirit of the Constitution, reflects its authority and guarantees its implementation," he said.

Hou made the remarks ahead of China's annual legislative and political advisory meetings, known as the "two sessions", which will begin in Beijing early next month.

In addition to strengthening constitutional research in legislation, Hou said he and his colleagues have expanded constitutional education, introducing the fundamental law to a wider range of audiences and working to improve its implementation.

"We went to Peking University and China University of Political Science and Law to collaborate with legal experts to advance the development of a constitutional discipline system," he said.

The NPC Standing Committee has also pushed for improvements in certain regulations that restrict employment opportunities for individuals with criminal records, aiming to uphold the Constitution and ensure its implementation.

After receiving requests from several residents to review regulations limiting employment for ex-convicts, "we immediately contacted the regulators to understand the issue," said Yan Dongfeng, another official with the commission.

Residents were of the opinion that such restrictions were neither reasonable nor conducive to helping former inmates reintegrate into society and urged the commission to address the issue.

"Every citizen has the right and obligation to work, which is one of the fundamental rights granted by the Constitution," Yan said, noting that a key part of the commission's role is reviewing normative documents, such as judicial interpretations and administrative regulations, to ensure they comply with the Constitution's principles and spirit.

Following a review, the commission determined that employment restrictions or outright prohibitions in some regulations regarding individuals with criminal records contradicted the Constitution.

"So we required the regulation providers to revise or adjust the content promptly," Yan said.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, the country has made sustained progress in constitutional theories, systems and practices through innovation, providing a solid foundation for building China into a stronger nation and advancing its modernization goals.

In 2014, the NPC Standing Committee designated Dec 4 as National Constitution Day.

In March 2018, the NPC adopted the latest amendments to the Constitution during its annual session to align with public demand and social development in the new era.

In the 20th CPC National Congress report in 2022, plans were outlined to optimize the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics, with the Constitution at its core.