Draft seeks to improve handling of normative documents

A draft decision on improving the system for recording and reviewing normative documents is being deliberated among Chinese lawmakers to strongly uphold the Constitution and implement the fundamental law more effectively.

The 22-article draft was submitted to an ongoing session of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress, China's top legislature, on Monday for review.

The draft clarifies that normative documents include regulations made by government agencies, supervisory departments, local legislative bodies, economic zones and free trade areas, as well as judicial interpretations. It noted that all such documents should be handed over to the NPC Standing Committee for record within 30 days of being made public.

NPC special committees or its Standing Committee will be responsible for reviewing the documents to ensure they do not contradict the Constitution, or its principles or spirit, it said, adding that joint review is also acceptable if needed.

Content that conflicts with the Constitution must be corrected in a timely manner, it said.

"Improving the system of recording and reviewing normative documents is to strengthen the full implementation of the Constitution, advance law-based governance and promote whole-process people's democracy," Zhang Yong, deputy head of the NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission, said while introducing the draft decision to lawmakers on Monday.

He said it is of great significance for adapting to the new requirements of rule of law construction and firmly correcting unconstitutional behavior.

In addition to specifying and optimizing procedures for recording and reviewing normative documents, he said the draft also calls for greater efforts to use information platforms to do the work to make the process digital and easier.