Constitution and related laws

The Constitution is the core and basis of the entire Chinese legal system and the highest legal authority. It embodies the nature and basic principles of Chinese law and gives guiding principles for other branches of the law. The Constitution specifies the State’s basic systems, principles, guidelines, policies and tasks, the fundamental rights and duties of citizens and authorities, and the functions, powers and duties of State organs that no other laws or regulations can contravene. The Constitution also contains the following subordinate laws:

1. Organic laws of the following major State organs are laws on the National People's Congress, deputies to the National People's Congress, the local people's congresses and local People's Governments, People's Courts, People's Procuratorates, the State Council, Rules of Procedure for the National People's Congress, and Rules of Procedure for the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

2. Electoral laws for the National People's Congress, local people's congresses, deputies from the Chinese People's Liberation Army to the National People's Congress and local people's congresses.

3. Regional national autonomy law for China's regional national autonomy system.

4. Basic laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region.

5. Authorization law for laws passed by the National People's Congress or its Standing Committee, and laws on the State Council or other State organs for formulating regulatory documents, such as Decision Authorizing the State Council to Formulate Interim Provisions or Regulations Concerning Economic Structural and Open Policy Reforms but not including those formulated by virtue of such authorization.

6. Legislation law.

7. Nationality law and laws on the rights of citizens, including the Nationality Law, the Compulsory Education Law, the Law on the Protection of Disabled Persons, the Law on the Protection of Minors, and the Law on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Women.