Page 6 - COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE FOURTH PLENARY SESSION OF THE 18TH CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA

the governance of the country based on the Constitution; to adhere to exercising
state power on the basis of the law, first we must adhere to exercising state power
on the basis of the Constitution.

We need to improve the systems for implementing the Constitution and for
overseeing its implementation, refine the system by which the National People’s
Congress and its standing committee exercise oversight over the implementation
of the Constitution, and improve the procedures and mechanisms for interpreting
the Constitution.

We need to improve the legislative system, strengthen the Party’s leadership
over legislative work, improve the procedures by which the Party makes decisions
on major legislative issues, improve the systems and mechanisms through which
those people’s congresses with legislative power lead legislative work, and on the
basis of the law, accord local legislative powers to cities which are divided into
districts.
We need to work hard to legislate more effectively and democratically by
improving the systems for encouraging the general public to propose items to be
legislated on, and for debating legislative items; by improving channels and ways
by which legislative bodies lead legislation and other sectors of society participate
in an orderly manner; and by expanding the channels through which citizens
participate in the legislative process.

We need to strengthen legislation in key areas, and quickly improve legal
systems that ensure equal rights and interests, equal opportunities, and fair rules
for all; ensure that citizens’ personal rights, property rights, basic political rights
and other forms of rights are inviolable; and ensure that citizens’ economic,
cultural, and social rights are respected.

We must coordinate our legislative work with our decisions on reform to make
sure that all of our major reforms have a legal basis, and that legislative work is
carried out proactively to meet the needs of reform, as well as economic and
social development.

It was pointed out at the session that the very life and authority of the law lie
in its implementation. Governments at all levels must carry out their work under
the Party’s leadership and in line with the rule of law, and move more quickly to
become rule of law governments which have well-defined functions and legal
powers and responsibilities, ensure that the law is strictly administered, are open
and impartial, operate efficiently and free from corruption, and are more credible
and law-abiding. The government must exercise all its functions in accordance
with the law; work to codify its structure, functions, powers, procedures, and
responsibilities into law; and exercise powers that are clearly defined.

We must improve law-based decision-making mechanisms; include public
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