Report on the Draft Constitution of the People's Republic of China

Report made by Liu Shaoqi on behalf of the Constitution Drafting Committee at the First Session of the First National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on September 15, 1954. Originally published in the People's Daily on September 16, 1954, it was compiled in the Documents of the First Session of the First National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China published by the People’s Press in June 1955.

The report consists of four parts. When it was included in the Selected Works of Liu Shaoqi (Part II) published by the People's Press in 1985, the third of the four parts of the report, which deals with the views expressed on the “Draft Constitution” during nationwide discussion, was not included book.

The main contents of the report are as follows:

(1) Reviewing the history of the Chinese people's revolutionary struggle against imperialism, feudalism and bureaucratic capitalism over the past 100 years and the history of constitutional issues and constitutional movement in modern China. It is pointed out that the Draft Constitution is the epitome of the historical experience of more than a hundred years of heroic struggles waged by the Chinese people; it also epitomizes historical experience on the question of constitutions and the constitutional movement in modern China.

(2) Clarifying the factual basis and nature of our Constitution. It is pointed out that from these facts, our constitution can only be the constitution of people's democracy. This is a constitution of the socialist type, not of the bourgeoisie type.

(3) The basic contents of the Constitution are explained in terms of the nature of the state in New China, the steps of transition to a socialist society, the political system of the people's democracy, the rights and duties of the people, and national regional autonomy. It is pointed out that the “Draft Constitution” stipulates that “the People's Republic of China is a people's democratic state led by the working class and based on an alliance of workers and peasants.”

The leadership of the working class and the alliance of workers and peasants as the foundation mark the fundamental nature of our state. This shows that our country is a people's democratic country, and the vast majority of the people are truly the masters of the state.

“The People's Republic of China, by relying on the state organs and the social forces, and by means of socialist industrialization and socialist transformation, ensures the gradual abolition of systems of exploitation and the building of a socialist society.”

All powers of the People's Republic of China belong to the people. “The organs through which the people exercise power are the National People's Congress and the local people's congresses.” This provision and those contained in other articles specify that the political system of our country is that of people's congresses.

The National People's Congress, local people's congresses at all levels and other state organs shall all practice democratic centralism. The system of the People's Congress can facilitate the people to exercise their own power and participate regularly in running the state through such political organizations, so as to give full play to the initiative and creativity of the people.

The Preamble to the “Draft Constitution” and many of its articles define the relations of equality, friendship and mutual help among all nationalities within the country and guarantee the right of all ethnic groups to autonomy.

(4) Emphasizing that the discussion among the people of the whole country has proved that our “Draft Constitution” represents the interests of the people of all nationalities and is realistic.

After the adoption of the “Draft Constitution” by the National People's Congress, it will become the fundamental law of our country and play an important role in our country's national life. The Constitution must be observed by all the people and all state organs. Deputies to the National People's Congress and the local people's congresses and all state functionaries are servants of the people. All organs of state are at the service of the people. They have, therefore, a special responsibility to observe the Constitution and ensure its observance.

The Communist Party of China is the core of the leadership of our country. Communist Party members must be exemplary in observing the Constitution and all other laws. All of them should maintain close ties with the masses and unite with all democratic parties and people outside the Party to implement the Constitution.

(5) It is pointed out that the Constitution is, on the one hand, the epitome of our past struggle and, on the other, a fundamental law on which to proceed with our present struggle.

While extolling the enactment and promulgation of our Constitution, people of all nationalities in our country must strengthen their unity, be modest and conscientious, guard against arrogance and impatience and, taking the path mapped out by the Constitution and led by the Communist Party of China, make further efforts to ensure the fullest implementation of the Constitution and the building of our country into a great socialist land.

This report helps people understand the basis for the making of the Constitution and its significance, the main contents of the Constitution, and the basic requirements for its implementation.