Home China Laws 1999 AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 1993

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 1993

Amendment to the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China

(Adopted at the First Session of the Eighth National People’s Congress and promulgated for implementation by the
Announcement of the National People’s Congress on March 29, 1993) 

Article 3  The last two sentences of the seventh paragraph of the Preamble to the Constitution, which reads, “The basic task
of the nation in the years to come is to concentrate its effort on socialist modernization. Under the leadership of the Communist
Party of China and the guidance of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, the Chinese people of all nationalities will continue
to adhere to the people’s democratic dictatorship and the socialist road, steadily improve socialist institutions, develop socialist
democracy, improve the socialist legal system, and work hard and self-reliantly to modernize the country’s industry, agriculture,
national defence and science and technology step by step to turn China into a socialist country with a high level of culture and
democracy”, is revised to read, “China is at the primary stage of socialism. The basic task of the nation is to concentrate its effort
on socialist modernization in line with the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Under the leadership of the
Communist Party of China and the guidance of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, the Chinese people of all nationalities will
continue to adhere to the people’s democratic dictatorship and the socialist road, persevere in reform and opening to the outside
world, steadily improve socialist institutions, develop socialist democracy, improve the socialist legal system, and work hard and
self-reliantly to modernize the country’s industry, agriculture, national defence and science and technology step by step to turn
China into a socialist country that is prosperous, powerful, democratic and culturally advanced.” 

Article 4  At the end of the tenth paragraph of the Preamble to the Constitution is added, “The system of the multi-party cooperation
and political consultation led by the Communist Party of China will exist and develop for a long time to come.” 

Article 5  Article 7 of the Constitution, which reads, “The State economy is the sector of socialist economy under ownership
by the whole people; it is the leading force in the national economy. The State ensures the consolidation and growth of the State
economy”, is revised to read, “The State-owned economy, namely, the socialist economy under ownership by the whole people, is the
leading force in the national economy. The State ensures the consolidation and growth of the State-owned economy.” 

Article 6  The first paragraph of Article 8 of the Constitution, which reads, “Rural people’s communes, agricultural producers’
cooperatives and other forms of cooperative economy, such as producers’, supply and marketing, credit and consumers’ cooperatives,
belong to the sector of socialist economy under collective ownership by the working people. Working people who are members of rural
economic collectives have the right, within the limits prescribed by law, to farm plots of cropland and hilly land allotted for their
private use, engage in household sideline production and raise privately owned livestock”, is revised to read, “In rural areas the
responsibility system, the main form of which is household contract that links remuneration to output, and other forms of cooperative
economy, such as producers’, supply and marketing, credit and consumers’ cooperatives, belong to the sector of socialist economy
under collective ownership by the working people. Working people who are members of rural economic collectives have the right, within
the limits prescribed by law, to farm plots of cropland and hilly land allotted for their private use, engage in household sideline
production and raise privately owned livestock.” 

Article 7  Article 15 of the Constitution, which reads, “The State practises planned economy on the basis of socialist public
ownership. It ensures the proportionate and coordinated growth of the national economy through overall balancing by economic planning
and the supplementary role of regulation by the market.” “Disturbance of the socio-economic order or disruption of the State economic
plan by any organization or individual is prohibited”, is revised to read, “The State practises socialist market economy.” “The State
strengthens economic legislation, improves macro-regulation and control, and prohibits in accordance with law any organization or
individual from disturbing the socio-economic order.” 

Article 8  Article 16 of the Constitution, which reads, “State enterprises have decision-making power with regard to operation
and management within the limits prescribed by law, on condition that they submit to unified leadership by the State and fulfill
all their obligations under the State plan. State enterprises practise democratic management through congresses of workers and staff
and in other ways in accordance with law”, is revised to read, “State-owned enterprises have decision-making power with regard to
their operation within the limits prescribed by law. State-owned enterprises practise democratic management through congresses of
workers and staff and in other ways in accordance with law.” 

Article 9  Article 17 of the Constitution, which reads, “Collective economic organizations have decision-making power in conducting
independent economic activities, on condition that they accept the guidance of the State plan and abide by the relevant laws. Collective
economic organizations practise democratic management in accordance with law. The entire body of their workers elects or removes
their managerial personnel and decides on major issues concerning operation and management”, is revised to read, “Collective economic
organizations have decision-making power in conducting independent economic activities, on condition that they abide by the relevant
laws. Collective economic organizations practise democratic management and in accordance with law, elect or remove their managerial
personnel and decide on major issues concerning operation and management.” 

Article 10  The third paragraph of Article 42 of the Constitution, which reads: “Work is a matter of honour for every citizen
who is able to work. All working people in State enterprises and in urban and rural economic collectives should approach their work
as the masters of the country that they are. The State promotes socialist labour emulation, and commends and rewards model and advanced
workers. The State encourages citizens to take part in voluntary labour”, is revised to read, “Work is a matter of honour for every
citizen who is able to work. All working people in State-owned enterprises and in urban and rural economic collectives should approach
their work as the masters of the country that they are. The State promotes socialist labour emulation, and commends and rewards model
and advanced workers. The State encourages citizens to take part in voluntary labour.” 

Article 11  Article 98 of the Constitution, which reads, “The term of office of the people’s congresses of provinces, municipalities
directly under the Central Government and cities divided into districts is five years. The term of office of the people’s congresses
of counties, cities not divided into districts, municipal districts, townships, nationality townships, and towns is three years”,
is revised to read, “The term of office of the people’s congresses of provinces, municipalities directly under the Central Government,
counties, cities and municipal districts is five years. The term of office of the people’s congresses of townships, nationality townships
and towns is three years.”

Notice: All Rights Reserved to the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.