East China’s Jiangsu province on Monday marked the National Constitution Day with province-wide activities in schools, government offices and state-owned companies to echo President Xi Jinping's drive to embrace the rule of law.
In November 2014, China's top legislature decided to designate December 4 as national Constitution Day amid efforts to enhance the document's implementation and advance the rule of law.
It is part of Xi's campaign strengthen the country's legal system to reduce corruption and improve government efficiency. Scores of serving and retired top officials have been detained on corruption charges over the past years.
China's top legislature adopted the Constitution on Dec. 4, 1982 based on a previous version enacted in 1954.
The day is set to enhance social awareness of the Constitution, promote its spirit, and strengthen its implementation, according to a decision adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
The Constitution comprises of the country's basic law and general guidelines for managing state affairs. It has supreme legal status, authority and efficacy, the decision said.
Fully implementing the Constitution is the primary task and basic work for building a socialist nation ruled by law, it added.
People of all ethnic groups, all state organs and armed forces, political parties as well as all social organizations, enterprises and institutions must set the Constitution as their fundamental principle and hold responsibilities of safeguarding the dignity of the Constitution and ensuring its implementation, the decision said.
No organization or individual shall have the privilege of being placed above the Constitution and laws. All activities that violate the Constitution and laws must be reprimanded and rectified, according to the decision.
