Legislative Development in China in 2013

Abstract

Chinese legislation in 2013 got off to a new start since it was the first year to fulfil the requirements and goals set out by the eighteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Given that the basic as well as major laws in each category have been formulated under a socialist system of laws with Chinese characteristics, legislation in 2013 mainly focused on the amendments and perfection of the existing laws. In particular, considering that the legislation is a prerequisite and foundation for the rule of law, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) drew up a five-year legislative plan for the twelfth NPC, based on a comprehensive analysis of the new circumstances and requirements for the legislative work. Moreover, the legislative plan came after a careful review of bills and proposals put forward by the NPC deputies as well as in-depth investigations, studies, consultations, and repeated discussions.1 The five-year plan specifies 47 bills to be deliberated by the Standing Committee for which conditions have already been established, and 21 bills that still need work to make them suitable for deliberation by the Standing Committee.2 Following the proclamation of the five-year plan, the Standing Committee held a meeting in October 2013 to determine the targets, tasks, and requirements of the legislative work for the current term and the steps for fulfilling these goals.3