New rule grants people right to question legislations (Xinhua) Updated: 2005-12-20 09:47
In addition to central and provincial-level government bodies and
legislatures, all Chinese organizations and individuals have been granted the
right to question any law or regulation that they believe may contradict the
Constitution and state laws.
This provision is contained in a newly-amended procedural law on the
examination and approval of administrative, local and provincial-level laws and
regulations. The law was approved here Monday, at the 40th meeting of the
chairperson and vice chairpersons of the chairperson and vice chairpersons of
the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC).
The aim of the new procedural regulation is to preserve the integrity of the
country's legal system, by further improving mechanisms for checking and
approving laws, regulations and legal opinions.
The correction of a law or regulation that is thought to be in contradiction
with the Constitution and state laws involves two or three steps: 1.
consultation with the lawmaker; 2. an application is sent to the relevant
committee requesting correction; 3. if the law-making institution declines to
make the correction, the matter can be submitted to the NPC Standing Committee
for a final decision.
The meeting also approved a procedural regulation concerning the procedure
for examining and approving judicial opinions.
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