NPC passes Constitution update

Staff members distribute ballots at the third plenary meeting of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 11, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]

The draft amendment was submitted to the first session of the 13th NPC for deliberation on March 5.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said during a panel discussion with a group of NPC deputies on Wednesday that revising parts of the Constitution represent a major decision by the Central Committee from the overall strategic height of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

While the reform and opening-up drive, which began 40 years ago, has made amazing progress, it brought major changes to the country's Constitution.

The People's Republic of China adopted its first Constitution in 1954. The current Constitution was adopted in 1982 and then amended in 1988, 1993, 1999 and 2004.

From 1988 to 1999, amendments included the reform of land-use rights, legal status for the private economy, the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, replacing the phrase "planned economy" with "socialist market economy", and incorporation of Deng Xiaoping Theory.

The most recent previous amendment, in 2004, protected private property and human rights and gave the Theory of Three Represents constitutional authority.

A constitutional revision can be proposed either by the NPC Standing Committee or by more than one-fifth of all NPC deputies. Approval of at least two-thirds of NPC deputies during the annual session is required for adoption.