BEIJING -- Chinese officials in state organs shall pledge allegiance to the Constitution when taking their posts, according to a decision adopted by the top legislature Wednesday.

All officials elected or appointed by people's congresses at all levels and their standing committees above the county level, as well as state functionaries appointed by people's governments, courts and procuratorates at all levels should take a public oath of allegiance to the Constitution while assuming office, said the decision.

The Constitution is the basic law of the country with supreme legal status, authorities and forces. State functionaries must have constitutional awareness, observe constitutional principles, uphold the constitutional spirit and perform their constitutional obligations, read the decision.

The decision was made to inspire state functionaries to be loyal to, observing and safeguarding the Constitution, according to the document.

After they are elected or appointed, state personnel must swear the oath. This includes the president, vice president; chairman, vice chairpersons, secretary-general, and all members of NPC Standing Committee; premier, vice premiers, state councilors, ministers, the governor of the People's Bank of China, auditor general of the National Audit Office; chairman, vice chairmen and members of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the People's Republic of China; heads of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, according to the decision.

When state functionaries read the pledge, the right hand should be raised and formed into a fist, and the national flag or emblem should be hung in the hall where the ceremony is held.

The oath reads: "I pledge to be allegiant to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, safeguard the Constitution authority, perform obligations given by the laws, be loyal to the country and people, be committed and honest when performing duties, accept people's supervision and work hard to build a socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, and harmonious," according to the draft.

The current Constitution was adopted on Dec. 4, 1982, based on the 1954 version. Dec. 4 is China's Constitution Day, which aims to increase awareness of the Constitution.