Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Implementing the Constitutional Oath System

(Adopted at the 15th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People's Congress on July 1, 2015, and revised at the 33rd Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People’s Congress on February 24, 2018)

The Constitution, as the fundamental law of the state and the general charter for governance of the country and national security and stability, enjoys the supreme legal status and has the highest authority and effect. State functionaries shall raise the awareness of the Constitution, abide by the principles of the Constitution, carry forward the spirit of the Constitution, and fulfill the missions of the Constitution. To demonstrate the Constitution's authority, inspire and educate state functionaries in pledging allegiance to, abiding by and preserving the Constitution, and strengthen the implementation of the Constitution, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress makes the following decision:

I. The state functionaries elected by or appointed upon decision of the people's congresses at all levels or the standing committees of the people's congresses at or above the county level, as well as the state functionaries appointed by the people's governments, supervisory commissions, people's courts, and people's procuratorates at all levels shall take a public constitutional oath when taking office.

II. The text of the oath is as follows:

I hereby pledge my allegiance to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, to safeguard the authority of the Constitution, perform statutory duties, be loyal to the country and people, be committed and honest in performing my official duties, accept people's supervision, and work hard to develop China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful.

III. The President and Vice-Presidents of the People's Republic of China; the Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersons, Secretary General, and members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress; the Premier, Vice-Premiers, State Councilors, Ministers of ministries or commissions, the Governor of the People's Bank of China, the Auditor General and the Secretary General of the State Council; the Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersons, and members of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China; the Chairperson of the National Commission of Supervision; the President of the Supreme People's Court; the Procurator General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate; as well as chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, and members of the special committees of the National People's Congress, among others, elected by or appointed upon the decision of the National People's Congress, shall take a constitutional oath after they are successfully elected or appointed under the statutory procedure. The oath-taking ceremony shall be organized by the Presidium of the Session of the National People's Congress.

IV. When the National People's Congress is not in session, certain vice-chairpersons, and members of the special committees of the National People's Congress; Ministers of ministries or commissions, the Governor of the People's Bank of China, the Auditor General and the Secretary General of the State Council; and Vice-Chairpersons and members of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China, appointed by or appointed upon the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, shall take a constitutional oath after they are successfully appointed under the statutory procedure. The oath-taking ceremony shall be organized by the Council of Chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

V. The Deputy Secretary General of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress; the chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, and members of the working bodies of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress; and the chairperson, vice-chairpersons, and members of the Credentials Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, among others, appointed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, shall take a constitutional oath after they are successfully appointed under the statutory procedure. The oath-taking ceremony shall be organized by the Council of Chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

VI. The Vice-Chairpersons and members of the National Commission of Supervision, the Vice-Presidents, members of the Judicial Committee, chief judges and associate chief judges of a division, and judges of the Supreme People's Court, the President of the Military Court, the Deputy Procurators General, members of the Procuratorial Committee and procurators of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and the Chief Procurator of the Military Procuratorate, as well as plenipotentiary representatives of the People's Republic of China stationed abroad, appointed by or appointed upon the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, shall take a constitutional oath after they are successfully appointed under the statutory procedure. The oath-taking ceremony shall be organized respectively by the National Commission of Supervision, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

VII. The state functionaries appointed by the State Council and its departments, the National Commission of Supervision, the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuratorate shall take a constitutional oath when taking office. The oath-taking ceremony shall be organized by the appointing authority.

VIII. The oath-taking ceremony may be conducted in the form of an individual oath or a collective oath according to different circumstances. In the case of an individual oath, the oath taker shall put his left hand on the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, raise his right fist, and read aloud the oath. In the case of a collective oath, one of the oath takers shall lead the recitation of the oath. The person shall put his left hand on the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, raise his right fist, and lead the recitation. Other oath takers shall stand in order, raise their right fists, and repeat the oath following the oath leader.

The venue where an oath is taken shall be dignified and solemn, and the national flag or national emblem of the People's Republic of China shall be prominently displayed. The national anthem of the People’s Republic of China shall be played and sung at the oath-taking ceremony.

The authorities in charge of organizing the oath-taking ceremony may, according to this Decision and in consideration of the actual circumstances, provide for the specific matters concerning the oath.

IX. The state functionaries elected by or appointed upon the decision of the local people's congresses at all levels or the standing committees of local people's congresses at or above the county level, as well as the state functionaries appointed by the local people's governments, supervisory commissions, people's courts and people's procuratorates at all levels shall take a constitutional oath after they are successfully elected or appointed under the statutory procedure. The specific measures for organizing the oath-taking ceremonies shall be formulated by the standing committees of the people's congresses of the provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government by reference to this Decision, and be submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for the record.

X. This Decision shall go into effect on March 12, 2018.