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People's Republic of China Legal Research

This guide provides an overview of some of the best resources for Chinese legal research in both Chinese and English.

Constitution in Chinese

Since 1949, the People's Republic of China has enacted 4 constitutions in 1954, 1975, 1978, and 1982.  The current Constitution of 1982 was amended 5 times in 1988, 1993, 1999, 2004, and 2018.  Below are hyperlinks to the constitutions and constitutional amendments.

Constitution Translated to English on the Internet

It is possible to find the constitutional documents in translation. However, the only authorized version of the Constitution is in Chinese language.  When in doubt, you should confirm the accuracy of the document with the original script of the Constitution.

Constitution Provided by Other Sources

Many subscription based legal databases such as Pkulaw, Lexis China, and China Law & Reference provide Chinese and English bilingual versions of the constitutions and amendments.  Other commercial sources also provide English language versions of PRC Constitutions.  These include: