Law of the People's Republic of China on Publicity and Education on the Rule of Law

(Adopted at the 17th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Fourteenth National People's Congress on September 12, 2025)

Contents

Chapter Ⅰ General Provisions

Chapter Ⅱ Publicity and Education on the Rule of Law in Society

Chapter Ⅲ Publicity and Education on the Rule of Law for State Functionaries

Chapter Ⅳ Publicity and Education on the Rule of Law for Young People

Chapter Ⅴ Guarantees and Supervision

Chapter Ⅵ Legal Liability

Chapter Ⅶ Supplementary Provisions

Chapter Ⅰ General Provisions

Article 1 This Law is enacted in accordance with the Constitution to strengthen publicity and education on the rule of law, enhance the awareness of the rule of law of the entire population, improve law-based social governance, foster a positive social environment of respecting, learning, abiding by, and applying the law, consolidate the social foundations for law-based governance of the country on all fronts, and promote the building of a higher-standard socialist country under the rule of law.

Article 2 Publicity and education on the rule of law shall fall under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and be guided by Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. They shall fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, promote the spirit of the socialist rule of law, and establish the rule of law as a shared consensus and fundamental principle, thereby creating a sound environment of the rule of law for the building of a modern socialist country in all respects.

Article 3 Publicity and education on the rule of law shall adhere to a people-centered approach, serve the overall interests of the country, and uphold fundamental principles while breaking new ground. They shall be integrated with law-based governance and practices of the rule of law, integrate the rule of law with the rule of virtue, and ensure the organic unity of law-based governance of the country and rule-based governance of the Party. They shall be carried out by practicing the core socialist values and improving the working mechanism that features leadership by Party committees, supervision by the people's congresses, leading role of the government, multi-party coordination, and broad social participation.

Article 4 The state shall implement a system of lifelong education on the rule of law for citizens and incorporate education on the rule of law into the national education, cadre education, and social education systems.

Article 5 The main content for publicity and education on the rule of law shall include:

(1) Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law;

(2) the provisions, principles, and spirit of the Constitution;

(3) principles of the rule of law, legal systems, and basic legal knowledge;

(4) the practice and achievements of law-based governance on all fronts;

(5) the culture of socialist rule of law and fine traditional Chinese legal culture; and

(6) other matters that should be included in publicity and education on the rule of law.

Article 6 The state shall formulate a national plan for publicity and education on the rule of law.

Provinces, autonomous regions, and cities directly under the Central Government shall, on the basis of the national plan for publicity and education on the rule of law and in light of local conditions, formulate corresponding plans for their respective administrative areas.

Article 7 The judicial administrative department under the State Council shall be responsible for publicity and education on the rule of law nationwide. The judicial administrative departments of local people's governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for publicity and education on the rule of law within their respective administrative areas.

All central Party and state departments shall incorporate publicity and education on the rule of law into their overall plans for advancing development of the rule of law within their respective departments and systems, and shall organize their implementation.

Article 8 State organs and the armed forces, political parties, people's organizations, and public institutions shall, in light of their respective duties, organize and conduct publicity and education on the rule of law.

Enterprises, other organizations, and individuals are encouraged and supported to conduct and participate in publicity and education on the rule of law.

Article 9 State organs shall implement a responsibility system for law popularization in accordance with the principle that state law enforcement departments are responsible for publicizing the law.

Article 10 The state shall strengthen publicity and education on the rule of law in foreign-related affairs, enhance the international communication capacity of culture of the rule of law, and actively articulate the concepts, positions, and successful practices concerning the rule of law in foreign-related affairs with Chinese characteristics.

The state encourages and supports international exchanges and cooperation in publicity and education on the rule of law.

Article 11 Publicity and education on the rule of law shall be conducted in compliance with the Constitution and laws, in observance of public order, and with respect for social ethics.

Article 12 Entities and individuals that have made outstanding contributions to publicity and education on the rule of law shall be commended and rewarded in accordance with relevant state regulations.

Chapter Ⅱ Publicity and Education on the Rule of Law in Society

Article 13 The state shall strengthen publicity and education on the Constitution, promote regular and long-term efforts in publicity and education on the Constitution, raise awareness of the Constitution across society, promote the spirit of the Constitution, and strengthen the implementation of the Constitution.

December 4 of each year is National Constitution Day. On this date, the state shall carry out activities for publicity and education on the Constitution in various forms.

Article 14 The state shall strengthen publicity and education on the Constitution and the Basic Laws of the special administrative regions and enhance, among compatriots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region, the awareness of safeguarding the constitutional order in the special administrative regions as established by the Constitution and the Basic Laws.

Article 15 The state shall carry out publicity and education on the rule of law regarding national security through various forms to enhance national security awareness of all citizens.

Article 16 The state shall make use of major festivals, commemorative days, and other occasions, and in conjunction with the promulgation and implementation of laws and regulations, organize public activities for publicity and education on the rule of law. It shall continue to carry out extensive and in-depth law popularization for all citizens, promote the integration of publicity and education on the rule of law into practice of the rule of law, community-level governance, and everyday life, and foster fundamental concepts of the rule of law across society, including the supremacy of the Constitution and laws and equality of all before the law.

Article 17 Organs enacting laws and regulations shall strengthen publicity and explanation throughout the entire legislative process, and actively release information, provide briefings, and respond to public concerns through various means. They shall expand public participation by soliciting opinions, holding symposiums, expert consultations and hearings, and establishing local legislative outreach offices, so as to organically integrate legislation with publicity and education on the rule of law.

Article 18 Administrative organs shall integrate publicity and education on the rule of law into their routine management, services, law enforcement, and dispute resolution processes. They shall conduct publicity and education on the rule of law by comprehensively employing such approaches as explaining laws and providing legal reasoning, addressing concerns, providing guidance and demonstrations, organizing hearings, and releasing and interpreting typical cases.

Article 19 Supervisory organs, adjudicatory organs, procuratorial organs, and other relevant bodies shall integrate publicity and education on the rule of law into the handling of cases. In light of their respective duties, they shall conduct publicity and education on the rule of law through such means as holding public trials in accordance with the law, explaining laws and providing reasoning in legal instruments, and releasing and interpreting typical cases.

Article 20 Ethnic affairs departments shall, focusing on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, conduct publicity and education on the rule of law, promote ethnic unity and progress, enhance the cohesion of the Chinese nation, and further develop the community of the Chinese nation.

Article 21 The religious affairs department shall strengthen publicity and education on the rule of law, encourage religious figures and believers to consciously uphold the authority of the Constitution and laws, and ensure that religious activities are conducted within the scope prescribed by laws and regulations.

Article 22 Departments in charge of cyberspace administration, telecommunications, public security, and other relevant departments shall strengthen publicity and education on the rule of law for internet service providers and users, promote voluntary compliance with laws and regulations and respect for public morality, and foster a civilized and safe cyberspace environment.

Article 23 Departments of emergency management, health, public security, and other relevant departments shall organize publicity and education on the rule of law concerning the response to natural disasters, accidents, public health incidents, and social security incidents, and improve the society's capacity for the prevention and handling of emergencies.

Article 24 Departments of civil affairs, human resources and social security, and other relevant departments shall, in light of the needs and characteristics of groups such as older persons, persons with disabilities, and migrant workers, conduct targeted publicity and education on the rule of law, and enhance their awareness and capacity to safeguard their lawful rights and interests in accordance with the law.

When conducting publicity and education on the rule of law for older persons and persons with disabilities, accessible forms such as audio, large-print text, braille, and sign language shall be adopted simultaneously where conditions permit.

Article 25 People's governments at all levels shall strengthen publicity and education on the rule of law at the grassroots, and support, guide, and assist villagers' committees and residents' committees in carrying out publicity and education on the rule of law. They shall encourage villagers and residents to safeguard their lawful rights and interests, express their demands, and resolve disputes by lawful means.

Article 26 People's governments at all levels shall, in accordance with the development needs of new industries and new fields, strengthen publicity and education on the rule of law for relevant organizations and personnel, and guide them in safeguarding their lawful rights and interests and performing their statutory obligations in accordance with the law.

Article 27 Trade unions, the Communist Youth League organizations, women's federations, federations of industry and commerce, law societies, federations of persons with disabilities, and other people's organizations shall conduct publicity and education on the rule of law within the scope of their respective responsibilities.

Article 28 Industry associations, chambers of commerce, and other relevant organizations shall strengthen publicity and education on the rule of law for their members, enhance their members' ability to safeguard their lawful rights and interests and to prevent legal risks, and raise the level of rule of law in the governance of their respective industries.

Article 29 Enterprises shall strengthen publicity and education on the rule of law for their employees, establish and implement systems requiring managerial personnel to study and apply the law, and raise the level of law-based management.

Article 30 Legal service institutions and legal service practitioners shall, in the course of providing legal services and mediating disputes, conduct publicity and education on the rule of law in connection with their work.

Article 31 Operators and managers of public premises shall, in accordance with the law, conduct publicity and education on the rule of law within the premises they operate or manage, focusing on issues of public concern such as consumer rights protection, telecom and online fraud prevention, food and drug safety, fire safety, personal information protection, and product liability.

Internet service providers shall, in accordance with the law, conduct publicity and education on the rule of law among their employees and users.

Financial institutions shall, in accordance with the law, conduct publicity and education on the rule of law for their staff and customers.

Article 32 The state shall strengthen publicity and education on the rule of law for enterprises engaged in overseas investment and cooperation, enterprises providing foreign aid, and outbound travelers, offer foreign-related legal services, direct them to comply with the laws of China and local laws, and take measures to prevent and respond to legal risks.

Chapter Ⅲ Publicity and Education on the Rule of Law for State Functionaries

Article 33 The state shall strengthen publicity and education on the Constitution for state functionaries. State functionaries shall intensify their efforts to study the Constitution, raise their awareness of the Constitution, abide by constitutional principles, promote the spirit of the Constitution, and fulfill their constitutional missions.

The state shall implement the constitutional oath system in order to demonstrate the authority of the Constitution and inspire and educate state functionaries in pledging allegiance to, abiding by, and upholding the constitution.

Article 34 State functionaries shall set an example in respecting, learning, abiding by, and applying the law, cultivate a strong mindset of the rule of law in the performance of their duties, and strengthen their ability to apply thinking and approaches of the rule of law in deepening reform, promoting development, resolving conflicts, maintaining stability, and managing risks.

Article 35 In the recruitment of state functionaries, relevant legal knowledge shall be incorporated into the examination content.

Article 36 A sound system shall be established for the regular study of the law by state functionaries. Employers of state functionaries shall, in light of the nature and characteristics of their duties, conduct education on the rule of law in various forms.

Relevant departments shall incorporate education on the rule of law into the education and training plans and programs for state functionaries.

Article 37 A system shall be implemented whereby officials are provided with a list of Party regulations and laws and regulations that they are required to know and apply.

Relevant departments and entities shall include the Constitution and the laws and regulations closely related to the performance of duties in such lists for officials, and shall update the lists on an ongoing basis.

Article 38 Oversight shall be strengthened over officials' study and application of the law. In accordance with relevant regulations, the circumstances of their study and application of the law shall be included in their annual performance reports.

Chapter Ⅳ Publicity and Education on the Rule of Law for Young People

Article 39 The state, society, schools, and families shall strengthen coordination and collaboration, and, in light of the physical and mental characteristics and developmental needs of young people, conduct publicity and education on the rule of law for them. They shall popularize the legal knowledge necessary for young people in family life, schooling, and social activities, foster among them the awareness of observing the law, following rules, maintaining integrity, and preventing unlawful and criminal acts, and encourage voluntary compliance with the law, self-regulation of conduct, protection of their lawful rights and interests, and respect for the lawful rights and interests of others.

Article 40 Educational administrative departments shall integrate education on the rule of law into all stages of school education, specify the objectives, content, and assessment requirements of education on the rule of law for schools at all levels and of all types, promote practical teaching and case-based instruction of the rule of law, incorporate education on the rule of law into relevant textbooks, and include literacy of the rule of law in the comprehensive quality evaluation of students.

Educational administrative departments shall strengthen the cultivation and training of teachers for education on the rule of law and establish a stable team of full-time or part-time teachers engaged in education on the rule of law.

Educational administrative departments shall enhance the coordination and guidance of all types of activities concerning publicity and education on the rule of law carried out by schools.

Article 41 Schools of all types and at all levels shall offer courses on the rule of law, and use education on the rule of law and practice bases for young people and other relevant facilities to carry out education on the rule of law through practice. Primary and secondary schools shall appoint vice principals in charge of education on the rule of law according to requirements, have teachers who have received professional training or special instruction and are capable of undertaking education on the rule of law, and may also engage off-campus mentors to deliver education on the rule of law.

Schools of all types and at all levels shall integrate publicity and education on the rule of law into school education and daily management, carry out themed education on the rule of law in diverse forms, and promote a culture of the rule of law in schools.

Article 42 Adjudicatory organs, procuratorial organs, and departments of public security and judicial administration, as well as social organizations such as lawyers' associations, shall support schools in carrying out education on the rule of law in accordance with their educational programs and teaching plans, provide resources for the practical teaching of education on the rule of law, and support educational administrative departments and schools in developing curricula for education on the rule of law.

Article 43 Parents or other guardians of minors shall enhance the awareness and capacity to provide education on the rule of law to minors, and, in light of the physical and mental characteristics of minors at different ages, guide them to develop self-protection awareness and the habit of acting in accordance with the law.

Article 44 Internet service providers shall, in accordance with the law, conduct publicity and education on the rule of law in cyberspace for minors, fulfill their obligations for protecting minors in cyberspace, guide minors toward responsible and appropriate online conduct, and foster an online environment conducive to the physical and mental well-being of minors.

Chapter Ⅴ Guarantees and Supervision

Article 45 People's governments at or above the county level shall incorporate publicity and education on the rule of law into the overall plans for development of the rule of law in their respective areas, as well as efforts to promote cultural-ethical progress and to build safe and secure communities.

Article 46 Judicial administrative departments shall work jointly with relevant departments and entities to strengthen capacity building for personnel engaged in publicity and education on the rule of law, and carry out tiered and differentiated training.

Judicial administrative departments shall develop grassroots role models with solid literacy of the rule of law and community work experience, and shall support and guide them in actively conducting publicity and education on the rule of law and leading practice of the rule of law.

Article 47 Judicial administrative departments shall promote the development of expert databases for publicity and education on the rule of law, select and appoint outstanding professionals of the rule of law to form lecturer groups for law popularization, and organize activities for promoting the rule of law. Other departments may, as needed, establish their own expert databases or lecturer groups for publicity and education on the rule of law that reflect the characteristics of their respective work.

The state encourages and supports state functionaries, persons engaged in legal education and research, students majoring in law, and legal service practitioners to provide volunteer services for law popularization and to participate in legal consultation, lectures on the rule of law, and other related activities organized by relevant departments and entities.

Article 48 The state encourages and supports theoretical research on publicity and education on the rule of law, and strengthens cultivation of talents in fields such as communication of the rule of law and culture of the rule of law.

Article 49 The state shall improve the public-interest framework for law popularization through media and guide newspapers, periodicals, radio, television, and other news media as well as internet service providers in fulfilling their public-interest responsibilities for such publicity and education.

Newspapers, periodicals, radio, television, and other news media, as well as internet service providers, shall strengthen publicity and education on the rule of law by establishing columns or programs on the rule of law, broadcasting public-interest advertisements of the rule of law, and reporting news of the rule of law.

Article 50 Departments of culture and tourism, press and publication, radio and television, film, and cyberspace administration shall promote the development of culture of the rule of law, and encourage and support the creation, production, and dissemination of outstanding works of literature and art, publications, radio and television programs, films, and online audiovisual works related to the rule of law.

Article 51 People's governments at or above the county level shall strengthen the protection and utilization of cultural heritage, including cultural relics related to culture of the rule of law, publicize the deeds and spirit of exemplary figures, promote socialist culture of the rule of law, and advance the creative transformation and innovative development of China's fine traditional legal culture.

Article 52 People's governments at or above the county level shall, in accordance with territorial space planning and in light of local conditions, formulate coordinated plans for and promote the construction of cultural venues of the rule of law, and incorporate elements of the rule of law into the construction of public facilities and the use of public spaces.

Judicial administrative departments shall establish a directory of cultural venues of the rule of law and disclose it to the public.

Article 53 Departments and entities responsible for publicity and education on the rule of law shall, in light of the needs of different regions, industries, and groups, carry out targeted publicity and education on the rule of law. They shall adopt vivid, accessible forms and methods that are popular among the people, make effective use of exemplary figures, including role models of the rule of law and individuals recognized for righteous acts, and effectively spread inspiring stories to the people about China's Constitution and the rule of law. They shall enhance the relevance and effectiveness of publicity and education on the rule of law and strictly avoid pointless formalities.

Article 54 Innovation in the forms and methods of publicity and education on the rule of law shall be encouraged, and the use of new platforms, technologies, products, and accessible formats to carry out such publicity and education shall be supported.

The content of publicity and education on the rule of law shall be accurate and clear, and shall not mislead the public.

Article 55 People's governments at or above the county level shall include funds for publicity and education on the rule of law in their budgets, strengthen the administration of such funds, improve their efficiency of use, and ensure that the operational needs related to publicity and education on the rule of law are met.

State organs, people's organizations, and public institutions shall make reasonable budgetary arrangements to ensure the effective implementation of publicity and education on the rule of law.

The state shall encourage and guide social capital to participate in work related to publicity and education on the rule of law, and shall strengthen their administration in accordance with the law.

Article 56 Judicial administrative departments shall organize evaluations of the implementation of plans for publicity and education on the rule of law, and shall make the evaluation results public and subject them to public supervision.

Article 57 Where the judicial administrative departments of people's governments at or above the county level discover that departments or entities at the same level that bear responsibilities for publicity and education on the rule of law have failed to perform such responsibilities in accordance with the law, they shall issue a reminder for law popularization in a timely manner. Upon receiving such a reminder, the relevant departments or entities shall take corrective measures in a timely manner and provide related feedback.

Article 58 The standing committees of the people's congresses at all levels shall strengthen their supervision over publicity and education on the rule of law by listening to and deliberating on special work reports, conducting law-implementation inspections, questioning about specific issues, and carrying out investigation and research on specific subjects.

People's governments at or above the county level shall report on their work related to publicity and education on the rule of law to the standing committees of the people's congresses at the corresponding level and shall accept their supervision in accordance with the law.

Chapter Ⅵ Legal Liability

Article 59 Where the judicial administrative department of a people's government at or above the county level fails to perform its duties concerning publicity and education on the rule of law in accordance with the law, the people's government at the same level or the judicial administrative department at a higher level shall order it to make corrections within a prescribed time limit; a notice of criticism shall be circulated in the department if it fails to make corrections within the time limit; where the circumstances are serious, the responsible persons in charge and other directly responsible persons shall be subject to sanctions in accordance with the law.

Where the relevant departments or entities, after receiving a reminder for law popularization, fail to take corrective measures in a timely manner, a circulation of notice of criticism shall be imposed; where the circumstances are serious, the responsible persons in charge and other directly responsible persons shall be subject to sanctions in accordance with the law.

Article 60 Where the regulations governing the administration of funds for publicity and education on the rule of law are violated, the competent authorities shall order the violator to make corrections within a prescribed time limit; where the circumstances are serious, the responsible persons in charge and other directly responsible persons shall be subject to sanctions in accordance with the law.

Article 61 Anyone who misappropriates or damages facilities for publicity and education on the rule of law, or damages or destroys exhibits or equipment, shall be ordered by the competent departments to make corrections within a prescribed time limit and shall be given a reprimand.

Article 62 Where publicity and education on the rule of law are conducted in violation of the provisions of this Law and cause an adverse social impact, the competent departments shall stop such activities and impose a reprimand.

Article 63 Where a violation of this Law causes damage to others, civil liability shall be borne in accordance with the law; where the act constitutes a violation of public security administration, a public security administration penalty shall be imposed in accordance with the law; and where the act constitutes a crime, criminal liability shall be borne in accordance with the law.

Chapter Ⅶ Supplementary Provisions

Article 64 The Chinese People's Liberation Army and the Chinese People's Armed Police Force shall conduct publicity and education on the rule of law in accordance with this Law and relevant regulations of the Central Military Commission.

Article 65 This Law shall enter into force on November 1, 2025.