Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law’s Original Contributions to Constitutional Theory and Practice

Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is the latest achievement in adapting the Marxist theory of the rule of law to the Chinese context, and it is the fundamental guidance and action guide for law-based governance in all respects. Among the core tenets of the “Eleven Upholds” [1]1 The “Eleven Upholds” (十一个坚持) are the eleven core tenets of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, first articulated by Xi Jinping in 2020. They include upholding rule by the constitution and governance by the constitution, among other principles. in Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, upholding rule by the constitution and governance by the constitution occupies an important position. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “The constitution is the general charter for governing the country and ensuring national security, the fundamental legal basis for our Party’s governance, and the highest legal norm for the country’s political and social life.” Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, in the great practice of the New Era, has put forward a series of new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies around upholding rule by the constitution and governance by the constitution. It has made major original contributions to enriching and developing constitutional theory and deepening constitutional practice. At the theoretical level, it has revealed the important role of the constitution in governing the country, requiring the constitution to keep pace with the times, respond to new demands of economic and social development, and laying the theoretical foundation for the construction of the rule of law. At the practical level, it has upheld and strengthened the Party’s leadership over constitutional work, accelerated the improvement of the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics with the constitution at its core, continuously raised the level of constitutional implementation and supervision, and perfected the layout of the country’s rule-of-law practice. At the institutional level, it has improved the implementation mechanisms for relevant constitutional provisions, improved the constitutional supervision system, ensured constitutional implementation through a scientific, effective, systematic, and complete institutional system, elevated constitutional implementation to a new level, effectively guaranteed citizens’ rights, and regulated the operation of state power. These original contributions are not only reflected in the theoretical viewpoints keeping pace with the times, but also demonstrate strong guiding force and driving force in the practice of law-based governance in all respects. They are of great significance for upholding constitutional authority, promoting constitutional implementation, disseminating China’s constitutional concepts, and resisting erroneous discourses, contributing Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to the rule of law civilization of mankind.

习近平法治思想是马克思主义法治理论中国化的最新成果，是全面依法治国的根本遵循和行动指南。在习近平法治思想“十一个坚持”的核心要义中，坚持依宪治国、依宪执政占据重要地位。习近平总书记指出：“宪法是治国安邦的总章程，是我们党治国理政的根本法律依据，是国家政治和社会生活的最高法律规范。”党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央在新时代的伟大实践中，围绕坚持依宪治国、依宪执政提出了一系列新理念新思想新战略，为丰富发展宪法理论、深入推进宪法实践作出了重大原创性贡献，在理论层面揭示了宪法在治国理政中的重要作用，要求宪法与时俱进，回应经济社会发展新需求，奠定了法治建设的理论基石；在实践层面坚持和加强党对宪法工作的领导，加快完善以宪法为核心的中国特色社会主义法律体系，不断提高宪法实施和监督水平，完善了国家法治实践布局；在制度层面完善宪法相关规定实施机制，完善宪法监督制度，用科学有效、系统完备的制度体系保证宪法实施，将宪法实施提升到全新水平，切实保障公民权利，规范国家权力运行。这些原创性贡献不仅体现在理论观点的与时俱进上，更在全面依法治国的实践中展现出强大指导力和推动力，对于维护宪法权威、推动宪法实施，对于传播中国宪法理念、抵御错误言论，都具有重要意义，为人类法治文明贡献了中国智慧与中国方案。

Clarifying the Party’s overall leadership over constitutional work and institutionalizing its implementation

明确党对宪法工作的全面领导并加以制度化落实

The Party’s leadership is the most fundamental guarantee of the socialist rule of law. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “Only the Communist Party of China can uphold the principle of building the Party for the public good and exercising power for the people, fully promote democracy, lead the people in formulating a constitution that embodies the people’s will, lead the people in implementing the constitution, and ensure the correct political direction of our country’s constitutional development.” Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law clarifies the Party’s overall leadership over constitutional work, further specifying and institutionalizing the relationship between the Party and the constitution.

党的领导是社会主义法治最根本的保证。习近平总书记指出：“只有中国共产党才能坚持立党为公、执政为民，充分发扬民主，领导人民制定出体现人民意志的宪法，领导人民实施宪法，确保我国宪法发展的正确政治方向。”习近平法治思想明确了党对宪法工作的全面领导，将党与宪法之间的关系进一步具体化、制度化。

The Party’s overall leadership over constitutional work is reflected in many aspects, including leading the formulation and amendment of the constitution, supervising the implementation of the constitution, and promoting the research and innovation of constitutional theory. In the process of formulating and amending the constitution, the Party, based on the strategic needs of national development and the fundamental interests of the people, puts forward the overall requirements and major principles for constitutional amendments, ensuring that constitutional amendments conform to national conditions, reality, and the requirements of the times. For example, the constitutional amendment passed in 2018, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee, fully promoted democracy, extensively solicited opinions, and made appropriate amendments in light of new situations and tasks, enshrining Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in the constitution, providing a strong constitutional guarantee for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. In terms of constitutional implementation, the Party ensures the comprehensive implementation of the constitution throughout society by leading Party organizations at all levels and state organs.

党对宪法工作的全面领导体现在多个方面，包括领导宪法的制定和修改、监督宪法的实施、推动宪法理论的研究和创新等。在宪法的制定和修改过程中，党根据国家发展的战略需要和人民的根本利益，提出宪法修改的总体要求和重大原则，确保宪法修改符合国情、符合实际、符合时代发展要求。例如，2018年通过的宪法修正案，就是在党中央的领导下充分发扬民主、广泛征求意见，着眼新形势新任务作出适当修改，将习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想载入宪法，为新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义提供了有力宪法保障。在宪法实施方面，党通过领导各级党组织和国家机关，确保宪法在全社会得到全面贯彻执行。

To ensure the Party’s overall leadership over constitutional work, China has established a series of institutional guarantees. In legislative work, it upholds the Party’s leadership over legislative work, improves the procedures for the Party’s decision-making on major issues in legislative work, and turns the Party’s propositions into the will of the state through legal procedures. In law enforcement and judicial work, it strengthens the Party’s leadership and supervision over law enforcement and judicial activities, ensuring that law enforcement and judicial organs perform their duties according to law and maintain social fairness and justice. At the same time, in practice, it strengthens Party building, requiring Party organizations at all levels and Party cadres to take the lead in abiding by the constitution, improving Party cadres’ constitutional awareness and rule-of-law literacy, upholding constitutional authority, and acting within the scope of the constitution and laws, setting an example for the whole society. For example, by carrying out various types of constitutional study and training activities, it improves Party cadres’ ability to understand and grasp the constitution, better implements the Party’s constitutional work policies, and consciously uses the constitution to solve problems in their work. Clarifying the Party’s overall leadership over constitutional work and institutionalizing its implementation provides a strong political guarantee for the stable operation of the constitution and the deepening of constitutional practice.

为了确保党对宪法工作的全面领导，我国建立了一系列制度保障。在立法工作中，坚持党对立法工作的领导，完善党对立法工作中重大问题决策的程序，通过法定程序使党的主张成为国家意志。在执法、司法工作中，加强党对执法、司法活动的领导和监督，确保执法、司法机关依法履行职责，维护社会公平正义。同时，在实践中加强党的建设，要求各级党组织和党员干部带头遵守宪法，提高党员干部的宪法意识和法治素养，维护宪法权威，在宪法法律范围内活动，为全社会树立榜样。例如，通过开展各类宪法学习培训活动，提高党员干部对宪法的理解和把握能力，更好地贯彻落实党的宪法工作方针政策，在工作中自觉运用宪法解决问题。明确党对宪法工作的全面领导地位并加以制度化落实，为宪法的稳定运行和宪法实践的深入推进提供了坚强政治保障。

Further enriching and perfecting the system of basic principles of our country’s constitution

进一步丰富和完善了我国宪法的基本原则体系

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “The constitution is the product of the will of the ruling class. Our country is a people’s democratic dictatorship led by the working class and based on the alliance of workers and peasants. Our Party is the vanguard of the Chinese working class, and at the same time the vanguard of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, and thus can formulate a truly people’s constitution.” “Our country’s constitution confirms the ruling status of the Communist Party of China, and confirms the Party’s core position of exercising overall leadership and coordinating the efforts of all in the structure of state power. This is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the greatest strength of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, and the most fundamental guarantee of the socialist rule of law.” The constitution formulated by our Party leading the people was formulated on the basis of achieving victory in the New Democratic Revolution, realizing national independence and people’s liberation, and sweeping away all old forces. It is a completely new constitution formulated for building a new socialist China. Under the Party’s leadership, our country’s constitution embodies the people’s will and has been continuously improved and kept pace with the times in the process of socialist construction and reform. In the successive amendments to the constitution, the Party, based on the needs of national development and the will of the people, has put forward amendment proposals, enabling the constitution to better adapt to the requirements of the times.

习近平总书记指出：“宪法是统治阶级意志的产物。我国是工人阶级领导的、以工农联盟为基础的人民民主专政的国家，我们党是中国工人阶级的先锋队，同时是中国人民和中华民族的先锋队，因而能够制定真正意义上的人民宪法。”“我国宪法确认了中国共产党的执政地位，确认了党在国家政权结构中总揽全局、协调各方的核心地位，这是中国特色社会主义最本质的特征，是中国特色社会主义制度的最大优势，是社会主义法治最根本的保证。”我们党领导人民制定的宪法，是在取得新民主主义革命胜利、实现民族独立和人民解放、扫除一切旧势力的基础上制定的，是为了建设社会主义新中国而制定的全新的宪法。在党的领导下，我国宪法体现人民意志，并在社会主义建设和改革过程中不断完善、与时俱进。在宪法的历次修改中，党根据国家发展的需要和人民的意愿，提出修改建议，使宪法更好地适应时代发展要求。

In constitutional theory and practice, erroneous views such as Western constitutional democracy, the separation of powers, and the doctrine of judicial independence have caused some interference. Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law’s emphasis that our country’s constitution “confirms the Party’s core position of exercising overall leadership and coordinating the efforts of all in the structure of state power” is both a powerful refutation of erroneous views such as Western constitutional democracy and a clear direction for the development and improvement of our country’s constitutional system. The constitutional amendment passed in 2018, which wrote “The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics” into the general principles of the constitution, reflects the implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and provides a strong constitutional guarantee for upholding the Party’s leadership. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, the Party upholds acting within the scope of the constitution and laws, integrates constitutional implementation into all aspects and the entire process of governing the country, implements it in all practices of comprehensively advancing the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and coordinating the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, and implements it in all fields and aspects of reform, development, and stability; domestic, foreign, and national defense affairs; and governing the Party, the country, and the military, comprehensively advancing the legalization of all aspects of the country’s work.

在宪法理论和实践中，西方宪政民主、三权分立和司法独立学说等错误观点曾产生一定干扰。习近平法治思想对我国宪法“确认了党在国家政权结构中总揽全局、协调各方的核心地位”的强调，既是对西方宪政民主等错误观点的有力批驳，又为我国宪法制度的发展完善指明了正确方向。2018年通过的宪法修正案，把“中国共产党领导是中国特色社会主义最本质的特征”写入宪法总纲，体现了对习近平法治思想的贯彻落实，为坚持党的领导提供了强有力的宪法保障。在习近平法治思想指导下，党坚持在宪法法律范围内活动，把宪法实施贯穿到治国理政各方面全过程，贯彻到统筹推进“五位一体”总体布局、协调推进“四个全面”战略布局的全部实践中，贯彻到改革发展稳定、内政外交国防、治党治国治军各领域各方面，全面推进国家各方面工作法治化。

“Upholding rule by the constitution and governance by the constitution includes upholding the unshakable position of the leadership of the Communist Party of China as determined by the constitution, and upholding the unshakable position of the people’s democratic dictatorship as the state system and the system of people’s congresses as the form of government as determined by the constitution.” This is an important content of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, an innovative expression of the basic principles of the current constitution, further enriching and perfecting the system of basic principles of our country’s constitution, and providing clearer guidance for constitutional practice. Among these, the Party’s leadership is the fundamental guarantee for the correct implementation and continuous development of our country’s constitution; the state system of people’s democratic dictatorship clarifies the nature of our country, that is, a socialist state under the people’s democratic dictatorship led by the working class and based on the alliance of workers and peasants, which determines that all power in the state belongs to the people; the form of government of the system of people’s congresses is the fundamental political system for ensuring that the people are the masters of the country, through which the people elect deputies to form people’s congresses, exercise state power, and manage state affairs. These three aspects are interconnected and mutually reinforcing, jointly forming the cornerstone of our country’s constitutional system. In the process of modernizing the national governance system and governance capacity, whether formulating policies or carrying out work, it is necessary to always adhere to these three aspects unwaveringly, ensure that national governance activities conform to the spirit and requirements of the constitution, guarantee the people’s right to be masters of the country, and maintain the country’s long-term stability and security.

“坚持依宪治国、依宪执政，就包括坚持宪法确定的中国共产党领导地位不动摇，坚持宪法确定的人民民主专政的国体和人民代表大会制度的政体不动摇。”这是习近平法治思想的重要内容，是对现行宪法基本原则的创新性表述，进一步丰富和完善了我国宪法的基本原则体系，为宪法实践提供了更明确的指导。其中，党的领导是我国宪法得以正确实施和不断发展的根本保证；人民民主专政的国体明确了我国的国家性质，即工人阶级领导的、以工农联盟为基础的人民民主专政的社会主义国家，这决定了国家的一切权力属于人民；人民代表大会制度的政体是保证人民当家作主的根本政治制度，通过人民选举代表组成人民代表大会，行使国家权力，管理国家事务。这三个方面相互联系、相辅相成，共同构成了我国宪法制度的基石。在推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化的过程中，无论是制定政策还是开展工作，都必须始终坚持这三个方面不动摇，确保国家治理活动符合宪法精神和要求，保障人民当家作主的权利，维护国家长治久安。

Deepening the understanding of the status of the constitution

深化对宪法地位的认识

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “Law-based governance is first of all governance according to the Constitution; law-based exercise of state power hinges on exercise of state power according to the Constitution.” Compared with the formulation put forward by our Party before the 18th National Congress of the CPC [1]1 The “Eleven Upholds” (十一个坚持) are the eleven core tenets of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, first articulated by Xi Jinping in 2020. They include upholding rule by the constitution and governance by the constitution, among other principles. — “law-based governance must first of all be governance according to the Constitution; law-based exercise of state power must first of all be exercise of state power according to the Constitution” — the change from “must first of all” to “first of all” is a single-character difference that contains profound theoretical connotations and practical significance, reflecting a deepening of the understanding of the Constitution’s status.

习近平总书记指出：“依法治国首先是依宪治国，依法执政关键是依宪执政”。与党的十八大之前我们党提出的“依法治国首先要依宪治国，依法执政首先要依宪执政”比较，从“首先要”变为“首先是”，一字之差蕴含着深刻理论内涵和实践意义，体现了对宪法地位认识的深化。

“Must first of all” expresses what ought to be, i.e., “should” and “must,” embodying the expectation and requirement for governance according to the Constitution and exercise of state power according to the Constitution. “First of all” makes a factual judgment, clearly and unequivocally revealing the fundamental status of the Constitution in governing the country and in comprehensively advancing law-based governance; it is a deepening of the understanding of the Constitution’s important role in comprehensively advancing law-based governance. This shows that our Party’s comprehension and grasp of the Constitution have reached a new height, with a profound recognition that the Constitution, as the fundamental law of the state, occupies a core position in the entire legal system, possesses the highest legal status, legal authority, and legal效力 [2]2 The 1954 Constitution was the first constitution of the People’s Republic of China, adopted at the First Session of the First National People’s Congress in September 1954., and is the foundation and prerequisite for comprehensively advancing law-based governance. All institutional construction and policy formulation of the state must be based on the Constitution; any act that violates the Constitution will undermine the foundation of the rule of law. As General

“首先要”体现的是应然性，即“应当”“必须”，体现了对依宪治国、依宪执政的期待与要求。“首先是”作出的是事实判断，清晰且明确地揭示了宪法在治国理政、全面依法治国中的根本性地位，是对宪法在全面依法治国中重要作用认识的深化。这表明我们党对宪法的理解和把握达到了新的高度，深刻认识到宪法作为国家根本法，在整个法律体系中处于核心地位，具有最高的法律地位、法律权威、法律效力，是全面依法治国的基础与前提。国家的各项制度构建和政策制定都必须以宪法为依据，任何违背宪法的行为都将破坏法治的根基。正如习近平总书记所强调的：“宪法是国家的根本法，是治国安邦的总章程，具有最高的法律地位、法律权威、法律效力，具有根本性、全局性、稳定性、长期性。全国各族人民、一切国家机关和武装力量、各政党和各社会团体、各企业事业组织，都必须以宪法为根本的活动准则，并且负有维护宪法尊严、保证宪法实施的职责。”这一重要论述明确了宪法在国家治理体系中的地位，是对“依法治国首先是依宪治国，依法执政关键是依宪执政”这一创新性理念的有力阐释。

This deepening of understanding provides more solid theoretical support for law-based governance in all respects and guides the direction of socialist rule-of-law construction. In the area of legislation, during the process of building the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics, China requires that legislative bodies must always take the Constitution as the benchmark when formulating laws and regulations, ensuring that the laws enacted conform to the spirit and principles of the Constitution and avoiding situations that conflict with it. At the same time, it ensures that various legal departments coordinate and cooperate with each other, paying attention to the connection and matching between different laws and regulations, so as to form an organic whole. For example, when the Civil Code was formulated, it fully considered its relationship with the Constitution, concretely specifying and implementing the provisions on citizens’ fundamental rights in the Constitution within the Civil Code, thereby aligning the civil legal system with the spirit of the Constitution. In the process of law enforcement, administrative organs are required to strictly perform their duties in accordance with the powers conferred by the Constitution and laws, achieving law-based administration, and not exceeding the authority stipulated by the Constitution and laws. The proposal of this concept prompts the whole society to more deeply recognize the importance of the Constitution, fostering a favorable atmosphere of respecting the Constitution, studying the Constitution, abiding by the Constitution, upholding the Constitution, and applying the Constitution, effectively promoting the integrated construction of a law-based state, a law-based government, and a law-based society.

这一认识上的深化为全面依法治国提供了更为坚实的理论支撑，指引着社会主义法治建设的方向。在立法方面，我国在建设中国特色社会主义法律体系的过程中，要求立法机关在制定法律法规时必须时刻以宪法为基准，确保所立之法符合宪法精神和原则，避免出现与宪法相抵触的情况。同时，确保各个法律部门之间相互协调、相互配合，注重不同法律法规之间的衔接和配套，形成一个有机整体。例如，民法典在制定时就充分考虑了与宪法的关系，将宪法中关于公民基本权利的规定在民法典中进行了具体细化和落实，使民事法律制度与宪法精神相契合。在执法过程中，要求行政机关必须严格依据宪法和法律赋予的职权履行职责，做到依法行政，不得超越宪法和法律规定的权限。这一理念的提出促使全社会更加深刻地认识到宪法的重要性，推动形成尊崇宪法、学习宪法、遵守宪法、维护宪法、运用宪法的良好氛围，有力促进了法治国家、法治政府、法治社会一体建设。

Attaching Great Importance to the Scientific Nature of the Constitution

高度重视宪法的科学性

In the process of formulating and amending the Constitution, scientificity is of utmost importance. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Establishing laws and regulations requires a scientific spirit, a comprehensive understanding, and conscious application of laws.” “Our current Constitution was formulated and continuously improved under the leadership of the Party, on the basis of profoundly summarizing the practical experience of China’s socialist revolution, construction, and reform. It has achieved a high degree of unity between the Party’s propositions and the people’s will, possesses strong vitality, and provides a fundamental legal guarantee for reform and opening up as well as socialist modernization.” These important expositions reflect the high importance attached by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core to the scientific nature of the Constitution and its close attention to the necessity and feasibility of constitutional amendments.

在宪法制定和修改过程中，科学性至关重要。习近平总书记指出：“建章立法需要讲求科学精神，全面认识和自觉运用规律。”“我国现行宪法是在党的领导下，在深刻总结我国社会主义革命、建设、改革实践经验基础上制定和不断完善的，实现了党的主张和人民意志的高度统一，具有强大生命力，为改革开放和社会主义现代化建设提供了根本法治保障。”这些重要论述，体现了以习近平同志为核心的党中央对宪法科学性的高度重视以及对宪法修改必要性、可行性的密切关注。

As the fundamental law of the state, the Constitution must possess scientificity to meet the needs of the country’s economic, political, cultural, social, and other aspects of development. This requires that in the process of formulating and amending the Constitution, full consideration be given to various factors such as the country’s actual conditions, historical and cultural traditions, and laws of social development. Comrade Mao Zedong, when presiding over the drafting of the “1954 Constitution,” [2]2 The 1954 Constitution was the first constitution of the People’s Republic of China, adopted at the First Session of the First National People’s Congress in September 1954. proposed that “drafting a constitution is engaging in science.” When our current Constitution was formulated, it fully summarized the positive and negative experiences of socialist construction, deeply absorbed the painful lessons of the ten-year “Cultural Revolution,” [3]3 The Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) was a political and social movement initiated by Mao Zedong, marked by widespread upheaval, attacks on Party and state institutions, and severe human rights abuses. and at the same time drew on the successes and failures of world socialism, adapting to the new requirements of China’s reform and opening up, socialist modernization, and the strengthening of socialist democracy and the legal system, thus possessing a solid foundation of scientificity.

宪法作为国家根本法，要适应国家经济、政治、文化、社会等各方面发展的需要，就必须具备科学性。这要求在宪法的制定和修改过程中充分考虑国家的实际情况、历史文化传统、社会发展规律等多方面因素。毛泽东同志在主持起草“五四宪法”时就提出“搞宪法就是搞科学”。我国现行宪法在制定时，充分总结了社会主义建设正反两方面经验，深刻吸取十年“文化大革命”的沉痛教训，同时借鉴世界社会主义成败得失，适应我国改革开放和社会主义现代化建设、加强社会主义民主法制建设的新要求，具有坚实的科学性基础。

Entering the New Era, the profound changes in the international situation and the new situations and tasks facing China’s economic and social development place higher demands on the scientific nature of the Constitution. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “As part of the superstructure, the Constitution must change in response to changes in the economic base.” This means that the Constitution must constantly keep pace with the times, accurately reflecting the new requirements of the times and the new expectations of the people. For example, against the backdrop of the booming digital economy, the Constitution needs to scientifically regulate emerging issues such as digital rights and data security, in order to protect citizens’ legitimate rights and interests in the digital age and promote the healthy and orderly development of the digital economy. In the process of advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, the scientific nature of the Constitution is reflected in providing a scientifically sound institutional framework and normative basis for various governance activities, ensuring efficient and orderly national governance. The continuous attention to and maintenance of the scientific nature of the Constitution enable it to better adapt to the development of the times, providing a solid guarantee for the long-term stability and security of the country and the well-being of the people.

进入新时代，国际形势深刻变化和我国经济社会发展面临的新形势新任务，对宪法科学性提出了更高要求。习近平总书记强调：“宪法作为上层建筑，一定要适应经济基础的变化而变化。”这意味着宪法要不断与时俱进，准确反映时代发展新要求和人民群众新期待。例如，在数字经济蓬勃发展的时代背景下，宪法需要对数字权利、数据安全等新兴领域的相关问题进行科学规范，以保障公民在数字时代的合法权益，促进数字经济健康有序发展。在推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化的进程中，宪法的科学性体现在为各项治理活动提供科学合理的制度框架和规范依据，确保国家治理高效、有序进行。对宪法科学性的持续关注和维护，使宪法能够更好地适应时代发展，为国家长治久安和人民幸福生活提供坚实保障。

Enriching the Connotation of the Constitution and Advancing Constitutional Review

丰富宪法内涵，推进合宪性审查

Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law grasps the Constitution from multiple aspects such as “constitutional provisions,” “constitutional principles,” and “constitutional spirit,” further enriching the connotation of the Constitution. “Constitutional provisions” are the specific content of constitutional articles, possessing clarity and normativity, providing specific guidelines for people’s behavior; “constitutional principles” are the fundamental norms that run through the entire Constitution, such as the principle of popular sovereignty, the principle of the rule of law, and the principle of equality, which have a guiding role in the implementation and interpretation of the Constitution; “constitutional spirit” is the value pursuit and concept embodied in the Constitution, such as protecting human rights and upholding fairness and justice. It is the soul of the Constitution and the fundamental value that determines why the Constitution is the Constitution. The enrichment and expansion of the connotation of the Constitution provide us with a more complete and richer legal toolbox for applying the Constitution in practical work. For example, when regulating citizens’ rights and obligations, it is necessary not only to base it on specific constitutional provisions but also to consider the principles and spirit of protecting human rights embodied in the Constitution, combined with the basic principles of the Constitution’s protection of human rights, to comprehensively judge whether the arrangement of rights and obligations meets the requirements of the Constitution.

习近平法治思想从“宪法规定”“宪法原则”“宪法精神”等多个方面把握宪法，进一步丰富了宪法内涵。“宪法规定”是宪法条文的具体内容，具有明确性和规范性，为人们的行为提供了具体准则；“宪法原则”是贯穿宪法始终的根本性准则，如人民主权原则、法治原则、平等原则等，对宪法的实施和解释具有指导作用；“宪法精神”是宪法所体现的价值追求和理念，如保障人权、维护公平正义等，是宪法的灵魂，也是决定宪法之所以是宪法的根本价值所在。对宪法内涵的丰富拓展，为我们在实际工作中运用宪法提供了更加完善和丰富的法律工具箱。比如，对公民权利义务作出规范，不仅要依据具体的宪法规定，还要考虑宪法所体现的保障人权的原则和精神，结合宪法保障人权的基本原理，综合判断对权利义务的安排是否符合宪法的要求。

Based on the enrichment and expansion of the connotation of the Constitution, China comprehensively advances the work of constitutional review. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “All laws, regulations, and normative documents that violate the Constitution and laws must be resolutely corrected and revoked.” Constitutional review is an important institutional guarantee for maintaining the authority of the Constitution. Improving the constitutional review mechanism and conducting constitutional review of laws, regulations, and normative documents can ensure that they conform to “constitutional provisions,” “constitutional principles,” and “constitutional spirit.” During the review process, the reviewing body must conduct a comprehensive review of the subject under review based on the specific provisions of the Constitution, in light of constitutional principles and spirit. For content that does not meet the requirements of the Constitution, timely corrections are made. This not only maintains the unity and authority of the Constitution but also ensures the core position of the Constitution in national governance.

以宪法内涵的丰富和拓展为基础，我国全面推进合宪性审查工作。习近平总书记指出：“对一切违反宪法法律的法规、规范性文件必须坚决予以纠正和撤销。”合宪性审查是维护宪法权威的重要制度保障。健全合宪性审查机制，对法律法规、规范性文件等进行合宪性审查，能够确保其符合“宪法规定”“宪法原则”“宪法精神”。在审查过程中，审查机关要依据宪法的具体规定，对照宪法原则和精神，对被审查对象进行全面审查。对于不符合宪法要求的内容，及时进行纠正。这既维护了宪法的统一性和权威性，又保障了宪法在国家治理中的核心地位。

Incorporating treaties and agreements concluded by the state into the scope of constitutionality review further demonstrates the authority of the constitution and the unity of the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics. Treaties and agreements concluded by the state have legal effect domestically, but their content must conform to the provisions and spirit of our country’s constitution. Incorporating them into the scope of constitutionality review can ensure that, in the process of participating in international affairs and fulfilling international obligations, our country does not violate the fundamental interests of the state and constitutional principles. For example, when our country accedes to certain international human rights conventions, it is necessary to conduct a constitutionality review of the convention’s content to ensure that the rights and obligations stipulated in the convention are consistent with the civil rights guaranteed by our constitution and the requirements of national sovereignty and security. This review mechanism, in the interface between domestic law and international law, upholds the unity of our country’s legal system and safeguards the core position and supreme authority of the constitution within the entire legal system.

将国家缔结的条约和协定纳入合宪性审查范围，进一步彰显了宪法的权威性和中国特色社会主义法律体系的统一性。国家缔结的条约和协定在国内具有法律效力，但其内容必须符合我国宪法的规定和精神。将其纳入合宪性审查范围，可以确保我国在参与国际事务、履行国际义务的过程中，不违背国家的根本利益和宪法原则。例如，在我国加入一些国际人权公约时，需要对公约的内容进行合宪性审查，确保公约所规定的权利和义务与我国宪法所保障的公民权利以及国家的主权、安全等方面的要求相一致。这种审查机制，在国内法与国际法衔接方面维护了我国法律体系的统一性，保障了宪法在整个法律体系中的核心地位和最高权威。

Enhance Constitutional Consciousness, Strengthen Constitutional Implementation

增强宪法自觉，加强宪法实施

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “The life of the constitution lies in its implementation, and the authority of the constitution also lies in its implementation.” “We must implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, unswervingly follow the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, enhance constitutional consciousness, strengthen constitutional implementation, fulfill the constitutional mission, and write a new chapter in the practice of China’s constitution in the New Era.” These important expositions fully embody the profound insight and active adherence of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law regarding the key position of the constitution in national governance, and profoundly reveal the core position and key role of constitutional implementation in the constitutional system.

习近平总书记强调：“宪法的生命在于实施，宪法的权威也在于实施。”“我们要贯彻落实党的二十大精神，坚定不移走中国特色社会主义法治道路，增强宪法自觉，加强宪法实施，履行宪法使命，谱写新时代中国宪法实践新篇章。”这些重要论述，充分体现了习近平法治思想对宪法在国家治理中关键地位的深刻洞察与主动遵循，深刻揭示了宪法实施在宪法制度中的核心地位和关键作用。

The constitution carries the fundamental system, basic principles, and the basic rights and obligations of citizens of the state, possessing supreme authority. Enhancing constitutional consciousness means recognizing the value of the constitution from the depths of one’s heart, and profoundly grasping that the constitution is the general charter for governing the country and ensuring peace and security, and the cornerstone for ensuring that the people are the masters of the country. Enhancing constitutional consciousness requires all members of society, especially leading Party and government cadres, to deepen their understanding of the constitutional theoretical system, profoundly comprehend the concepts of popular sovereignty, rule of law, and checks on power contained in the constitution, internalize the constitutional spirit as their own code of conduct, and then keenly identify phenomena contrary to the constitutional spirit in complex social affairs, use the constitution to analyze and solve problems, promote the innovative development of constitutional theory, and enable the constitution to play a more effective role in regulating and guiding various fields of national governance.

宪法承载着国家的根本制度、基本原则以及公民的基本权利与义务，具有至高无上的权威性。增强宪法自觉，意味着从内心深处认同宪法的价值，深刻把握宪法是治国安邦的总章程，是保障人民当家作主的基石。增强宪法自觉，要求全社会成员尤其是党员领导干部深化对宪法理论体系的认识，深刻理解宪法所蕴含的人民主权、法治、权力制约等理念，将宪法精神内化为自身的行为准则，进而在复杂的社会事务中敏锐识别与宪法精神相悖的现象，并运用宪法分析问题、解决问题，推动宪法理论创新发展，使宪法在国家治理的各个领域发挥更为有效的规范和引领作用。

The value and significance of the constitution lie not only in the formulation of its provisions, but also in its effective implementation in real life. Only through implementation can the state power stipulated by the constitution be correctly regulated and exercised, citizens’ rights be effectively guaranteed, and the authority of the constitution be truly established. For example, citizens’ right to vote and stand for election can only be truly exercised, realizing that the people are the masters of the country, if elections are organized and conducted strictly in accordance with the constitution and relevant laws; similarly, in national governance, the government’s administrative power must be exercised based on the authorization of the constitution and laws. Only by administering according to law, implementing the provisions of the constitution into specific administrative management activities, can the operation of government power be ensured to conform to the interests of the people and uphold social fairness and justice.

宪法的价值和意义不仅仅在于条文的制定，更在于在现实生活中的有效实施。只有通过实施，宪法所规定的国家权力才能得到正确规范和行使，公民权利才能得到切实保障，宪法的权威才能真正树立起来。比如，公民的选举权和被选举权只有在选举活动中严格按照宪法和相关法律的规定进行组织和实施，才能确保真正行使这一权利，实现人民当家作主；又如，在国家治理中，政府的行政权力必须依据宪法和法律的授权来行使，只有通过依法行政，将宪法的规定贯彻到具体的行政管理活动中，才能保障政府权力的运行符合人民的利益，维护社会公平正义。

Since the New Era, our country has adopted a series of important measures to elevate constitutional implementation to a new level, including: establishing the National Constitution Day, designating December 4th of each year as the National Constitution Day, carrying out constitutional publicity and education activities throughout society, enhancing the constitutional awareness of the whole society, and creating a good atmosphere of respecting the constitution; establishing the constitutional oath system, requiring state functionaries elected or appointed by the People’s Congress and its Standing Committee to publicly swear an oath to the constitution when formally taking office, strengthening the reverence of state functionaries for the constitution through solemn oath-taking ceremonies, prompting them to consciously abide by the constitution and uphold its authority in their work; persisting in jointly advancing publicity, education, and research, comprehensively promoting knowledge popularization, theoretical interpretation, and concept guidance, and promoting the implementation of the constitution to become the conscious action of all the people; and so on. These measures have effectively promoted the comprehensive implementation of the constitution, elevated constitutional implementation to a new level, and laid a solid foundation for building a rule-of-law China.

新时代以来，我国采取了一系列重要举措推动宪法实施达到新的水平，包括：设立国家宪法日，将每年的12月4日作为国家宪法日，在全社会开展宪法宣传教育活动，增强全社会的宪法意识，营造尊崇宪法的良好氛围；建立宪法宣誓制度，凡经人大及其常委会选举或者决定任命的国家工作人员正式就职时公开向宪法宣誓，通过庄严地宣誓仪式，强化国家工作人员对宪法的敬畏之心，促使他们在工作中自觉遵守宪法、维护宪法权威；坚持宣传、教育、研究共同推进，坚持知识普及、理论阐释、观念引导全面发力，推动宪法实施成为全体人民的自觉行动；等等。这些举措有力地推动了宪法全面贯彻实施，将宪法实施提升到新的水平，为法治中国建设奠定了坚实基础。

In practice, enhancing constitutional consciousness and strengthening constitutional implementation require a multi-pronged approach and multiple measures simultaneously. In terms of upholding the leadership of the Party, it is necessary to strengthen the Party’s overall leadership over constitutional work, and implement constitutional implementation throughout all aspects and the entire process of governing the country. The Party should play a leading and exemplary role, continuously improve its ability to govern the country according to the constitution and exercise power according to the constitution, ensure the correct political direction of constitutional implementation, and set an example for the whole society to respect the constitution. In terms of perfecting the legal system, continuously improve the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics with the constitution at its core, ensuring that laws and regulations are highly consistent with the constitutional spirit. Through rigorous legislative procedures, ensure that every legal norm is precisely positioned within the framework of the constitution, enhance the scientific and systematic nature of the legal system, and provide a solid legal system guarantee for constitutional implementation. In terms of strengthening constitutional implementation, improve the institutional system for ensuring the comprehensive implementation of the constitution, strengthen the constitutional implementation and supervision mechanisms, enhance the effectiveness of constitutionality review, make the constitution truly a “live high-voltage line,” and form a strong deterrent against unconstitutional acts. In addition, vigorously strengthen constitutional theoretical research and publicity education, innovate forms of publicity, broaden channels of publicity, make the constitutional spirit deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, prompt all the people to become loyal advocates, conscious observers, and firm defenders of the constitution, create a strong atmosphere of constitutional supremacy throughout society, and comprehensively promote the enhancement of the constitutional consciousness and constitutional literacy of the entire people.

在实践中，增强宪法自觉、加强宪法实施需要多管齐下、多措并举。在坚持党的领导方面，必须加强党对宪法工作的全面领导，将宪法实施贯穿到治国理政各方面全过程。党要发挥引领示范作用，不断提高依宪治国、依宪执政能力，确保宪法实施的正确政治方向，为全社会树立尊崇宪法的榜样。在完善法律体系方面，不断完善以宪法为核心的中国特色社会主义法律体系，确保法律法规与宪法精神高度契合。通过严谨的立法程序，使每一项法律规范都能在宪法的框架内精准定位，增强法律体系的科学性、系统性，为宪法实施提供坚实的法律制度保障。在加强宪法实施方面，健全保证宪法全面实施的制度体系，强化宪法实施和监督机制，提升合宪性审查的效能，让宪法真正成为“带电的高压线”，对违宪行为形成强大威慑力。此外，大力加强宪法理论研究和宣传教育，创新宣传形式，拓宽宣传渠道，使宪法精神深入人心，促使全体人民成为宪法的忠实崇尚者、自觉遵守者、坚定捍卫者，在全社会营造浓厚的宪法至上氛围，全方位推动全民宪法自觉与宪法素养的提升。

In summary, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, as the latest achievement in adapting the Marxist theory on the rule of law to the Chinese context, has comprehensively enhanced the scientific nature, authority, and practicality of our country’s constitutional system. It not only consolidates the foundation for domestic rule-of-law construction, injects new vitality into the innovative development of constitutional theory and practice, and promotes our country to steadily embark on the new journey of Chinese-path modernization on the track of the rule of law, but also contributes valuable experience to the development of human rule-of-law civilization, contributes Chinese wisdom to global governance, and promotes the continuous development and progress of human rule-of-law civilization.

总之，习近平法治思想作为马克思主义法治理论中国化的最新成果，全方位提升了我国宪法制度的科学性、权威性与实践性，不仅为国内法治建设筑牢根基，为宪法理论与实践的创新发展注入全新活力，推动我国在法治轨道上稳步迈上中国式现代化新征程，而且为人类法治文明发展贡献了宝贵经验，为全球治理贡献了中国智慧，推动人类法治文明不断发展进步。

(The author is a researcher at the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)

（作者为中国社会科学院习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究中心研究员）

Online Editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心