Vigorously promote the spirit of the Constitution and develop a socialist culture of the rule of law

China's "National Legal Publicity Day" is observed on December 4 each year. This date is also National Constitution Day, on which the state carries out constitutional publicity and education activities through various forms.

On April 26, 2001, the "Fourth Five-Year Plan for Legal Publicity and Education Among Citizens," forwarded by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, as prepared by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of Justice, stipulated: "December 4, the implementation day of China's current Constitution, shall be designated as the annual National Legal Publicity Day." The purpose is to further establish among cadres and the masses, through a series of publicity activities, the firm concepts that the Constitution is the fundamental law of the state, that all power of the state belongs to the people, that citizens' rights and obligations are reciprocal, the concept of ruling the country by law, and the concept of combining the rule of law with the rule of virtue.

The state will carry out constitutional publicity and education activities through various forms. The people of all ethnic groups throughout the country, all state organs and armed forces, all political parties and social organizations, and all enterprises and public institutions must take the Constitution as the fundamental code of conduct, and bear the duty to uphold the dignity of the Constitution and ensure its implementation.

I. Background of Establishment

In accordance with the requirements of the Party Central Committee's resolutions on carrying out legal publicity and education, over the past 18 years, the Constitution and laws and regulations closely related to the production and daily life of the people have been relatively widely disseminated. The legal awareness of the broad masses has generally increased, and their consciousness of abiding by the law and their ability to use the law to protect their own legitimate rights and interests have continuously strengthened. Leading cadres at all levels have shown markedly enhanced legal awareness, and their capacity to make decisions, exercise administration, and conduct management in accordance with the law has gradually improved. With the deepening of law popularization education, the work of governance by law has been carried out comprehensively, playing a positive and important role in advancing the process of ruling the country by law, maintaining social stability, and promoting economic development and comprehensive social progress. The "Fourth Five-Year Plan for Legal Publicity and Education Among Citizens," forwarded by the Central Committee of the CPC and the State Council, as prepared by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of Justice, determined that December 4, the implementation day of China's current Constitution, shall be designated as the annual National Legal Publicity Day.

II. Main Symbol

The background color of the emblem is red, and its design derives from the character "法" (law). The "氵" (water) component of "法" radiates three curved bands of light, traversing the entire circle, producing an effect of motion, dissemination, radiation, and expansion, symbolizing that legal knowledge and concepts of the rule of law are transmitted throughout society like rays of light. At the same time, it resembles a loudspeaker used for preaching legal knowledge. The "去" component of "法" is shaped like a golden key inserted into the three bands of light, symbolizing the opening of the door to legal knowledge through legal publicity and education, enlightening citizens' legal awareness and concepts of the rule of law.

I. Significance and Implications

The Constitution is the fundamental law of the country. It prescribes the country’s fundamental systems and fundamental tasks, serves as the bedrock for national unity, ethnic solidarity and social stability, provides the fundamental legal guarantee for citizens’ rights, underpins the unity of China’s socialist legal system, acts as the basic groundwork for law-based governance, and constitutes the overarching charter for governing the country and ensuring national security中国日报网.

The top priority in launching legal publicity and education campaigns among all citizens is to disseminate knowledge about the Constitution, enabling the general public to understand and master the Constitution, strengthen their constitutional awareness, and uphold the authority of the Constitution. Therefore, designating the implementation date of the current Constitution as National Legal Publicity Day fully embodies the Constitution’s pivotal standing in China’s political, economic and social life, reflects the core mandate of legal publicity and education work, and aligns with the requirements of Comrade Jiang Zemin’s important thought of Three Represents.

Since 2001, regions and government departments nationwide have taken December 4 National Legal Publicity Day as an opportunity. Every year from mid-November to mid-December, they have carried out a rich array of legal publicity and education activities through diverse channels: holding forums and painting and calligraphy exhibitions, hosting online seminars, issuing publicity materials, and launching special columns, special editions and themed programs via newspapers, radio, television, online platforms and other media. These initiatives have spread legal knowledge, fostered the spirit of the rule of law, and advanced social harmony.

December 4 National Legal Publicity Day has gradually evolved into an effective platform for Chinese citizens to learn about the law, understand legal provisions and safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, as well as an important window showcasing China’s achievements in advancing the rule of law and presenting a sound national image of law-based governance.