依宪治国

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。任何组织或者个人，都不得有超越宪法和法律的特权。一切违反宪法和法律的行为，都必须予以追究。

依法治国首先要依宪治国，依法执政首先要依宪执政。全面贯彻实施宪法，是建设社会主义法治国家的首要任务和基础性工作。中国共产党领导人民坚定不移贯彻实施宪法，恪守宪法原则、弘扬宪法精神、履行宪法使命。

中国的现行宪法是在1954年宪法的基础上，根据中共十一届三中全会确定的路线方针政策，总结新中国成立以来建设社会主义的长期实践经验，经过全民讨论、全面修改，于1982年12月4日由五届全国人大五次会议通过并公布施行的。为了适应中国经济和社会的发展变化，中国全国人大分别于1988年4月、1993年3月、1999年3月、2004年3月对这部宪法进行了修改、完善。

Constitution-based governance

China's Constitution is the country's fundamental law and the overriding charter for governance. It enjoys supreme legal status and is the most authoritative and efficacious law in the country. It is fundamental, all-inclusive, stable and everlasting. No organization or individual has the prerogative to overstep the Constitution and laws. All violations of the Constitution and laws shall be held accountable.

To establish the rule of law it is imperative to seek Constitution-based governance first, and to administer governance in accordance with the law it is necessary to do so in accordance with the Constitution first. Thoroughly implementing the Constitution is the primary task and fundamental work for making China into a socialist law-based country. The CPC leads the people in resolutely implementing the Constitution, abiding by its principles, promoting its guidelines and accomplishing the mission it has defined.

China's current Constitution, revised on the 1954 version was adopted and promulgated for implementation at the Fifth Session of the Fifth NPC on December 4, 1982. Comprehensive amendments were made following discussions by the people on the basis of the line, principles and policies established at the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee and a review of long years of practical experience the People's Republic of China had gained in building socialism. In response to China's economic and social development and progress, the NPC revised and improved the Constitution in April 1988, March 1993, March 1999 and March 2004.