First Constitution of the People's Republic of China
The First National People's Congress adopted China's first formal constitution, establishing the NPC as the highest organ of state power and enshrining a Soviet-style government framework.
Drafting and Adoption
The 1954 Constitution was drafted by a committee chaired by Mao Zedong and was modeled closely on the 1936 Soviet Constitution. A nationwide "discussion" campaign claimed to involve 150 million people, though meaningful public deliberation was limited. The First National People's Congress adopted the document on September 20, 1954, with the NPC formally designated as the highest organ of state power.
Key Provisions
The constitution enshrined the leading role of the Communist Party, established a unicameral NPC, and created the office of the Chairman of the People's Republic — to which Mao Zedong was elected. It guaranteed fundamental rights including freedom of speech, press, assembly, and religion, though these guarantees were never effectively enforced. A socialist economic system was defined as the goal of the state.
Subsequent Constitutions
The 1954 Constitution was effectively suspended during the Cultural Revolution. Three subsequent constitutions followed — in 1975, 1978, and 1982. The 1982 Constitution, still in force today (with multiple amendments including the 2018 removal of presidential term limits), restored many provisions of the 1954 document. China's constitutional history reflects the tension between formal institutional structures and the primacy of Party authority.