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April 8, 2016

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Civil servants to be tested on their knowledge of law in China

CHINA’S civil servants will have to sit exams to test their legal knowledge, according to an official document issued yesterday.

It said the national recruitment exam would put more weight on candidates’ knowledge of the law while incumbents must take the exams before being promoted, according to the document.

Issued by the Party’s organization and publicity departments, and the justice and human resources ministries, it says there will also be a “special examination” for those who seek jobs in law enforcement agencies.

The law will be an important performance criterion and a key step to promotion, according to the document. Leading officials, in both the Party and government departments, will undergo an annual review of their knowledge.

Since the 18th National Congress in 2012, the Party’s leadership has repeatedly instructed senior officials to lead by example in abiding by the law and studying the law, but some had not paid enough attention to the issue, and a few had knowingly broken the law, a Ministry of Justice official told reporters.

The guidelines stressed study of the Constitution, basic laws, laws closely related to social and economic development and people’s daily lives, and laws related to civil servants’ official duties, as well as Party rules.

While arranging law-themed lectures and forums on a regular basis, Party organizations should also hold study sessions pertaining to a specific field before reaching major decisions and keep a record of attendance and progress.

The document also highlights microblogs, WeChat and other social-networking services as learning platforms, and encourages organizers to arrange attendance at court hearings.

The law will become a compulsory training subject for officials in Party schools, governance academies and other training institutions, the document said.

The new move is aimed at enabling civil servants to “boost their abilities to deepen reforms, push forward development, resolve conflicts and safeguard stability on the track of the law,” the document said, adding that leading officials at all levels should set an example by obeying the law and doing things in accordance with the law.

The document also urges Party and government groups to verify the legality of major decisions, and establish a mechanism to punish officials for illegal decision making, abuse of power and dereliction of duty that have severe consequences.

The document highlights major decision-making in law enforcement, stressing that such decisions must be first evaluated and approved in accordance with the law. Those that hadn’t gone through this process would be invalid.

The document stipulates that governments at all levels should have advisers to provide legal opinion during major decision-making.

It also stresses transparency, urging government and Party organs to inform the public of their duty and jurisdictions as well as the legal basis, progress and results for official decisions and projects.


 

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