Principles of the Constitution explained

The Principles of the Constitution of 1908, also known as the Outline of Imperial Constitution^[2] or the Outline of the Constitution Compiled by Imperial Order,^[3] was an attempt by the Qing dynasty of China to establish a constitutional monarchy at the beginning of the 20th century. It established a constitutional monarchy and confirmed some basic rights of citizens, while imposing some limitations on the power of the monarch.^[4]

Since this outline of the constitution was not democratically formulated, but was promulgated in the name of the Guangxu Emperor by the Empress Dowager Cixi, it was called the "Outline of Imperial Constitution".^[5]

Main contents

Outline of Imperial Constitution was based on the "Constitution of the Empire of Japan", and consists of 23 articles, including the body text "Powers of the Monarch" (君上大权) and the appendix "Rights and Duties of Subjects" (臣民权利义务).^[6]

Impact and evaluation

Although the Outline of Imperial Constitution was modelled on the Japanese Meiji Constitution,^[7] it is the first constitutional document in Chinese history.^[8]

See also

• Late Qing reforms
• Preparative Constitutionalism
• Nineteen Articles

Further reading

• Book: Nathan, Andrew J. . Andrew J. Nathan . 1985 . Chinese Democracy . Knopf . New York . 039451386X . registration .
• Book: Fincher, John H. . 1981 . Chinese Democracy the Self-Government Movement in Local, Provincial, and National Politics, 1905-1914 . St. Martin's . New York, NY . 0312133847 .
• Book: Meienberger, Norbert . 1980 . The Emergence of Constitutional Government in China (1905-1908): The Concept Sanctioned by the Empress Dowager Tzʻu-Hsi . P. Lang . Bern [etc.] . 3261046201 .
• Book: Xiao-Planes, Xiaohong . Seven, Eight . 227–297 . The First Democratic Experiment in China (1908–1914): Chinese Tradition and Local Elite Practices; Constitutions and Constitutionalism: Trying to Build a New Political Order (1908–1949) . Mireille . Delmas-Marty . Pierre-Etienne . Will . China, Democracy, and Law: A Historical and Contemporary Approach . Leiden, South Holland . Brill . 2012 . none . Uploaded by the author at ResearchGate: Here

External links

• Full text of Outline of Imperial Constitution (in Chinese).

Notes and References

1. Book: Yong'an Ren. Xianyang Lu. A New Study on the Judicial Administrative System with Chinese Characteristics. 13 May 2020. Springer Nature. 9789811541827. 22–.
2. Web site: Cultural Interpretation on the Outline of Imperial Constitution. Jiang Mei. 2005-01-05. CNKI.
3. Book: Jacques deLisle. Avery Goldstein. Avery Goldstein. Guobin Yang. The Internet, Social Media, and a Changing China. 5 April 2016. University of Pennsylvania Press. 978-0-8122-2351-4. 238–.
4. Book: Journal of Capital Normal University. 1998. Capital Normal University.
5. Book: Xu Chongde. History of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China. 2003. Fujian People's Publishing House. 978-7-211-04326-2.
6. Book: Xia Xinhua. The History of Constitutionalism in Modern China. 2004. China University of Political Science and Law Press. 978-7-5620-2576-4.
7. Book: He Qinhua. Zhang Jinde. Deng Jihao. History of the Procuratorial System. 2009. China Procuratorial Press. 978-7-5102-0133-2.
8. Book: China Constitutional Development Research Report, 1982-2002. 2004. Law Press. 978-7-5036-4691-1.