1March, 1996 to1March, 1999 was the formal stage when the general plan of governing the country according to law was put forward. At present, "ruling the country according to law" is a fundamental change in the way of governing the country, which is not only determined in the party's political report, but also enshrined in the constitution.
1On February 8, 1996, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held another lecture on legal knowledge. Wang Jiafu, a researcher at the Institute of Law of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, gave a lecture on "Theoretical and Practical Issues of Governing the Country by Law and Building a Socialist Country with Legal System".
1In March 1996, the Ninth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Outline of 20 10 Long-term Goals adopted by the Fourth Session of the Eighth National People's Congress clearly stipulated: "Governing the country according to law and building a socialist country ruled by law. Strengthen legislation, judicature, law enforcement and law popularization. Adhere to the close integration of reform and development with legal construction, and continue to formulate and implement laws and regulations that are compatible with economic and social development.
1In March 1996, the Ninth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Outline of 20 10 Long-term Goals adopted by the Fourth Session of the Eighth National People's Congress clearly stipulated: "Governing the country according to law and building a socialist country ruled by law. Strengthen legislation, judicature, law enforcement and law popularization. Adhere to the close integration of reform and development with legal construction, and continue to formulate and implement laws and regulations that are compatible with economic and social development.
1In September 1997, the 15th National Congress of communist party, China was successfully held. The report of the meeting clearly expounded the basic line and basic program of the primary stage of socialism, and put forward that "building socialist politics with China characteristics means governing the country according to law, and developing socialist democratic politics under the leadership of governing the country according to law and on the basis that the people are the masters of the country."
1In March, 1999, the constitutional amendment adopted by the Second Session of the Ninth National People's Congress added a paragraph as the first paragraph in Article 5 of the Constitution, stipulating: "People's Republic of China (PRC) will govern the country according to law and build a socialist country ruled by law."
Comrade Tian Jiyun pointed out in the explanation of the Amendment to the Constitution of People's Republic of China (PRC) (Draft): "It is of great significance to write' ruling the country according to law and building a socialist country ruled by law' into the Constitution for adhering to the basic strategy of ruling the country according to law, constantly improving the socialist legal system, developing socialist democratic politics and promoting economic system reform and economic construction."
At this point, the basic strategy of "ruling the country according to law" was formally enshrined in the Constitution, and the transformation from the party's proposition to the national will was completed. The establishment of the constitutional status of the basic strategy of governing the country according to law has further become the fundamental criterion that all organizations and individuals must follow.