Directory_and_Chronicle_1925 — Page 485

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CHINA'S PERMANENT CONSTITUTION

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the delegates elected by the various professional organizations, but the delegates elected by the Provincial Assembly and the District Assemblies shall not necessarily be members of the Assemblies. The Election Law shall be determined by the Provincial Law.

Art. 127. The following stipulations are applicable in all Provinces:

(1) The Province shall have a Provincial Assembly which shall be a representative organ of a single-chamber system, and the members shall be directly elected.

(2) The Province shall have a Provincial Administrative Council (Sheng Wu Yuan) as Executive of the Provincial Self-government Ad- ministration, to be composed of from five to nine members (Sheng Wu Yuen), directly elected by the people of the Province, and their term of office shall be four years. Before it is possible to carry out direct election, an electoral college may be formed for the election according to the stipulations in the above article; but persons in military service shall not be elected until after they have been relieved of office for one year.

(3) In the Provincial Administrative Council there shall be a Chairman (Yuan Chang) to be elected by aud from among the members of the Council.

(4) Citizens of the Republic of China who have been residing in the Province for one year or more shall all be equal in the eyes of the law of the Province and fully enjoy all civil rights.

Art. 128.-The following stipulations are applicable in all Districts:

(1) The District shall have a District Assembly in which is vested the legislative power in connection with all self-governing affairs in the District.

(2) The District shall have a Magistrate (Hsien Chang) directly elected by the people of the District as executive, with the assistance of the District Council (Hsien Tsan Shih Hui), of the District Self-governing Administration. But this shall not be applicable before the completion of the independence of the judiciary and the lower grade self-govern- ment system.

(3) In the payment of the total amount of Provincial taxes the District shall have the right to make reservations, but not exceeding forty per cent. of the total amount.

(4) The Provincial Administration shall have no right to dispose of the

property and self-government funds of the District.

(5) In case of calamities, natural or otherwise, or on account of shortage of self-government funds, the District may apply to the Provincial Administration for, and with the approval of the Provincial Assembly may receive, subsidies from the Provincial Treasury.

(6) The District shall be under obligation to observe National Laws and

Provincial Laws.

Art. 129. The division and classification of Provincial and District taxes shall be discussed and decided upon by the Provincial Assembly.

Art. 130.-The Province shall not enforce special laws in one or a few Districts; but this does not include those concerning the common interest or detriment of the Province.

Art. 131. The District shall have full executive power in matters of self- government in the District; and, except concerning punishments and fines provided for in the Provincial Law, the Province shall not interfere.