School of Law

City University of Hong Kong

Legal System of the Peoples Republic of China

Week 1 Introduction
Objectives
To know about the context of the legal system of PRC.
To understand the basic features of the legal system of PRC, especially in
comparison with the common law system.
To know about how to find the useful materials of Chinese law.
To understand the basic conception of the rule of law in the context of China

Readings:
Albert Chen, An Introduction to the Legal System of the Peoples Republic of
China, (4th ed.), (2011), LexisNexis, pp 1-5.
Randall Peerenboom, Chinas Long March toward Rule of Law, (2002),
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp 1-12.

Recommended Readings:
Mark Tushnet, Authoritarian Constitutionalism, Cornell Law Review, Vol.100,
No.2, 2015, pp 391-462.

Tutorial Questions
1. What is a legal system? In terms of comparative law, which legal family does
the legal system of PRC belong to? Why?
2. How do you understand the concept of rule of law? And, how do you
understand this conception in the context of PRC?
3. To what extent do you agree or disagree with Wu Bangguos claim that socialist
legal system has taken shape in China?
(http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010npc/2010-03/09/content_9563257.htm)
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