1982 Constitution
The Constitution of the People's Republic of China (1982), or the 1982 Constitution, is the fourth constitution of the People's Republic of China, adopted and enacted by the Fifth National People's Congress at its fifth session on December 4, 1982. It is based on the 1954 Constitution. Outdated provisions in the 1978 Constitution were replaced or changed. New provisions were added to reflect the imperative for reform and opening up and socialist modernization.
The 1982 Constitution restores the original wording "the people's democratic dictatorship" to replace "the dictatorship of the proletariat" as the form of government for China. Intellectuals are now included along with workers and farmers as the three major social forces. It provides for the reestablishment of the post of the President, election of the Chairman of the Central Military Commission by the National People's Congress, and the overall responsibility of the Premier over the functions of the State Council. Life-long positions are abolished and term limits instituted on the state leadership, including the National People's Congress and the State Council, so that top officials cannot serve more than two terms. The inviolable human dignity of citizens is acknowledged in a new provision, as is private ownership along with state ownership and collective ownership as indispensable components of the economy. The need to protect legitimate rights and interests of private businesses is affirmed.
The unveiling of the 1982 Constitution paved the way and provided a framework for improving our legal system in an era of reform. It committed us to enhancing the rule of law and protecting human rights, and was of great significance for building a socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics.
In the ensuing three decades, the constitution has been revised five times in response to new realities, in 1988, 1993, 1999, 2004 and 2018. The latest amendment was adopted by the 13th National People's Congress in 2018. This new amendment represents a solid step forward in promoting the rule of law in a new era. It responds to the needs of our cause and the wishes of the people, and enhances the role of the constitution in developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.
八二宪法
《中华人民共和国宪法》（1982年），简称“八二宪法”，是中华人民共和国的第四部宪法，由中华人民共和国第五届全国人民代表大会第五次会议1982年12月4日正式通过并颁布。这部宪法以1954年宪法为基础，纠正1978年宪法中存在的缺点，增加了适应改革开放和社会主义现代化建设的新规定。
八二宪法主要内容包括：将国家性质由“无产阶级专政”恢复为“人民民主专政”；将知识分子与工人、农民并列为三支基本的社会力量；恢复设立国家主席；中央军委主席改由全国人大选举；国务院实行总理负责制；规定国家、全国人大、国务院领导人连续任职不得超过两届，取消了领导职务的终身制；新增“公民的人格尊严不受侵犯”的条文；承认国营、集体、个体三种经济都不可缺少,申明国家保护个体经济的合法权益等。
“八二宪法”正式开启改革时代法制建设的大幕，设定法制建设的合法性基础和边界，承诺对法治国家与人权保护的追求。“八二宪法”的实行，对建设中国特色社会主义法律体系和制度体系具有十分重要的意义。
根据社会发展的需要，在此后的30多年时间里，“八二宪法”历经1988年、1993年、1999年、2004年、2018年五次修订。最新一次修订是2018年第十三届全国人大通过第五次修宪修正案。此次宪法修改是新时代推进全面依法治国的坚实一步，符合事业发展需要，顺应人民意愿，有助于更好发挥宪法在新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义中的重大作用。