Regional Ethnic Autonomous Organs
Regional ethnic autonomy means that under the unified state leadership, regional autonomy is practiced in areas where people of ethnic minorities live in concentrated communities; in these areas organs of self-government are established to exercise the power of autonomy.
The people's congresses and the people's governments are the organs of self-government of the autonomous regions, autonomous prefectures, and autonomous counties.
These organs exercise the functions and powers of local state organs as specified in the Constitution. At the same time, they exercise the power of autonomy within the limits of their authority as prescribed by the Constitution, the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy, and other laws and implement the laws and policies of the state in the context of local conditions.
These organs must safeguard unity of the country and ensure the observance and enforcement of the Constitution and the law in the local regions. The people's governments in the ethnic autonomous areas are all state administrative organs under the unified leadership of the State Council and are subject to the State Council.
According to the Constitution, all ethnic groups of the PRC are equal. The state protects the lawful rights and interests of all ethnic minorities and upholds and develops a relationship of equality, unity, mutual assistance, and harmony among all ethnic groups. Discrimination against and oppression of any ethnic group are prohibited; any act that undermines the unity of ethnic groups or provokes division among them is prohibited.
The state assists the ethnic minority areas in accelerating their economic and cultural development according to the characteristics and needs of the local ethnic minorities.
All ethnic autonomous areas are inseparable parts of the PRC.
All ethnic groups have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages and to preserve or reform their own traditions and customs.
民族区域自治机关
民族区域自治，即在国家的统一领导下，各少数民族聚居地方实行区域自治，设立自治机关，行使自治权。民族自治地方的自治机关是自治区、自治州、自治县的人民代表大会和人民政府。民族自治地方的自治机关行使《中华人民共和国宪法》规定的地方国家机关的职权，同时依照宪法和民族区域自治法以及其他法律规定的权限行使自治权，根据本地方的实际情况贯彻执行国家的法律、政策。民族自治地方的自治机关必须维护国家的统一，保证宪法和法律在本地方的遵守和执行。各民族自治地方的人民政府都是国务院统一领导下的国家行政机关，都服从国务院。
《中华人民共和国宪法》规定，中华人民共和国各民族一律平等。国家保障各少数民族的合法的权利和利益，维护和发展各民族的平等团结互助和谐关系。禁止对任何民族的歧视和压迫，禁止破坏民族团结和制造民族分裂的行为。国家根据各少数民族的特点和需要，帮助各少数民族地区加速经济和文化的发展。各民族自治地方都是中华人民共和国不可分离的部分。各民族都有使用和发展自己的语言文字的自由，都有保持或者改革自己的风俗习惯的自由。
