China
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- communist state
- CONSTITUTION
- December 4, 1982, amended several times, last in 2004.
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on civil law, of Soviet derivation and derived from the legal principles of the continental civil code
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- unicameral, National People's Congress (Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme People's Court, judges appointed by the National People's Congress; local people's courts and special people's courts
RELIGIONS
Buddhists 18.2%, Christians 5.1%, Muslims 1.8%, others 0.7%, unspecified 52.2%
From the country
OCTOBER 15, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: SIX MORE SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER CLASHES IN XINJIANG
China sentenced six more people to death over bloody ethnic unrest in its far-western Xinjiang region in July, bringing the total to 12.
- OCTOBER 13, 2009United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
CHINA REVIEWS BRITON'S DEATH SENTENCE
Beijing confirmed the Supreme People’s Court was reviewing the death sentence handed down in Xinjiang to a British citizen for drug trafficking. Akmal Shaikh, 53, was found carrying 4kg of heroin in a suitcase at Urumqi airport on September 12, 2007.
OCTOBER 13, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: MAN EXECUTED FOR TRAFFICKING 48 KG OF DRUGS
Lu Fuguo was executed for drug trafficking in south China's Guangdong Province, the Dongguan Municipal
OCTOBER 12, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: SIX GET DEATH PENALTY ON XINJIANG RIOTS
a court in western China's Xinjiang region sentenced six people to death in the first trials over July riots that left nearly 200 people dead, state-run television reported.
- OCTOBER 11, 2009United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
BRITISH MAN FACING DEATH BY FIRING SQUAD IN CHINA AFTER 'LOSING SECOND APPEAL'
a British man believed to suffering from mental illness lost a second appeal against a drug trafficking conviction in China.
- OCTOBER 10, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
DEATH SENTENCE IN CHINA FACTORY BRAWL
a Huandong Chinese court sentenced to death a man from the Han Chinese majority ethnic group for his role in a race brawl that sparked July's mass riots in China’s Xinjiang region.
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: OFFICIAL SENTENCED TO DEATH AFTER SWINDLES
an official in central China's Hunan Province was sentenced to death by the Chenzhou Intermediate People's Court for embezzling more than 100 million yuan.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCES FOR 10
the higher people's court in north China's Hebei Province upheld a ruling sentencing 10 members in a
SEPTEMBER 15, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: FOUR DRUG MAKERS EXECUTED
China executed four men for drug production, the Supreme People's Court (SPC) said.
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: HENAN'S FIRST DRUNK-DRIVING DEATH SENTENCE HANDED OUT
a drunk driver who killed eight and injured three in two fatal accidents in Huaxian, in China’s Henan province, was sentenced to death by the People's court of Huaxian for jeopardising public safety.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: DRUNK DRIVERS FACE MAXIMUM DEATH SENTENCE
drunk drivers caught in Shanghai will face a minimum 15 days in detention and a maximum death penalty, the Shanghai Public Security Bureau announced.
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA REVERSES DEATH PENALTY IN DRUNK DRIVING CASE
the Sichuan Provincial Higher People's Appeals Court commuted the death penalty in a drunk driving case to life imprisonment, China Central Television reported