1926

422
CHINA’S PERMANENT CONSTITUTION
Art. 12.—Citizens of the Republic of China shall have liberty to honour
Confucius and to profess any religion, on which no restriction shall be imposed
except in accordance with the law.
Art. 13.—Citizens of the Republic of China shall have an inviolable right to
the possession of .their property; and any expropriation necessitated by considera¬
tion of the public welfare shall be in accordance with the law.
Art. 14.—Tjiberties of the citizens of the Republic of China, other than those
stipulated in this Chapter, not being in contravention of the principle of Constitutional
government, shall be recognized.
Art. 15.—The People of the Republic of China shall have the right to institute
legal proceedings before a judicial court in accordance with the law.
Art. 16.—-Citizens of the Republic of China shall have the right of petitioning
Parliament and stating their grievances in accordance with the law.
Art. 17.—Citizens of the Republic of China shall have the right to vote and
to be elected in accordance with the law.
Art. 18.—Citizens of the Republic of China shall have the right of employ-
ment in public services in accordance with the law.
Art. 19.—Citizens of the Republic of China shall be liable to pay taxes in
acoordance with the law.
Art. 20.—Citizens of the Republic of China shall be liable to serve in the Army
in accordance with the law.
Art. 21.—Citizens of the Republic of China shall be obliged to receive ;
elementary education.
Chapter V.—National Powers
Art. 22.—Of the National Powers of the Republic of China those belonging
to the Nation shall be exercised in accordance with the stipulations in this Con-
stitution and those belonging to the localities shall be exercised in accordance with 1
this Constitution and with the stipulations of the various laws for provincial self-
government.
Art. 23.—The Nation shall conduct and execute all matters concerned with
(1) International Relations.
(2) National Defence.
(3) Nationality Law.
(4) Criminal, Civil and Commercial Law.
(5) Prison System.
(6) Measures of length, quantity and weight.
(7) Currency and National Banks.
(8) Customs duty, salt tax, revenue stamp tax, tobacco and wine taxes and
other taxes on articles of luxury as well as all other duties and taxes
throughout the country, the rates of which shall be unified.
(9) Post, Telegraphs and Aviation.
(10) National Railways and Roads.
(11) National Properties.
(12) National Debts.
(13) Monopoly and Special Licences.
114) Examination, employment, investigation and protection of the civil
officials and military officers of the country.
(15) All other matters shall belong to the nation in accordance with this \
Constitution.