Leading by example

Analysts said the emphasis placed by China's top leader in upholding the Constitution first became evident in 2012, when he was elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

Xi delivered his first public address after taking office as Party leader on Dec 4, 2012, at a grand meeting marking the 30th anniversary of China's current Constitution being enacted in Beijing.

The president published an article in December last year as the nation marked the 40 anniversary of the Constitution being enacted.

In the article, Xi wrote, "The fundamental purpose for the Party to lead the people in making and exercising the Constitution is to safeguard the interests of the people, reflect their wishes, protect their interests and enhance their well-being."

Highlighting the position of the Constitution as China's fundamental law, Xi reaffirmed the need to ensure that the Constitution enjoys supreme legal status, legal authority and legal validity in the country.

Swearing allegiance to the Constitution upon assuming office is among key measures taken by the nation to ensure the law is upheld.

In 2015, the NPC Standing Committee, the nation's top legislature, decided that all those in public office must swear an oath to the Constitution upon formally taking up their positions, starting the following year.

According to this decision, the oath of office covers those elected or appointed by the NPC and its Standing Committee, the State Council, the Central Military Commission, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate and other central government organs, as well as equivalent local government organs at or above county level.

The decision was revised by the top legislature in February 2018 to expand the oath-taking requirement to members of the newly created National Supervisory Commission. The legislature also required the national anthem to be played at the oath taking ceremony.

The amendment to the Constitution in 2018 also required all state functionaries to take a public oath of allegiance to the Constitution upon assuming office.