IN A HISTORICAL, AND HISTORIC, FIRST, JUDICIAL workers across the Chinese mainland are swearing allegiance to the Constitution in celebration of the country's first Constitution Day.

Given the prevalent ignorance of and disregard for the Constitution public officials have displayed, it is necessary to have all State functionaries take an oath to the fundamental law.

Like any other promise they have made, the ultimate test will be whether or not the new ritual is taken seriously. Unless it is, there will be endless troubles ahead.