Key practical points:
• Laws are enacted by the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee and prevail over lower regulations and rules.
• The State Council issues administrative regulations, and ministries and local governments issue lower rules within their powers.
• Certain matters (such as crimes and penalties, basic taxes, and restrictions on liberty) can only be set by a law from the legislature.
• In conflicts, the higher norm prevails over the lower, and the later norm over the earlier at the same level.
• Rules generally do not apply retroactively except in favour of individuals.
• This helps you tell whether a local regulation conflicts with a higher national law.
Legislation Law of China · Yalla China
中华人民共和国立法法 / Legislation Law of the PRC
Enacted: 2000-03-15 ✅ Effective: 2023-03-15
📝 Overview
This law sets how laws and regulations are made in China, who has legislative power at each level, and the hierarchy of legal norms. It helps you understand which rule prevails over another. Last revised in 2023.
This is general information only, not legal advice. For your specific case, consult a licensed lawyer.
📜 The law text / key provisions
💬 Practical reading
💬 This is a general reading/opinion for orientation — not the official legal text nor legal advice.
When you face a local rule that seems to conflict with a national law, remember that the higher law prevails. This law is a tool to understand who has power to issue a given rule and whether it is binding. This is general orientation, not legal advice.
📎 Official source
National People's Congress / npc.gov.cn
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026