Macau Basic Law
Encyclopedia
The Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China is the constitution
of Macau
, replacing the Estatuto Orgânico de Macau
, which was effective since 1976, on 20 December 1999.
In accordance with Article 31 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China
, Macau has special administrative region status, which provides constitutional guarantees for implementing the policy of "one country, two systems
" and the constitutional basis for enacting the Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region. The Macau Special Administrative Region is directly under the authority of the central government of China
in Beijing
, which controls the foreign affairs
and defense
of Macau but otherwise grants the region "a high degree of autonomy
." The Basic Law took force on 20 December 1999, and is to remain in effect for 50 years.
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
of Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
, replacing the Estatuto Orgânico de Macau
Estatuto Orgânico de Macau
The Estatuto Orgânico de Macau was an organic statute that provided for territorial government in Macau. Approved on February 17, 1976, the Portuguese legislation reclassified Macau as a "Chinese territory under Portuguese administration"...
, which was effective since 1976, on 20 December 1999.
In accordance with Article 31 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China
Constitution of the People's Republic of China
The Constitution of the People's Republic of China is the highest law within the People's Republic of China. The current version was adopted by the 5th National People's Congress on December 4, 1982 with further revisions in 1988, 1993, 1999, and 2004. Three previous state constitutions—those of...
, Macau has special administrative region status, which provides constitutional guarantees for implementing the policy of "one country, two systems
One country, two systems
"One country, two systems" is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping, then Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China , for the reunification of China during the early 1980s...
" and the constitutional basis for enacting the Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region. The Macau Special Administrative Region is directly under the authority of the central government of China
Government of the People's Republic of China
All power within the government of the People's Republic of China is divided among three bodies: the People's Republic of China, State Council, and the People's Liberation Army . This article is concerned with the formal structure of the state, its departments and their responsibilities...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, which controls the foreign affairs
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs is an American magazine and website on international relations and U.S. foreign policy published since 1922 by the Council on Foreign Relations six times annually...
and defense
Defense (military)
Defense has several uses in the sphere of military application.Personal defense implies measures taken by individual soldiers in protecting themselves whether by use of protective materials such as armor, or field construction of trenches or a bunker, or by using weapons that prevent the enemy...
of Macau but otherwise grants the region "a high degree of autonomy
Autonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
." The Basic Law took force on 20 December 1999, and is to remain in effect for 50 years.