Chapter XVIII: Appendix: I. Government Documents

_A._ THE GOVERNMENT DRAFT OF THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTION[1]

[Footnote 1: _T'ien Hsia Monthly_, v. X, No. 3 (May 1940), p.
493-506. The transliterations have not been altered. _Yüan_ therefore
appears as "Yuan."]

Released April 30, 1937, this differs from the celebrated
Double Five Draft (_q.v._ in Text) by the omission of an
article providing that the first Kuo-min Ta-hui should
exercise full power, and not be confined to the preparation
of a constitution. This Draft represents the official
viewpoint and was prepared by the Legislative _Yüan_ with
the help and criticism of private persons; accordingly, it
is the outstanding draft constitution.

By virtue of the mandate received from the whole body of citizens and in accordance with the bequeathed teachings of Dr. Sun, Founder of the Republic of China, the People's Congress of the Republic of China hereby ordains and enacts this Constitution and causes it to be promulgated throughout the land for faithful and perpetual observance by all.