Chapter I    General Provisions

Article 1 This Law is enacted, in accordance with the Constitution, for the purpose of bringing about a coordinated development between population on the one side and the economy, society, resources and environment on the other, promoting family planning, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of citizens, enhancing happiness of families, and contributing to prosperity of the nation and progress of the society.

Article 2 China being a populous country, family planning is a fundamental State policy.

The State adopts a comprehensive measure to control the size and raise the general quality of the population.

The State relies on publicity and education, advances in science and technology, multi-purpose services and the establishment and improvement of the reward and social security systems in carrying out the population and family planning programs.

Article 3 The population and family planning programs shall be combined with the efforts to offer more opportunities for women to receive education and get employed, improve their health and elevate their status.

Article 4 When promoting family planning, the people's governments at all levels and their staff members shall perform their administrative duties strictly in accordance with law, and enforce the law in a civil manner, and they may not infringe upon legitimate rights and interests of citizens.

Lawful performance of the official duties by the administrative departments for family planning and their staff members shall be protected by law.

Article 5 The State Council shall exercise leadership over the population and family planning programs throughout the country. Local people's governments at all levels shall exercise leadership over the population and family planning programs within their own administrative regions.

Article 6 The administrative department for family planning under the State Council shall be in charge of the family planning program and the population program related to family planning nationwide.

Family planning administration departments of the local people's governments at or above the county level shall be in charge of the family planning program and the population program related to family planning within their own administrative regions.

The other administrative departments of the local people's governments at or above the county level shall be in charge of the relevant aspects of the population and family planning programs within the limits of their duties.

Article 7 Public organizations such as Trade Unions, Communist Youth Leagues, Women's Federations, and Family Planning Associations, as well as enterprises, institutions, and individual citizens shall assist the people's governments in carrying out the population and family planning programs.

Article 8 The State gives rewards to organizations and individuals that have scored outstanding achievements in the population program and family planning.