Regional Ethnic Autonomous Organs
Regional ethnic autonomy means that under the unified state leadership, regional autonomy is practiced in areas where people of ethnic minorities live in concentrated communities; in these areas organs of self-government are established to exercise the power of autonomy.
The people's congresses and the people's governments are the organs of self-government of the autonomous regions, autonomous prefectures, and autonomous counties.
These organs exercise the functions and powers of local state organs as specified in the Constitution. At the same time, they exercise the power of autonomy within the limits of their authority as prescribed by the Constitution, the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy, and other laws and implement the laws and policies of the state in the context of local conditions.
These organs must safeguard unity of the country and ensure the observance and enforcement of the Constitution and the law in the local regions. The people's governments in the ethnic autonomous areas are all state administrative organs under the unified leadership of the State Council and are subject to the State Council.
According to the Constitution, all ethnic groups of the PRC are equal. The state protects the lawful rights and interests of all ethnic minorities and upholds and develops a relationship of equality, unity, mutual assistance, and harmony among all ethnic groups. Discrimination against and oppression of any ethnic group are prohibited; any act that undermines the unity of ethnic groups or provokes division among them is prohibited.
The state assists the ethnic minority areas in accelerating their economic and cultural development according to the characteristics and needs of the local ethnic minorities.
All ethnic autonomous areas are inseparable parts of the PRC.
All ethnic groups have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages and to preserve or reform their own traditions and customs.
民族區域自治機關
民族區域自治，即在國家的統一領導下，各少數民族聚居地方實行區域自治，設立自治機關，行使自治權。民族自治地方的自治機關是自治區、自治州、自治縣的人民代表大會和人民政府。民族自治地方的自治機關行使《中華人民共和國憲法》規定的地方國家機關的職權，同時依照憲法和民族區域自治法以及其他法律規定的權限行使自治權，根據本地方的實際情況貫徹執行國家的法律、政策。民族自治地方的自治機關必須維護國家的統一，保證憲法和法律在本地方的遵守和執行。各民族自治地方的人民政府都是國務院統一領導下的國家行政機關，都服從國務院。
《中華人民共和國憲法》規定，中華人民共和國各民族一律平等。國家保障各少數民族的合法的權利和利益，維護和發展各民族的平等團結互助和諧關系。禁止對任何民族的歧視和壓迫，禁止破壞民族團結和制造民族分裂的行為。國家根據各少數民族的特點和需要，幫助各少數民族地區加速經濟和文化的發展。各民族自治地方都是中華人民共和國不可分離的部分。各民族都有使用和發展自己的語言文字的自由，都有保持或者改革自己的風俗習慣的自由。
