Public sharing ideas also enhances legal awareness

Public participation in the legislative process is not only an opportunity for people to share their ideas, it also enhances legal awareness, according to a senior legislator from Xiangyang, Hubei province.

"Collecting opinions on legislation from grassroots entities is a two-way process, as people have to understand draft laws first before they can provide suggestions, so there is a journey of learning," said He Aiqun, director of the legislative affairs commission of the standing committee of the Xiangyang people's congress, the city's legislature.

Six years ago, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, designated Xiangyang's legislature as a "grassroots legislation opinion collection station" to solicit more suggestions on legislative matters.

He highlighted the important role of the station, saying it helps legislators understand people's concerns and also gives the public a chance to learn about the legislative process.

He added the process has increased people's legal awareness and advanced law-based governance.

Yan Yongjun, a member of a social organization in Xiangyang that focuses on cultural conservation, has experienced the growth in awareness as a collector of opinions on legislation.

He said people who attended cultural or historical activities he organized often asked him questions about the suggestions he gathered.

"The attendees knew little about legislative affairs, and some even thought a law was just made at a meeting," Yan said.

"They were surprised after I told them a draft should be generally reviewed three times before it becomes a law, and they were excited after they learned their suggestions might be accepted by legislators."

Yan said he also had little knowledge about legislation at first, adding that he learned more after his organization was designated as a sub-collection site about four years ago by the Xiangyang people's congress standing committee for collecting opinions on legislation.

"I was educated and encouraged while learning about draft laws as I read legislators' increasingly greater efforts in promoting cultural and historical protection," he said.

"I shared it with participants in my activities. It was a study on the rule of law for us."

Yan said he is planning to use social media to introduce legislative matters and the steps lawmakers take when drafting laws to help more people understand legislation and enhance awareness of the rule of law.