INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS,ACADEMIC DEBATES AND LEGAL PRACTICES ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW IN CHINA： 2000--2013

A special system of constitutional review, namely National People＇s Congress Review Model （the NPC Review Model） has been established since the 1982 Constitution. However, this system was criticized for its inactivity and has never been actually activated. After 2000, there are lots of efforts try to improve the system of constitutional review of China, the results of the Qi Yuling case （2001） and the Luoyang seed case （2003） demonstrated that the U.S.-style of constitutional review is not and will not be accepted by the political system of China, while the results of the Sun Zhigang case （2003） and the Tang Fuzhen case （2009） proved that the existing NPC Review model cannot work very well if political leaders refuse to reform it. However, the experiences of the New Model of Parliamentary Sovereignty which was developed from Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canberra （the Australian Capital Territory）, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China after 1980s, showed that a third way to protect human rights in a liberal democracy and to coordinate the relationship between legislature and court in a system of constitutional review. I believe the third way provides a good case for China to reform the existing constitutional review system without abandon its cherished tradition of the system of people ＇s congress.     

INSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES TO CHINA＇S INNOVATIVE CAPACITY BUILDING

After dynamic economic growth for more than 30 years, China has been increasingly pressured with the unsustainability of its extensive development model. Despite the remarkable economic growth and the party-state promotion, China is facing barriers for its economic upgrading with scientific and institutional innovation. In recent years, a series of policies and measures have been taken by the Party-State to promote country＇s innovative reorientation. However, implementation of these measures in practice is facing many institutional difficulties, which closely relate to the necessary political reform in order to liberalize people＇s creativity and entrepreneurship. The article will examine three major institutional challenges in this regard from legal perspective.＂ freedom of speech, a level playing field for free market competition, and research integrity. The author argues that the Party-State＇s support and promotion will be insufficient to build up a society with innovative capacity when the Party-State regime itself becomes an obstacle to such development. Success of China＇s innovative reorientation to a large extent depends on its political and institutional reform as well as a fair and equal competitive market system.     

DATA ANALYSIS OF PROFESSIONALIZATION OF LEGAL WORKERS IN CHINA

Since the reform and opening up, the legal profession in China has changed dramatically. In terms of both quantity and quality, the legal profession has stepped into a new phase. A tendency towards widespread litigation and more professionals.＂ judges, lawyers and law students, can be clearly evidenced. Along with the development of the legal profession, other types of legal workers including business arbitrators, grassroots paralegal service workers （grassroots paralegals）, and mediators have experienced great changes. To a certain extent, they have become more marginalized than before. The development of the legal profession is extremely unbalanced. Whether in terms of the number of lawyers or the income generated by lawyers, the inter-provincial gap in China is huge. The development of the legal profession also brings out the issue of judicial corruption. From the number of letters and visits related to lawsuits and the National People＇s Congress deputies ＇votes on the reports of the Supreme People＇s Court and the Supreme People＇s Procuratorate, the level of legal corruption can be noted. This＂ problem has become a crucial challenge to the reputation of the legal profession and the judicial creditability of the country. The same amount of attention should be paid to judicial corruption as to the quality of legal services.     

On the social basis and legislative propositions of establishing non-marital cohabitation law of the PRC

Non-marital cohabitation is one kind of the ＂family＂ lifestyle which people independently choose. A harmonious society is that of sustainable development society which treats people as its center, and objectively, it requires respecting for people＇s right to choose their lifestyles independently. However, the social problems arising from non-marital cohabitation shouldn＇t be neglected. The laws should recognize the concerned parties＇ freedom to freely choose the lifestyle of non-marital cohabitation and also prevent such social problems which it possibly causes. The authors propose that the special legal system of non-marital cohabitation should be established, for the purpose of promptly preventing and solving the disputes which triggered by non-marital cohabitation, protecting the rights and interests of the concerned parties and their children, and hence promoting the construction of the harmonious society in China.     

LEGAL EDUCATION IN CHINA： ACHIEVEMENTS,PROBLEMS AND THE FUTURE （1949-2013）

China＇s legal education had been experiencing a rather tough way of growing up after founding of PRC and did has achieved some achievements in the early days, but the following destruction period of nearly 20 years almost ruined all of them. Since the reform and opening up, China＇s legal education had been rapidly recovering and developing, there had been an unprecedented thriving scene. After constantly summing up experience, reforming and adjustment, China＇s legal education gradually stepped into independent and scientific development mode. But with the same time, behind the prosperity scene, China＇s legal education is problematic both in quantity and in quality. In quantity, the biggest problem of china＇s legal education is its imbalanced development, lies both in regional distribution and in their charging authorities. In quality, there are four serious problems which affect its healthy development： lack of professional education idea; lack of elite education idea; lack of legal ethics education and lack of professional skill education. In the future, China＇s legal education should put more efforts on resolving these problems, that is to say, more efforts should be put on the quantitative balance. Meanwhile, concerning its quality, measures will have to be taken for bringing it back to the essential attributes of legal education, only by so doing can China＇s legal education be incorporated into the mainstream of global legal education culture     

CONTENTS

This essay applies Polanyi＇s theory of ＂double movements＂, with an emphasis on mutual transformation between state and society, to analyze China＇s staterebuilding since the economic reform and challenges it faces in the future. This paper argues that since the economic reform and before the recent turn of state governance, state-rebuilding in China has been driven by one single movement： marketization. However, since entering the 21 st century, state-rebuilding has to be undertaken in the tension between a double movement of marketization and self-protection of society which move in two different directions. To respond such a challenge, China must restructure the relationships among state, market, and society.     

SHARIAH GOVERNANCE IN ISLAMIC FINANCIAL INSTITUTION： AN APPRAISAL

With the fast and huge growth and development of Islamic financial institutions, after only four decades, their operation is in the need of continuous improvement and effort of enhancement. Islamic financial system is a combination of innovation and tradition, of ancient values and a vibrant forward-looking design, that says much about the current state of confidence around the world and about the state of the financial services industry, and its potential to contribute not only to the Islamic, but to the non-Islamic world. The base line for any discussion of Islamic financial services is their obvious commercial success. People want them. It is true that Islamic finance is still small compared with the whole global financial system, but the sector is growing fast, as it is illustrated by the fact that total assets in Islamic banks in the world increased by an average of 24% a year. Nor is the market restricted to the Islamic world. Freddie Mac, the US mortgage lending corporation, has been offering mortgage backed- securities as a financing option to the Muslim community in the United States. In London, Europe＇s first stand-alone Islamic bank opened its doors for business in September 2005. Before that, one of the UK＇s biggest retail banks had announced the launch of a Shariah compatible account, claiming that it would make Islamic banking ＂mainstream ＂.     

Imagining the law and the constitution of societal order in Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker＇s 1965 ＂Crime and the Great Society＂ address

Legal scholar James Boyd White has challenged both lawyers and rhetoricians to imagine the law as an enterprise of language. In contending that members of the legal profession should see law as an activity of speech and imagination occurring in a social world, he has urged lawyers to view the legal profession as an interaction of authoritative texts and as a process of legal thought and argument instead of thinking of law as a technical system of regulations and applying its rules in a mechanical way. By asking members of the legal professional to consider law as rhetoric, White has encouraged them to recognize the socially constitutive nature of language, which runs contrary to a perspective of law as machine or, rather, the law as only a mechanistic system of rules and regulations. His ideas have inspired the ＂law and literature＂ movement, which has motivated other scholars to analyze the texts of judicial opinions, for example, according to White＇s theories. However, this essay takes White＇s concept of imagining the law and applies it public address and, specifically, to the 1965 ＂Crime and the Great Society＂ speech given by former Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker. Chief Parker＇s address reveals a vision for the City of Los Angeles in which Parker, himself, asks his audience of citizens and civic leaders to share for advancing a specific agenda for law enforcement＇s role in society.     

THE EVOLUTION OF POLICY AND LAW FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA

This article examines the evolution of politics and laws related to sustainable development in China. Sustainable development has been positioned as an economic development strategy many years ago. However, in earlier times, it bore a heavy tint of national strategy, followed by a kind of soft sustainable development with a technological orientation. The recent decade has seen China on track for strong sustainable development. At the present, China is around the turning point of the ＂Environmental Kuznets Curve,＂ where both domestic and international multiple pressures are forcing the whole country to make new choices for its dimension of sustainable development strategy. Although sustainable development has been recognized by the legal field of environmental resources, it is still not yet fully integrated into other areas of law. The period from weak to strong sustainable transition is accompanied by another transition, more significant in China, from industrial civilization to ecological civilization. Compared to weak sustainable development, the complex and contradictory character of strength has brought more challenges. Sustainable development of dualism and compromise, which corresponds with the actual needs in China, is an important theoretical basis and practical standards for implementing the scientific view of development. Finally, it concludes by noting that ecological civilization is attempting to solve the problems from a more broad perspective, and to pay more attention to public participation, at the same time to cover the shortage of environmental legislation.     

EXECUTIVE BRANCH REFORMS IN THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA

The Latvian government is being praised for successful national recovery from the severe economic crisis. However, the praise is followed by accusations that it is achieved at the cost of socially vulnerable populations who are still unable to recover from the economic crisis or simply decided to leave the country. Was the cost of victory too high？ The question still remains to be answered,＂ however it highlights the fact that such a problem exists. Problems and the ability or inability to resolve them are especially brought to the fore during such crisis situations and it is clear that the Latvian government model is not effective enough. The low level of public confidence level towards the Saeima and the government, frictions between coalition partners, lack of responsibiBty, unprofessionalism - are just some of the problems that characterise it. Is an executive branch reform necessary or just some improvements？ Is legal regulation or legal nihilism to blame？ How to make the executive branch stronger and more responsible？ These questions have been addressed during recent years within the context of administrative reforms as the process of forming the government and the executive branch plays a very big or deciding role in national development. The existing system has run its course and no longer provides qualitative government which underlines the necessity for change.     

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ＂MODERNITY AND CHINESE LEGAL CULTURE＂ HELD AT RENMIN UNIVERSITY OF CHINA LAW SCHOOL

The legal reform of the late Qing Dynasty that took place more than one hundred years ago has usually been considered as the starting point of the transformation and modernization of Chinese legal culture. Following that, both the Republic of China＇s legal system, and the Chinese legal system drawing on Western experience since the opening-up, have been （to a large extent） developed by the purpose of pursuing modemity. Hence, the relationship between modernity and Chinese legal culture is the crucial point in understanding the development of Chinese legal system in modem times, and also a point in comprehending the ongoing legal system construction in a global perspective.     

Indonesian labour law development and reform： The years of ratifying fundamental human rights defined within the ILO core conventions

Indonesia has a long experience in developing and reforming its labour law in order to response and accommodate fundamental human rights defined within International Labour Organization （ILO） core conventions. It was in particular for enhancing substance of workers＇ prosperity in industrial relationships in the country. For the purpose of changing paradigm in industrial relationships namely the corporatist model or regulatory model into the contractual model and replacing the single union system with multi-union system in term of labor institution and worker association （particularly based on the ILO Convention No. 87 and No. 98）, the government of Indonesia fairly enacted the Act No. 21 of 2000 regarding Trade Unions and the Act No. 13 of 2003 regarding Labor.     

LAWMAKING IN CHINA： DEVELOPMENT,ISSUES AND RETHINKING

Since the Reform and Opening period commenced, lawmaking in China has made great achievements, constructed a lawmaMng institution composed of constitution, laws, administrative and local rules and regulations as the source of law, and a legal system composed of constitutional and related law, administrative law, criminal law, civil and commercial law, economic law, social law, and procedure law. However, lawmaking in China faces new issues needing resolution. This paper focuses on the relation of lawmaking between the National People＇s Congress （PC） and its Standing Committee （SC）, between the NPC and the administrative and local organs. Because most laws are enacted by the SC with a small number of elites, but not the NPC with a large number of deputies, the challenge lies in how to represent the people and ensure the people＇s character of the laws. As the administrative and local organs enact the rules and regulations, how can their conformation to the Constitution and laws be ensured？ Is it enough to only depend on an original deliberative mechanism？ China needs to create and develop new mechanisms to resolve these issues.     

ON THE PATH TO RECONSTRUCT CHINA'S CATASTROPHE INSURANCE SYSTEM

Catastrophe insurance and its establishment in China has attracted public concerns in recent years,especially after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan province,the 2010 Yushu earthquake in Qinghai province and the Zhouqu devastating mudslide in Gansu province.Based on the problems of catastrophe insurance,the discussions and practices in domestic academic field have provided a amount of theoretical preparation for its development in China.However,there are inadequacies during the process.In particular,Chinese domestic scholars have not defined clearly the notion and connotation of catastrophe insurance,and confused it with commercial insurance and social insurance.This paper focuses on the connotation and values of catastrophe insurance in the first place.Furthermore,based on the lessons of catastrophe insurance systems abroad,the Author argues for the basic principles and path to reconstruct the catastrophe insurance system with Chinese characteristics.     

A FAREWELL TO BARRIERS： TOWARDS A FLEXIBLE SYSTEM OF EXCEPTIONS IN CONTINENTAL COPYRIGHT LAW

The paper would analyze the law and economics of introducing flexibility in the system of exceptions and limitations on European Copyright Law. Such flexibility would exist in an open norm on the basis of which the courts can decide whether certain uses of copyrighted material are permissible or not, instead of explicitly defining this in the law. First, it would assess problem areas where the lack of flexibility creates legal disputes and potential barriers to innovation and commercialization. Second, it would analyze the economic rationale and economic effects of introducing flexibility. Exceptions and limitations in the current copyright system are meant to balance the protection granted to rights owners with the public interest＇s need to make certain unauthorized uses. However, this paper would identify a number of situations that do not fit well within the current set of exceptions and limitations and attribute this to a lack of flexibility. Several of these problem areas have given rise to court proceedings with varying outcomes. The interpretation given by courts to existing exceptions and limitations---such as the quotation right, the exception for transient and incidental copying, the private copying exception, and the incidental use exception--is usually too narrow to respond to new technological developments, new developments in the creation process, or new commercialization models. These types of uses generally do not fit the narrowly defined exceptions and limitations and therefore lack legal basis. The same is true for things not yet invented.     

China＇s Labor Contract Law and the liberalization of global markets： Will employees＇ rights equate to employers＇ nightmares？

Lower labor costs and realization of profits have been key components in the expansion of the global market. As we continue to witness the prolific liberalization of the global market, it is essential that we remember the importance of human capital. Workers play a paramount role in the realization of continued and sustained global market growth. Paradoxically, sustained growth in the global market is also fueled by the absence of workers＇ rights and the resulting reduction of labor costs. Thus, multi-national companies and workers employed by multi-national companies, have encountered a seeming contradiction of workplace realities. From a capitalistic economic perspective, it is necessary for multi-national companies to compete for market share and realize profits. However, in order to promote social harmony and ensure against large-scale social unrest, workers must be given basic rights ensuring economic security and workplace justice. China has enacted the Labor Contract Law to address challenges surrounding these issues. This paper will discuss the efficacy of China＇s embracing the rule of law so as to effectively enforce the Labor Contract Law. The paper will also give an overview of the concepts forming the foundation of the rule of law. Further, the paper will offer a brief comparative analysis of the United States＇ use of the rule of law in relation to resolving post-slavery labor issues. Finally, the paper will recommend a model system for use by China in enforcing the Labor Contract Law.     

THE LAWS,POLICIES, AND POLITICS OF REGULATING LEAD POLLUTION IN CHINA

This article examines the politics, laws and policies related to regulating lead pollution from lead-acid battery related manufacturing facilities in China. Particularly, this paper examines how China＇s Ministry of Environmental Protection （MEP） was able to force the temporary closure of nearly 90 percent of lead-battery manufacturing facilities within a period of months in 2011, after years of enforcement failures. The authors analyze the extent to which the Government＇s response to address lead pollution was based on laws and policies that can be systematically and consistently deployed by MEP as needed, or whether such measures are reliant on political will from outside MEP. Additionally, the authors are concerned with the extent to which China ＇s governance response to lead pollution primarily addresses environmental and public health issues; or rather it primarily addresses political and economic development issues, and whether this difference is significant. The article makes suggestions for how China can improve its environmental enforcement, and in so doing, contributes to a growing field of scholarship that examines environmental governance issues in the context of developing countries.     

The Niqab in Canada： Is it a charter right？

Although religious beliefs and practices came under Constitutional protection in 1982 by section 2（a） of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the struggle to define what constitutes freedom of religion continues. Currently freedom of religion from the court＇s perspective is a right to be protected as long as its expression does not bring harm or discrimination to others. This definition is one that the courts have already applied to several other different rights. It is a position that while ostensibly static is capable of fluid change as society changes over time. To set in stone how far a freedom may extend is to deny the fact that society does and will continue to change. Views on what constitutes religious beliefs are fluid and a requirement on the extension of protection to those beliefs and actions is argued could hamper the development of multiculturalism.     

CHINA＇S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION IN FRANCHISING

Since the concept of franchising was introduced into China, the franch＆ing sector has witnessed a spectacular growth in the last decade. China today ＆ the most franchised country in the world in term of number of systems. The value and success of most franchising concepts are often substantially based on intellectual property -- primarily trademarks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, and patents. If a franchisor is to capitalize on the exclusivity of its unique intellectual property to provide it and its franchisees a competitive advantage, legal protection of these valuable assets is essential in China and contemplated business. The tremendous development of franchising has inevitably brought forth different kinds of problems such as the franchise contract disputes, intellectual property infringement disputes, etc. The strong growth of domestic and international franchising urges the great importance of protecting the intellectual property rights （IPRs） in China today. This paper addresses the Chinese franchising law and intellectual property law, analyzing the enforcement and protection of intellectual property law in China today in combination of some judicial cases judged by the courts. With more and more serious situation of intellectual property infringements in China it is crucial for the intellectual property rights to be maintained and safeguarded, some suggestions were put forward to protect the IPRs from the franchisors ＇perspective.     

AN EVALUATION OF THE CHINESE LEGAL SYSTEM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The philosophy of binary purpose in conjunction with a holistic approach reflects sustainable development.These ideas are in accordance with Chinese traditional philosophy and culture,as well as the contemporary economic and social development.It calls for the central government's support to achieve sustainable development at the initial stage.However,in the long run,this approach has drawbacks which are concealed Thus,prompt adjustment is needed.In the relationship between the systems of sustainable development and democracy,human rights,sovereign equality of states,and sustainable development are approbated by the Chinese law system.The bottleneck of sustainable development is linked to its ideological system.Integration is related to the bottleneck of binary purposes,good governance,public participation,and human rights.The government-oriented mechanism has a time element that is related to the bottleneck of utilitarianism and basic economic law.For China's sustainable development,breaking the bottleneck to improve the system and seizing the opportunity to make innovations are of great significance.