Article 1.
The electors of the free area of the Republic of China shall cast ballots at a referendum
within three months of the expiration of a six-month period following the public announcement
of a proposal passed by the Legislative Yuan on the amendment of the Constitution or
alteration of the national territory. The provisions of Article 4 and Article 174 of the
Constitution shall not apply.
The provisions of Articles 25 through 34 and Article 135 of the Constitution shall cease to
apply.
Article 2.
The president and the vice president shall be directly elected by the entire populace of the
free area of the Republic of China. This shall be effective from the election for the ninth-
term president and vice president in 1996. The presidential and the vice presidential
candidates shall register jointly and be listed as a pair on the ballot. The pair that
receives the highest number of votes shall be elected. Citizens of the free area of the
Republic of China residing abroad may return to the ROC to exercise their electoral rights
and this shall be stipulated by law.
Presidential orders to appoint or remove from office the president of the Executive Yuan or
personnel appointed with the confirmation of the Legislative Yuan in accordance with the
Constitution, and to dissolve the Legislative Yuan, shall not require the countersignature of
the president of the Executive Yuan. The provisions of Article 37 of the Constitution shall
not apply.
The president may, by resolution of the Executive Yuan Council, issue emergency decrees and
take all necessary measures to avert imminent danger affecting the security of the State or
of the people or to cope with any serious financial or economic crisis, the restrictions in
Article 43 of the Constitution notwithstanding. However, such decrees shall, within ten days
of issuance, be presented to the Legislative Yuan for ratification. Should the Legislative
Yuan withhold ratification, the said emergency decrees shall forthwith cease to be valid.
To determine major policies for national security, the president may establish a national
security council and a subsidiary national security bureau. The organization of the said
organs shall be stipulated by law.
The president may, within ten days following passage by the Legislative Yuan of a no-
confidence vote against the president of the Executive Yuan, declare the dissolution of the
Legislative Yuan after consulting with its president. However, the president shall not
dissolve the Legislative Yuan while martial law or an emergency decree is in effect.
Following the dissolution of the Legislative Yuan, an election for legislators shall be held
within 60 days. The new Legislative Yuan shall convene of its own accord within ten days
after the results of the said election have been confirmed, and the term of the said
Legislative Yuan shall be reckoned from that date.
The terms of office for both the president and the vice president shall be four years. The
president and the vice president may only be re-elected to serve one consecutive term; and
the provisions of Article 47 of the Constitution shall not apply.
Should the office of the vice president become vacant, the president shall nominate a
candidate(s) within three months, and the Legislative Yuan shall elect a new vice president,
who shall serve the remainder of the original term until its expiration.
Should the offices of both the president and the vice president become vacant, the president
of the Executive Yuan shall exercise the official powers of the president and the vice
president. A new president and a new vice president shall be elected in accordance with
Paragraph 1 of this article and shall serve out each respective original term until its
expiration. The pertinent provisions of Article 49 of the Constitution shall not apply.
Recall of the president or the vice president shall be initiated upon the proposal of one-
fourth of all members of the Legislative Yuan, and also passed by two-thirds of all the
members. The final recall must be passed by more than one-half of the valid ballots in a vote
in which more than one-half of the electorate in the free area of the Republic of China takes
part.
Should a motion to impeach the president or the vice president initiated by the Legislative
Yuan and presented to the grand justices of the Judicial Yuan for adjudication be upheld by
the Constitutional Court, the impeached person shall forthwith be relieved of his duties.
Article 3.
The president of the Executive Yuan shall be appointed by the president. Should the president
of the Executive Yuan resign or the office become vacant, the vice president of the Executive
Yuan shall temporarily act as the president of the Executive Yuan pending a new appointment
by the president. The provisions of Article 55 of the Constitution shall cease to apply.
The Executive Yuan shall be responsible to the Legislative Yuan in accordance with the
following provisions; the provisions of Article 57 of the Constitution shall cease to apply:
1. The Executive Yuan has the duty to present to the Legislative Yuan a statement on its
administrative policies and a report on its administration. While the Legislative Yuan is in
session, its members shall have the right to interpellate the president of the Executive Yuan
and the heads of ministries and other organizations under the Executive Yuan.
2. Should the Executive Yuan deem a statutory, budgetary, or treaty bill passed by the
Legislative Yuan difficult to execute, the Executive Yuan may, with the approval of the
president of the Republic and within ten days of the bill's submission to the Executive Yuan,
request the Legislative Yuan to reconsider the bill. The Legislative Yuan shall reach a
resolution on the returned bill within 15 days after it is received. Should the Legislative
Yuan be in recess, it shall convene of its own accord within seven days and reach a
resolution within 15 days after the session begins. Should the Legislative Yuan not reach a
resolution within the said period of time, the original bill shall become invalid. Should
more than one-half of the total number of Legislative Yuan members uphold the original bill,
the president of the Executive Yuan shall immediately accept the said bill.
3. With the signatures of more than one-third of the total number of Legislative Yuan
members, the Legislative Yuan may propose a no-confidence vote against the president of the
Executive Yuan. Seventy-two hours after the no-confidence motion is made, an open-ballot vote
shall be taken within 48 hours. Should more than one-half of the total number of Legislative
Yuan members approve the motion, the president of the Executive Yuan shall tender his
resignation within ten days, and at the same time may request that the president dissolve the
Legislative Yuan. Should the no-confidence motion fail, the Legislative Yuan may not initiate
another no-confidence motion against the same president of the Executive Yuan within one
year.
The powers, procedures of establishment, and total number of personnel of national
organizations shall be subject to standards set forth by law.
The structure, system, and number of personnel of each organization shall be determined
according to the policies or operations of each organization and in accordance with the law
as referred to in the preceding paragraph.
Article 4.
Beginning with the Seventh Legislative Yuan, the Legislative Yuan shall have 113 members, who
shall serve a term of four years, which is renewable after re-election. The election of
members of the Legislative Yuan shall be completed within three months prior to the
expiration of each term, in accordance with the following provisions, the restrictions in
Article 64 and Article 65 of the Constitution notwithstanding:
1. Seventy-three members shall be elected from the Special Municipalities, counties, and
cities in the free area. At least one member shall be elected from each county and city.
2. Three members each shall be elected from among the lowland and highland aborigines in the
free area.
3. A total of thirty-four members shall be elected from the nationwide constituency and among
citizens residing abroad.
Members for the seats set forth in Subparagraph 1 of the preceding paragraph shall be elected
in proportion to the population of each Special Municipality, county, or city, which shall be
divided into electoral constituencies equal in number to the number of members to be elected.
Members for the seats set forth in Subparagraph 3 shall be elected from the lists of
political parties in proportion to the number of votes won by each party that obtains at
least 5 percent of the total vote, and the number of elected female members on each party’s
list shall not be less than one-half of the total number.
When the Legislative Yuan convenes each year, it may hear a report on the state of the nation
by the president.
Following the dissolution of the Legislative Yuan by the president and prior to the
inauguration of its new members, the Legislative Yuan shall be regarded as in recess.
The territory of the Republic of China, defined by its existing national boundaries, shall
not be altered unless initiated upon the proposal of one-fourth of the total members of the
Legislative Yuan, passed by at least three-fourths of the members present at a meeting
attended by at least three-fourths of the total members of the Legislative Yuan, and
sanctioned by electors in the free area of the Republic of China at a referendum held upon
expiration of a six-month period of public announcement of the proposal, wherein the number
of valid votes in favor exceeds one-half of the total number of electors.
Should the president issue an emergency decree after dissolving the Legislative Yuan, the
Legislative Yuan shall convene of its own accord within three days to vote on the
ratification of the decree within seven days after the session begins. However, should the
emergency decree be issued after the election of new members of the Legislative Yuan, the new
members shall vote on the ratification of the decree after their inauguration. Should the
Legislative Yuan withhold ratification, the emergency decree shall forthwith be void.
Impeachment of the president or the vice president by the Legislative Yuan shall be initiated
upon the proposal of more than one-half of the total members of the Legislative Yuan and
passed by more than two-thirds of the total members of the Legislative Yuan, whereupon it
shall be presented to the grand justices of the Judicial Yuan for adjudication. The
provisions of Article 90 and Article 100 of the Constitution and Article 7, Paragraph 1 of
the Additional Articles of the Constitution shall not apply.
No member of the Legislative Yuan may be arrested or detained without the permission of the
Legislative Yuan, when that body is in session, except in case of flagrante delicto. The
provisions of Article 74 of the Constitution shall cease to apply.
Article 5.
The Judicial Yuan shall have 15 grand justices. The 15 grand justices, including a president
and a vice president of the Judicial Yuan to be selected from amongst them, shall be
nominated and, with the consent of the Legislative Yuan, appointed by the president of the
Republic. This shall take effect from the year 2003, and the provisions of Article 79 of the
Constitution shall not apply. The provisions of Article 81 of the Constitution and pertinent
regulations on the lifetime holding of office and payment of salary do not apply to grand
justices who did not transfer from the post of a judge.
Each grand justice of the Judicial Yuan shall serve a term of eight years, independent of the
order of appointment to office, and shall not serve a consecutive term. The grand justices
serving as president and vice president of the Judicial Yuan shall not enjoy the guarantee of
an eight-year term.
Among the grand justices nominated by the president in the year 2003, eight members,
including the president and the vice president of the Judicial Yuan, shall serve for four
years. The remaining grand justices shall serve for eight years. The provisions of the
preceding paragraph regarding term of office shall not apply.
The grand justices of the Judicial Yuan shall, in addition to discharging their duties in
accordance with Article 78 of the Constitution, form a Constitutional Court to adjudicate
matters relating to the impeachment of the president or the vice president, and the
dissolution of unconstitutional political parties.
A political party shall be considered unconstitutional if its goals or activities endanger
the existence of the Republic of China or the nation's free and democratic constitutional
order.
The proposed budget submitted annually by the Judicial Yuan may not be eliminated or reduced
by the Executive Yuan; however, the Executive Yuan may indicate its opinions on the budget
and include it in the central government's proposed budgetary bill for submission to the
Legislative Yuan for deliberation.
Article 6.
The Examination Yuan shall be the highest examination body of the State, and shall be
responsible for the following matters; and the provisions of Article 83 of the Constitution
shall not apply:
1. Holding of examinations;
2. Matters relating to the qualification screening, security of tenure, pecuniary aid in case
of death, and retirement of civil servants; and
3. Legal matters relating to the employment, discharge, performance evaluation, scale of
salaries, promotion, transfer, commendation and award of civil servants.
The Examination Yuan shall have a president, a vice president, and several members, all of
whom shall be nominated and, with the consent of the Legislative Yuan, appointed by the
president of the Republic; and the provisions of Article 84 of the Constitution shall not
apply.
The provisions of Article 85 of the Constitution concerning the holding of examinations in
different areas, with prescribed numbers of persons to be selected according to various
provinces and areas, shall cease to apply.
Article 7.
The Control Yuan shall be the highest control body of the State and shall exercise the powers
of impeachment, censure and audit; and the pertinent provisions of Article 90 and Article 94
of the Constitution concerning the exercise of the power of consent shall not apply.
The Control Yuan shall have 29 members, including a president and a vice president, all of
whom shall serve a term of six years. All members shall be nominated and, with the consent of
the Legislative Yuan, appointed by the president of the Republic. The provisions of Article
91 through Article 93 of the Constitution shall cease to apply.
Impeachment proceedings by the Control Yuan against a public functionary in the central
government, or local governments, or against personnel of the Judicial Yuan or the
Examination Yuan, shall be initiated by two or more members of the Control Yuan, and be
investigated and voted upon by a committee of not less than nine of its members, the
restrictions in Article 98 of the Constitution notwithstanding.
In the case of impeachment by the Control Yuan of Control Yuan personnel for dereliction of
duty or violation of the law, the provisions of Article 95 and Article 97, Paragraph 2 of the
Constitution, as well as the preceding paragraph, shall apply.
Members of the Control Yuan shall be beyond party affiliation and independently exercise
their powers and discharge their responsibilities in accordance with the law.
The provisions of Article 101 and Article 102 of the Constitution shall cease to apply.
Article 8.
The remuneration or pay of the members of the Legislative Yuan shall be prescribed by law.
Except for general annual adjustments, individual provisions on increase of remuneration or
pay shall take effect starting with the subsequent Legislative Yuan.
Article 9.
The system of self-government in the provinces and counties shall include the following
provisions, which shall be established by the enactment of appropriate laws, the restrictions
in Article 108, Paragraph 1, Item 1; Article 109; Article 112 through Article 115; and
Article 122 of the Constitution notwithstanding:
1. A province shall have a provincial government of nine members, one of whom shall be the
provincial governor. All members shall be nominated by the president of the Executive Yuan
and appointed by the president of the Republic.
2. A province shall have a provincial advisory council made up of a number of members, who
shall be nominated by the president of the Executive Yuan and appointed by the president of
the Republic.
3. A county shall have a county council, members of which shall be elected by the people of
the said county.
4. The legislative powers vested in a county shall be exercised by the county council of the
said county.
5. A county shall have a county government headed by a county magistrate who shall be elected
by the people of the said county.
6. The relationship between the central government and the provincial and county governments.
7. A province shall execute the orders of the Executive Yuan and supervise matters governed
by the counties.
The modifications of the functions, operations, and organization of the Taiwan Provincial
Government may be specified by law.
Article 10.
The State shall encourage the development of and investment in science and technology,
facilitate industrial upgrading, promote modernization of agriculture and fishery, emphasize
exploitation and utilization of water resources, and strengthen international economic
cooperation.
Environmental and ecological protection shall be given equal consideration with economic and
technological development.
The State shall assist and protect the survival and development of private small and medium-
sized enterprises.
The State shall manage government-run financial organizations, in accordance with the
principles of business administration. The management, personnel, proposed budgets, final
budgets, and audits of the said organizations may be specified by law.
The State shall promote universal health insurance and promote the research and development
of both modern and traditional medicines.
The State shall protect the dignity of women, safeguard their personal safety, eliminate
sexual discrimination, and further substantive gender equality.
The State shall guarantee insurance, medical care, obstacle-free environments, education and
training, vocational guidance, and support and assistance in everyday life for physically and
mentally handicapped persons, and shall also assist them to attain independence and to
develop.
The State shall emphasize social relief and assistance, welfare services, employment for
citizens, social insurance, medical and health care, and other social welfare services.
Priority shall be given to funding social relief and assistance, and employment for citizens.
The State shall respect military servicemen for their contributions to society, and guarantee
studies, employment, medical care, and livelihood for retired servicemen.
Priority shall be given to funding education, science, and culture, and in particular funding
for compulsory education, the restrictions in Article 164 of the Constitution
notwithstanding.
The State affirms cultural pluralism and shall actively preserve and foster the development
of aboriginal languages and cultures.
The State shall, in accordance with the will of the ethnic groups, safeguard the status and
political participation of the aborigines. The State shall also guarantee and provide
assistance and encouragement for aboriginal education, culture, transportation, water
conservation, health and medical care, economic activity, land, and social welfare, measures
for which shall be established by law. The same protection and assistance shall be given to
the people of the Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu areas.
The State shall accord to nationals of the Republic of China residing overseas protection of
their rights of political participation.
Article 11.
Rights and obligations between the people of the Chinese mainland area and those of the free
area, and the disposition of other related affairs may be specified by law.
Article 12.
Amendment of the Constitution shall be initiated upon the proposal of one-fourth of the total
members of the Legislative Yuan, passed by at least three-fourths of the members present at a
meeting attended by at least three-fourths of the total members of the Legislative Yuan, and
sanctioned by electors in the free area of the Republic of China at a referendum held upon
expiration of a six-month period of public announcement of the proposal, wherein the number
of valid votes in favor exceeds one-half of the total number of electors. The provisions of
Article 174 of the Constitution shall not apply.
[This English version originally translated by the Government Information Office http://www.gio.gov.tw/info/news/additional.htm]
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