Regulations on Letters and Visits

Issuer: 
State Council

中文版


The following translation was retrieved from the State Bureau for Letters and Visits Web site on October 23, 2009. The Chinese text was retrieved from the State Bureau for Letters and Visits Web site on October 23, 2009.

Regulations on Letters and Visits

Decree of the State Council of the People's Republic of China

    No. 431

    Regulations on Letters and Visits, adopted at the 76th Executive Meeting of the State Council on January 5, 2005, are hereby promulgated and shall be effective as of May 1, 2005.

    Premier Wen Jiabao

    January 10, 2005

Regulations on Letters and Visits

(Adopted at the 76th Executive Meeting of the State Council on January 5, 2005, promulgated by Decree No. 431 of the State Council of the People's Republic of China on January 10, and effective as of May 1, 2005)

    Chapter I General Provisions

    Article 1 These Regulations are formulated for the purposes of enhancing relations between the people's governments at all levels and the people, protecting the lawful rights and interests of letter-writers and visitors, and maintaining a good order in letter-writing and visiting.

    Article 2 The term "letters and visits" in these Regulations means that citizens, legal persons or other organizations give information, make comments or suggestions or lodge complaints to the people's governments at all levels and the relevant departments of the people's governments at or above the county level through correspondence, E-mails, faxes, phone calls, visits, and so on, which are dealt with by the relevant administrative departments according to law.

    A citizen, legal person or any other organization that gives information, makes comments or suggestions or lodges complaints by such means as prescribed in the preceding paragraph is defined as a letter-writer or visitor.

    Article 3 The people's governments at all levels and the relevant departments of the people's governments at or above the county level shall effectively handle letters and visits by conscientiously dealing with letters, receiving visitors, heeding people's comments, suggestions and complaints and accepting their supervision, so that the people's interests are best served.

    The people's governments at all levels and the relevant departments of the people's governments at or above the county level shall keep free-flowing channels for letter-writers and visitors and provide convenience for the letter-writers or visitors who give information, make comments or suggestions, or lodge complaints by such means as prescribed in these Regulations.

    No organization or individual may retaliate against letter-writers or visitors.

    Article 4 The work regarding letters and visits shall be done under the leadership of the people's governments at all levels and in adherence to the principles of territorial jurisdiction, responsibilities assumed at different levels, the department in charge being the department responsible and combination of the need to solve problems lawfully, timely and locally with persuasion.

    Article 5 The people's governments at all levels and the relevant departments of the people's governments at or above the county level shall make policy decisions in a scientific and democratic manner, perform their duties according to law and prevent contradictions and disputes at source from leading to letters and visits.

    Any people's government at or above the county level shall establish a work pattern for letters and visits characterized by unified leadership, coordination among different departments, overall planning and all-round consideration, seeking both temporary and permanent solution, each assuming its own responsibilities and joining efforts with others for the common goal, and it shall resolve contradictions and disputes in a timely manner by holding joint meetings and setting up a mechanism for making investigation and coordination and handling letters and visits and a working system of supervision in this respect.

    Responsible persons of the people's governments at all levels and the relevant departments of the people's governments at or above the county level shall read letters for important issues and give written instructions on them, receive visitors for important issues, listen to reports on the work regarding letters and visits, and study and solve overriding problems in such work.

    Article 6 Any people's government at or above the county level shall set up a department for letters and visits. The relevant department of the people's government at or above the county level and the people's government of the town or township shall, according to the principles of facilitating work and creating convenience for letter-writers and visitors, respectively assign a unit responsible for the work regarding letters and visits (hereinafter referred to as the unit for letters and visits) or individuals the specific reasonability for work in this field.

    The department for letters and visits of the people's government at or above the county level is the administrative department of the people's government at the corresponding level which is responsible for the work regarding letters and visits and performs the following duties:

    (1) to accept the letter-or-visit matter presented by a letter-writer or visitor, transmit it to another organ, or assign another organ to handle it;

    (2) to handle the letter-or-visit matter handed over by the people's government at a higher level or at the corresponding level;

    (3) to coordinate efforts in handling important letter-or-visit matters;

    (4) to urge and examine the handling of letter-or-visit matters;

    (5) to study and analyze both letters and visits, conduct investigation and study and, in a timely manner, make suggestions on improving policies and work to the people's government at the corresponding level; and

    (6) to provide guidance to other relevant departments of the people's government at the corresponding level and the departments or units for letters and visits of the people's governments at lower levels in their work regarding letters and visits.

    Article 7 The people's governments at all levels shall establish and improve the responsibility system for letters and visits, and shall, in strict accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws, administrative regulations and these Regulations, investigate the individuals who are responsible for malfeasance or dereliction of duty committed in the work regarding letters and visits and circulate a notice of the matter within an appropriate scope.

    The people's governments at all levels shall incorporate the achievements scored in the work regarding letters and visits into the performance assessment of public servants.

    Article 8 The relevant administrative organ or unit shall give rewards to the letter-writer or visitor who, by giving information or presenting comments or suggestions in its letter or visit, has made contributions to the national economic and social development, and to the improvement of the work of State organs and the protection of public interests.

    The relevant administrative organ shall give rewards to the unit or individual that has scored outstanding achievements in the work regarding letters and visits.

    Chapter II Channels for Letters and Visits

    Article 9 The people's governments at all levels and the relevant departments of the people's governments at or above the county level shall make known to the public such matters as the correspondence and E-mail addresses, telephone numbers for complaints, time and places for receiving letters and visitors, methods of inquiring about the progress and results of the letter-or-visit matters handled.

    The people's governments at all levels and the relevant departments of the people's governments at or above the county level shall, at the places for receiving letters and visitors or at the websites, make known to the public the laws, regulations and rules, the procedures for handling letter-or-visit matters and other matters concerning provision of convenience to letter-writers and visitors.

    Article 10 The people's governments at the level of a city divided into districts and those at the county level and their relevant departments and the people's governments of towns or townships shall establish the system of reception day on which the responsible persons of administrative organs read letters and receive visitors, and coordinate efforts in handling letter-or-visit matters. Letter-writers and visitors can report letter-or-visit matters face to face to the responsible persons of the administrative organs at the publicized reception place on the publicized reception day.

    Responsible persons of the people's government at or above the county level and of the relevant departments of the said government or the individuals designated by them may go to the places where the letter-writers or visitors live to talk to them face to face and exchange views with them with regard to the overriding problems they have reported.

    Article 11 The department for letters and visits of the State shall, by making full use of the existing network resources for governmental affairs information, establish a national information system for letters and visits, in order to provide convenience for letter-writers and visitors to present letter-or-visit matters and inquire about the handling of the letters and visits locally.

    The local people's government at or above the county level shall, by making full use of the existing network resources for governmental affairs information, establish or designate the information system for letters and visits within its administrative areas and connect its information system for letters and visits with those of the people's governments at higher levels, their relevant departments and the people's governments at lower levels.

    Article 12 The department for letters and visits or any other relevant departments of the people's government at or above the county level shall, in a timely manner, input the complaint lodged by a letter-writer or visitor into the information system for letters and visits. The letter-writer or visitor may, on the strength of the complaint acceptance certificate issued by the administrative organ, go to the department for letters and visits or the reception place of the relevant department of the local people's government to inquire about the handling of the complaint. The specific measures and procedures therefor shall respectively be formulated by the people's government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government.

    Article 13 In light of the actual needs in the work regarding letters and visits, the people's governments at the level of a city divided into districts and those at the county level may establish a working mechanism in which the government plays the leading role and all sectors of society take part and which facilitates rapid settlement of disputes.

    The departments and units for letters and visits shall organize the relevant public organizations, legal aid agencies, professionals, volunteers and others to joint efforts in handling complaints lodged by letter-writers and visitors in a lawful, timely and reasonable way through advice, education, consultation, mediation, hearing, or by other means.

    Chapter III Presenting Letter-or-visit Matters

    Article 14 Where a letter-writer or visitor gives information or makes comments or suggestions on the performance of duties by the following organizations or individuals, or is not satisfied with the performance of duties by the following organizations or individuals, it may present letter-or-visit matters to the relevant administrative organs:

    (1) administrative organs or their staff members;

    (2) organizations that are authorized by laws or regulations to perform the functions of administration of public affairs, or their staff members;

    (3) enterprises or institutions providing public service, or their staff members;

    (4) individuals in public organizations or other enterprises or institutions who are appointed or dispatched by administrative organs of the State; and

    (5) villagers' committees, residents' committees or their members.

    With regard to the complaints that shall be handled according to law through litigation, arbitration, administrative reconsideration or other statutory means, the letter-writer or visitor shall present them to the relevant organs according to the procedures as provided for by the relevant laws and administrative regulations.

    Article 15 With regard to a letter-or-visit matter that falls within the scope of the functions and powers of the people's congresses at all levels, the standing committee of the people's congress at or above the county level, the people's court or the people's procuratorate, the letter-writer or visitor shall present it to the people's congress, its standing committee, people's court or people's procuratorate respectively and abide by the provisions of Articles 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 of these Regulations.

    Article 16 Where a letter-writer or visitor intends to present a letter-or-visit matter through visit, it shall present the letter-or-visit matter to the organ at the corresponding level or the next higher level that, according to law, has the power to handle the letter-or-visit matter. If a letter-or-visit matter has been accepted or is in the process of being handled and the letter-writer or visitor, before the expiration of the time limit, presents the same letter-or-visit matter to the organ at the higher level of the organ that has accepted and is handling the letter-or-visit matter, the former shall not accept the letter-or-visit matter.

    Article 17 A letter-writer or visitor shall, in general, present a letter-or-visit matter through correspondence, E-mail, fax or any other written form. Where it lodges a complaint, it shall, in addition, state clearly its name (title), address, requests, the facts and reasons.

    With regard to the oral presentation of a complaint, the relevant organ shall record the name (title) and address of the letter-writer or visitor, its requests, the facts and reasons.

    Article 18 Where a letter-writer or visitor who intends to present a letter-or-visit matter through visit, it shall go to the reception place established or designated by the organ concerned.

    Where two or more letter-writers or visitors intend to present the same letter-or-visit matter through visit, they shall choose representatives, and the number of representatives shall not exceed five.

    Article 19 A letter-writer or visitor shall be objective in presenting letter-or-visit matters, the letter-or-visit matters presented shall be true to facts, and it shall be responsible for the truthfulness of the contents of the materials it provides. It shall not make up stories, distort facts, frame or bring a false charge against others.

    Article 20 Letter-writers and visitors shall, in the course of writing letters or making visits, abide by laws and regulations, shall not harm the interests of the State, society or the collective or infringe upon the lawful rights of other citizens, shall conscientiously maintain public order and the order in handling letters and visits, and shall not commit any of the following acts:

    (1) illegally assembling around offices of State organs or public places, encircling and attacking State organs, intercepting official vehicles, or jamming and obstructing traffic;

    (2) carrying dangerous articles or tools under control;

    (3) humiliating, beating up or threatening functionaries of State organs or illegally restricting other people's freedom of the individual;

    (4) staying and making trouble at the reception places for letters and visits, or leaving the individuals who are unable to look after themselves at such places;

    (5) inciting, colluding with, coercing or enticing with money or things of value others to write letters or make visits, or manipulating from behind the scenes others into doing so, or taking advantage of letters and visits to accumulate wealth; or

    (6) committing other acts that disrupt public order or impair national or public security.

    Chapter IV Accepting Letter-or-visit Matters

    Article 21 The department for letters and visits of the people's government at or above the county level shall, upon receiving a letter or visit, register the letter-or-visit matter presented and handle it on the merits of each case within 15 days in the following ways:

    (1) With regard to a letter-or-visit matter specified in Article 15 of these Regulations, notify the letter-writer or visitor that it presents such matter to the people's congresses or its standing committee, people's court or people's procuratorate respectively; and reject the matter which has been or shall be handled according to law through litigation, arbitration, administrative reconsideration or any other statutory means, while notifying the letter-writer or visitor that it presents the matter to the organ concerned according to the procedures as provided for by the relevant laws or administrative regulations.

    (2) With regard to a letter-or-visit matter which shall be handled and decided on by the people's government at the corresponding level or the department thereof according to their statutory functions and duties, transfer such matter to the administrative organ which has the power to handle it; or make timely suggestions and submit such matter to the people's government at the corresponding level for decision in case of any important or urgent matter.

    (3) With regard to a letter-or-visit matter which involves an administrative organ at a lower level or its staff members, directly transfer such matter to the administrative organ which has the power to handle it according to the principles of territorial jurisdiction, responsibilities assumed at different levels, and the department in charge being the department responsible, and send a copy of the matter to the department or unit for letters and visits of the people's government at the next lower level.

    The department for letters and visits of the people's government at or above the county level shall notify such department or unit of the people's government at the next lower level of the matter transferred regularly, and the department or unit for letters and visits of the people's government at a lower level shall report to such department of the people's government at the next higher level about the handling of the transferred matter regularly.

    (4) With regard to any important matter among the letter-or-visit matters transferred and feedback on the results of the handling of which is required, send it directly to the administrative organ which has the power to handle it, and ask the organ to feed back the results within the designated time limit for handling it and submit reports on the results of the handling.

    Within 15 days from the date the letter-or-visit matter is transferred or assigned thereto according to the provisions of Items (2) to (4) of the preceding paragraph, the administrative organ concerned shall decide whether to accept the matter and notify the letter-writer or visitor of the decision in writing, and inform the department or unit for letters and visits of its decision as required.

    Article 22 With regard to a letter-or-visit matter which is directly presented to the administrative organ other than the departments or unit for letters and visits of the people's governments at different levels by a letter-writer or visitor according to the provisions of these Regulations, the administrative organ concerned shall register such matter. A letter-or-visit matter that conforms to the provisions of the first paragraph of Article 14 of these Regulations and falls within the scope of the statutory functions and powers of the said organ shall be accepted by it; and it shall not shift the responsibility onto other organs, take a perfunctory attitude or delay handling the matter. If a letter-or-visit matter does not fall within the scope of the functions and powers of the said organ, it shall notify the letter-writer or visitor that it presents the matter to the organ which has the power to handle the matter.

    Where, upon receiving a letter-or-visit matter, the administrative organ concerned can, on the spot, decide whether to accept it, the said organ shall do so in writing. If such decision can not be made on the spot, the said organ shall, within 15 days from the date of receipt of the matter, notify the letter-writer or visitor in writing, unless the name (title) or address of the letter-writer or visitor is unclear.

    Relevant administrative organs shall notify each other of the letter-or-visit matters they have accepted.

    Article 23 The administrative organ and its staff members shall not divulge or transmit the materials of accusation or exposure or the relevant information provided by a letter-writer or visitor to the individual or department accused or exposed.

    Article 24 Where a letter-or-visit matter involves two or more administrative organs, it shall be handled by them through consultation. If disagreement arises in handling of the matter, their common administrative organ at the next higher level shall decide on which organ handles the matter.

    Article 25 Where an administrative organ is split up, merges with another or is dissolved, the letter-or-visit matters on which it shall make a decision shall be handled by the administrative organ which continues to perform its functions and powers. If the functions and duties are unclear, the people's government at the corresponding level or the organ designated by such government shall handle the matter.

    Article 26 When a citizen, legal person or any other organization discovers an important or urgent letter-or-visit matter or information which may exert an influence on society, it may report the matter to the relevant administrative organ nearby. After receiving such report, the local people's governments at different levels shall immediately report to the people's government at the next higher level and, if necessary, circulate a notice of such matter among the competent departments. After receiving the report, the relevant department of the local people's government at or above the county level shall immediately report to the people's government at the corresponding level and to the competent department at the next higher level and, if necessary, circulate a notice of such matter among the competent departments. After receiving the report, the relevant department of the State Council shall immediately report to the State Council and, if necessary, circulate a notice among the competent departments.

    The administrative organ shall not conceal, give a false report about or delay reporting any important or urgent letter-or-visit matter and information or incite others to do so.

    Article 27 With regard to important or urgent letter-or-visit matters and information which may exert an influence on society, the administrative organ concerned shall, within the scope of its functions and duties and according to law, take timely measures to prevent the occurrence and extension of adverse influence.

    Chapter V Handling, and Supervising and Urging the Handling of Letter-or-visit Matters

    Article 28 In handling the letter-or-visit matters presented by a letter-writer or visitor, the administrative organ and its staff members shall perform their duties whole-heartedly, handle the matters impartially, ascertain the facts, clearly distinguish the responsibilities, publicize the legal system, conduct persuasion and handle the matter properly in a timely manner, and they shall not shift the responsibility onto others, take a perfunctory attitude or delay handling the matters.

    Article 29 Where the information given by a letter-writer or visitor or the comments or suggestions made thereby are beneficial to improvement of the work of the administrative organ and to promotion of national economic and social development, the relevant administrative organ shall conscientiously study, evaluate and unhesitatingly accept them.

    Article 30 The staff member of an administrative organ who has a direct interest in the letter-or-visit matter presented by a letter-writer or visitor or with the letter-writer or visitor shall recuse himself.

    Article 31 In handling the letter-or-visit matter presented by a letter-writer or visitor, the administrative organ which has the power to handle such matter shall heed the facts and reasons stated by the letter-writer or visitor. When necessary, it may ask the letter-writer or visitor, or the organization or individual concerned to give an explanation; and where further verification is needed, it may conduct investigation among other organizations or individuals.

    A hearing may be held for important, complicated or difficult letter-or-visit matters, and the hearing shall be open to the public to ascertain the facts and clearly distinguish the responsibilities through inquiry, debate, appraisal or judgment by a collegiate group. The people's government of a province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government shall respectively prescribe the scope of hearings, presiding officer, participants, procedures and other things.

    Article 32 Through investigation and verification, the administrative organ which has the power to handle the letter-or-visit matter presented by a letter-writer or visitor shall make the following decisions according to the relevant laws, regulations, rules and other provisions and give a written reply to the letter-writer or visitor:

    (1) to support the request if it is based on clear facts and conforms to laws, regulations, rules and other provisions;

    (2) to make an ample explanation to the letter-writer or visitor if the request is reasonable but lacks legal basis; or

    (3) not to support the request if it is not based on facts or does not conform to laws, regulations, rules or other provisions.

    Where the administrative organ which has the power to handle the matter decides to support the request according to the provisions of Item (1) of the preceding paragraph, it shall urge the relevant organs or units to execute its decision.

    Article 33 The matter presented by a letter-writer or visitor shall be handled within 60 days from the date it is accepted. If the matter is complicated, the time limit for handling it may be extended appropriately upon the approval by the responsible person of the administrative organ concerned, but the period extended shall not exceed 30 days, and the letter-writer or visitor shall be notified of the reasons for such extension. Where laws or administrative regulations provide otherwise, the provisions therein shall prevail.

    Article 34 Where a letter-writer or visitor is not satisfied with the decision made by an administrative organ on the handling of the letter-or-visit matter, it may, within 30 days from the date of receipt of the written reply, request the administrative organ at the next higher level of the original administrative organ that has handled the matter to reexamine the matter. The administrative organ which has received the request for reexamination shall, within 30 days from the date of receipt of the request, make a decision after reexamination and give a written reply.

    Article 35 Where a letter-writer or visitor is not satisfied with the decision made after reexamination, it may, within 30 days from the date of receipt of the written reply, request for review from the administrative organ at the next higher level of the reexamination organ. The administrative organ which has received the request for review shall, within 30 days from the date of receipt of the request, make a decision after review.

    The review organ may, according to the second paragraph of Article 31 of these Regulations, hold a hearing, and the review decision made through hearing may be made known to the public according to law. The time needed for hearing shall not be calculated in the time limit prescribed in the preceding paragraph.

    Where the letter-writer or visitor is not satisfied with the review decision and continues to lodge a complaint on the basis of the same facts and reasons, the departments or units for letters and visits of the people's governments at all levels and other administrative organs shall no longer accept the compliant.

    Article 36 Where the department for letters and visits of the people's government at or above the county level finds that a relevant administrative organ comes under any of the following circumstances, it shall, without delay, urge such organ to handle the matter concerned and suggest that the said organ make improvement,:

    (1) without justifiable reasons, failing to handle the letter-or-visit matter within the prescribed time limit;

    (2) failing to give feedback on the results of the handling of the letter-or-visit matter as required;

    (3) failing to handle the letter-or-visit matter according to the prescribed procedures;

    (4) shifting the responsibility for handling the matter onto other departments, taking a perfunctory attitude, or delaying handling the letter-or-visit matter;

    (5) failing to execute the decision on the matter; or

    (6) needing urging for other reasons.

    Upon receiving the suggestions for improvements, the administrative organ shall, within 30 days, give a feedback in writing on the improvements it has made. If the organ refuses to accept the suggestions, it shall explain the reasons.

    Article 37 With regard to any policy problem raised by a letter-writer or visitor, the department for letters and visits of the people's government at or above the county level shall report it to the people's government at the corresponding level in a timely manner and make suggestions as to how to improve the policy and solve the problem.

    Article 38 With regard to the staff members of an administrative organ who, in the work regarding letters and visits, cause serious consequences by shifting their responsibilities onto others, taking a perfunctory attitude, delaying handling of matters or practicing fraud, the department for letters and visits of the people's government at or above the county level may make suggestions to the administrative organ concerned to give them administrative sanctions.

    Article 39 The department for letters and visits of the people's government at or above the county level shall, regularly, submit analytical reports on letters and visits to the people's government at the corresponding level with regard to the following matters:

    (1) statistical data on the letter-or-visit matters accepted, the areas covered by the letter-or-visit matters, and the organs against which a relatively larger number of complaints are lodged;

    (2) information about the matters which are transferred for handling or the handling of which is urged, and the suggestions about improvement accepted by different departments; and

    (3) the policy suggestions made and accepted.

    Chapter VI Legal Liability

    Article 40 Where one of the following circumstances leads to the presentation of a letter-or-visit matter, which causes serious consequences, the individual directly in charge and the other individuals directly responsible therefor shall be given an administrative sanction according to the provisions of the relevant laws or administrative regulations; if the act constitutes a crime, they shall be investigated for criminal liability according to law:

    (1) The lawful rights and interests of a letter-writer or visitor are infringed upon due to overstepping or abuse of power;

    (2) An administrative organ infringes upon the lawful rights and interests of a letter-writer or visitor by doing nothing about what it shall do;

    (3) The lawful rights and interests of a letter-writer or visitor is infringed upon due to incorrect application of laws or regulations or violation of statutory procedures; or

    (4) The execution of the decision in support of the request of a letter-writer or visitor made by the administrative organ which has the power to handle the matter presented is refused.

    Article 41 Where the department for letters and visits of the people's government at or above the county level fails to register the letter-or-visit matter, transfer the matter to another organ or assign another organ to handle the matter as required by regulations, or fails to perform the duties of supervising and urging the handling of the matter as it shall have done, the administrative organ at higher levels shall order it to make corrections; if serious consequences are caused, the individual directly in charge and the other individuals directly responsible therefor shall be given an administrative sanction according to law.

    Article 42 Where the administrative organ responsible for accepting letter-or-visit matters, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, comes under any of the following circumstances in accepting a letter-or-visit matter, the administrative organ at a higher level shall order it to make corrections; if serious consequences are caused, the individual directly in charge and the other individuals directly responsible therefor shall be given an administrative sanction according to law:

    (1) failing to register the letter-or-visit matter it has received, as is required by regulations;

    (2) refusing to accept the letter-or-visit matter which falls within the scope of its statutory functions and powers; or

    (3) failing to inform in writing within the specified time limit the letter-writer or visitor of whether the letter-or-visit matter is accepted.

    Article 43 Where the administrative organ which has the power to handle letter-or-visit matters, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, commits any of the following acts in handling a letter-or-visit matter, the administrative organ at a higher level shall order it to make corrections; if serious consequences are caused, the individual directly in charge and the other individuals directly responsible therefor shall be given an administrative sanction according to law:

    (1) shifting the responsibility onto another organ, taking a perfunctory attitude, or delaying handling the letter-or-visit matter, or failing to wind up the handling of the letter-or-visit matter within the statutory time limit; or

    (2) failing to support the request which is based on clear facts and conforms to relevant laws, regulations, rules and other provisions.

    Article 44 Where the staff member of an administrative organ, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, divulges or transmits the materials of accusation or exposure and relevant information provided by a letter-writer or visitor to the individual or unit accused or exposed, he shall be given an administrative sanction according to law.

    Where the staff member of an administrative organ, in handling a letter-or-visit matter , is rude in his style of work, thus intensifying contradictions and causing serious consequences, he shall be given an administrative sanction according to law.

    Article 45 Where an administrative organ and its staff members, in violation of the provisions of Article 26 of these Regulations, conceal, make a false report of or delay reporting the important or urgent letter-or-visit matters or informatinn which may exert an influence on society, or incite another individual to do so, thus causing serious consequences, the individual directly in charge and the other individuals directly responsible therefor shall be given an administrative sanction according to law; if the act constitutes a crime, they shall be investigated for criminal liability according to law.

    Article 46 Whoever retaliates against a letter-writer or visitor, thus constituting a crime, shall be investigated for criminal liability according to law; if the act is not serious enough to constitute a crime, he shall be given an administrative or disciplinary sanction according to law.

    Article 47 Where a letter-writer or visitor violates the provisions of Article 18 or 20 of these Regulations, the staff member of the State organ concerned shall dissuade, criticize or educate him.

    If such dissuasion, criticism or education fails, the public security organ shall warn or admonish the letter-writer or visitor or stop its act. If the letter-writer or visitor violates the laws or administrative regulations on assemblies, processions and demonstrations or if its act constitutes a violation of public security administration, the public security organ shall, according to law, take necessary measures to deal with the case on the spot and impose thereupon an administrative penalty for public security. If the act constitutes a crime, it shall be investigated for criminal liability according to law.

    Article 48 Where a letter-writer or visitor makes up a story or distorts facts in an attempt to frame or bring a false charge against another individual, which constitutes a crime, he shall be investigated for criminal liability according to law. If the act is not serious enough to constitute a crime, the public security organ shall impose thereupon an administrative penalty for public security according to law.

    Chapter VII Supplementary Provisions

    Article 49 Social organizations, enterprises and institutions shall handle letters and visits with reference to these Regulations.

    Article 50 The letter-or-visit matters presented by foreigners, stateless individuals or foreign organizations shall be handled with reference to these Regulations.

    Article 51 These Regulations shall be effective as of May 1, 2005. The Regulations on Letters and Calls promulgated by the State Council on October 28, 1995 shall be repealed simultaneously.


信访条例

国务院信访条例

国家信访局 

中华人民共和国国务院令

(第431号)

《信访条例》已经2005年1月5日国务院第76次常务会议通过,现予公布,自2005年5月1日起施行。

总理 温家宝

二○○五年一月十日(完)

第一章 总则

第一条 为了保持各级人民政府同人民群众的密切联系,保护信访人的合法权益,维护信访秩序,制定本条例。

第二条 本条例所称信访,是指公民、法人或者其他组织采用书信、电子邮件、传真、电话、走访等形式,向各级人民政府、县级以上人民政府工作部门反映情况,提出建议、意见或者投诉请求,依法由有关行政机关处理的活动。

采用前款规定的形式,反映情况,提出建议、意见或者投诉请求的公民、法人或者其他组织,称信访人。

第三条 各级人民政府、县级以上人民政府工作部门应当做好信访工作,认真处理来信、接待来访,倾听人民群众的意见、建议和要求,接受人民群众的监督,努力为人民群众服务。

各级人民政府、县级以上人民政府工作部门应当畅通信访渠道,为信访人采用本条例规定的形式反映情况,提出建议、意见或者投诉请求提供便利条件。

任何组织和个人不得打击报复信访人。

第四条 信访工作应当在各级人民政府领导下,坚持属地管理、分级负责,谁主管、谁负责,依法、及时、就地解决问题与疏导教育相结合的原则。

第五条 各级人民政府、县级以上人民政府工作部门应当科学、民主决策,依法履行职责,从源头上预防导致信访事项的矛盾和纠纷。

县级以上人民政府应当建立统一领导、部门协调,统筹兼顾、标本兼治,各负其责、齐抓共管的信访工作格局,通过联席会议、建立排查调处机制、建立信访督查工作制度等方式,及时化解矛盾和纠纷。

各级人民政府、县级以上人民政府各工作部门的负责人应当阅批重要来信、接待重要来访、听取信访工作汇报,研究解决信访工作中的突出问题。

第六条 县级以上人民政府应当设立信访工作机构;县级以上人民政府工作部门及乡、镇人民政府应当按照有利工作、方便信访人的原则,确定负责信访工作的机构(以下简称信访工作机构)或者人员,具体负责信访工作。

县级以上人民政府信访工作机构是本级人民政府负责信访工作的行政机构,履行下列职责:

(一)受理、交办、转送信访人提出的信访事项;

(二)承办上级和本级人民政府交由处理的信访事项;

(三)协调处理重要信访事项;

(四)督促检查信访事项的处理;

(五)研究、分析信访情况,开展调查研究,及时向本级人民政府提出完善政策和改进工作的建议;

(六)对本级人民政府其他工作部门和下级人民政府信访工作机构的信访工作进行指导。

第七条 各级人民政府应当建立健全信访工作责任制,对信访工作中的失职、渎职行为,严格依照有关法律、行政法规和本条例的规定,追究有关责任人员的责任,并在一定范围内予以通报。

各级人民政府应当将信访工作绩效纳入公务员考核体系。

第八条 信访人反映的情况,提出的建议、意见,对国民经济和社会发展或者对改进国家机关工作以及保护社会公共利益有贡献的,由有关行政机关或者单位给予奖励。

对在信访工作中做出优异成绩的单位或者个人,由有关行政机关给予奖励。

第二章 信访渠道

第九条 各级人民政府、县级以上人民政府工作部门应当向社会公布信访工作机构的通信地址、电子信箱、投诉电话、信访接待的时间和地点、查询信访事项处理进展及结果的方式等相关事项。

各级人民政府、县级以上人民政府工作部门应当在其信访接待场所或者网站公布与信访工作有关的法律、法规、规章,信访事项的处理程序,以及其他为信访人提供便利的相关事项。

第十条 设区的市级、县级人民政府及其工作部门,乡、镇人民政府应当建立行政机关负责人信访接待日制度,由行政机关负责人协调处理信访事项。信访人可以在公布的接待日和接待地点向有关行政机关负责人当面反映信访事项。

县级以上人民政府及其工作部门负责人或者其指定的人员,可以就信访人反映突出的问题到信访人居住地与信访人面谈沟通。

第十一条 国家信访工作机构充分利用现有政务信息网络资源,建立全国信访信息系统,为信访人在当地提出信访事项、查询信访事项办理情况提供便利。

县级以上地方人民政府应当充分利用现有政务信息网络资源,建立或者确定本行政区域的信访信息系统,并与上级人民政府、政府有关部门、下级人民政府的信访信息系统实现互联互通。

第十二条 县级以上各级人民政府的信访工作机构或者有关工作部门应当及时将信访人的投诉请求输入信访信息系统,信访人可以持行政机关出具的投诉请求受理凭证到当地人民政府的信访工作机构或者有关工作部门的接待场所查询其所提出的投诉请求的办理情况。具体实施办法和步骤由省、自治区、直辖市人民政府规定。

第十三条 设区的市、县两级人民政府可以根据信访工作的实际需要,建立政府主导、社会参与、有利于迅速解决纠纷的工作机制。

信访工作机构应当组织相关社会团体、法律援助机构、相关专业人员、社会志愿者等共同参与,运用咨询、教育、协商、调解、听证等方法,依法、及时、合理处理信访人的投诉请求。

第三章 信访事项的提出

第十四条 信访人对下列组织、人员的职务行为反映情况,提出建议、意见,或者不服下列组织、人员的职务行为,可以向有关行政机关提出信访事项:

(一)行政机关及其工作人员;

(二)法律、法规授权的具有管理公共事务职能的组织及其工作人员;

(三)提供公共服务的企业、事业单位及其工作人员;

(四)社会团体或者其他企业、事业单位中由国家行政机关任命、派出的人员;

(五)村民委员会、居民委员会及其成员。

对依法应当通过诉讼、仲裁、行政复议等法定途径解决的投诉请求,信访人应当依照有关法律、行政法规规定的程序向有关机关提出。

第十五条 信访人对各级人民代表大会以及县级以上各级人民代表大会常务委员会、人民法院、人民检察院职权范围内的信访事项,应当分别向有关的人民代表大会及其常务委员会、人民法院、人民检察院提出,并遵守本条例第十六条、第十七条、第十八条、第十九条、第二十条的规定。

第十六条 信访人采用走访形式提出信访事项,应当向依法有权处理的本级或者上一级机关提出;信访事项已经受理或者正在办理的,信访人在规定期限内向受理、办理机关的上级机关再提出同一信访事项的,该上级机关不予受理。

第十七条 信访人提出信访事项,一般应当采用书信、电子邮件、传真等书面形式;信访人提出投诉请求的,还应当载明信访人的姓名(名称)、住址和请求、事实、理由。

有关机关对采用口头形式提出的投诉请求,应当记录信访人的姓名(名称)、住址和请求、事实、理由。

第十八条 信访人采用走访形式提出信访事项的,应当到有关机关设立或者指定的接待场所提出。

多人采用走访形式提出共同的信访事项的,应当推选代表,代表人数不得超过5人。

第十九条 信访人提出信访事项,应当客观真实,对其所提供材料内容的真实性负责,不得捏造、歪曲事实,不得诬告、陷害他人。

第二十条 信访人在信访过程中应当遵守法律、法规,不得损害国家、社会、集体的利益和其他公民的合法权利,自觉维护社会公共秩序和信访秩序,不得有下列行为:

(一)在国家机关办公场所周围、公共场所非法聚集,围堵、冲击国家机关,拦截公务车辆,或者堵塞、阻断交通的;

(二)携带危险物品、管制器具的;

(三)侮辱、殴打、威胁国家机关工作人员,或者非法限制他人人身自由的;

(四)在信访接待场所滞留、滋事,或者将生活不能自理的人弃留在信访接待场所的;

(五)煽动、串联、胁迫、以财物诱使、幕后操纵他人信访或者以信访为名借机敛财的;

(六)扰乱公共秩序、妨害国家和公共安全的其他行为。

第四章 信访事项的受理

第二十一条 县级以上人民政府信访工作机构收到信访事项,应当予以登记,并区分情况,在15日内分别按下列方式处理:

(一)对本条例第十五条规定的信访事项,应当告知信访人分别向有关的人民代表大会及其常务委员会、人民法院、人民检察院提出。对已经或者依法应当通过诉讼、仲裁、行政复议等法定途径解决的,不予受理,但应当告知信访人依照有关法律、行政法规规定程序向有关机关提出。

(二)对依照法定职责属于本级人民政府或者其工作部门处理决定的信访事项,应当转送有权处理的行政机关;情况重大、紧急的,应当及时提出建议,报请本级人民政府决定。

(三)信访事项涉及下级行政机关或者其工作人员的,按照“属地管理、分级负责,谁主管、谁负责”的原则,直接转送有权处理的行政机关,并抄送下一级人民政府信访工作机构。

县级以上人民政府信访工作机构要定期向下一级人民政府信访工作机构通报转送情况,下级人民政府信访工作机构要定期向上一级人民政府信访工作机构报告转送信访事项的办理情况。

(四)对转送信访事项中的重要情况需要反馈办理结果的,可以直接交由有权处理的行政机关办理,要求其在指定办理期限内反馈结果,提交办结报告。

按照前款第(二)项至第(四)项规定,有关行政机关应当自收到转送、交办的信访事项之日起15日内决定是否受理并书面告知信访人,并按要求通报信访工作机构。

第二十二条 信访人按照本条例规定直接向各级人民政府信访工作机构以外的行政机关提出的信访事项,有关行政机关应当予以登记;对符合本条例第十四条第一款规定并属于本机关法定职权范围的信访事项,应当受理,不得推诿、敷衍、拖延;对不属于本机关职权范围的信访事项,应当告知信访人向有权的机关提出。

有关行政机关收到信访事项后,能够当场答复是否受理的,应当当场书面答复;不能当场答复的,应当自收到信访事项之日起15日内书面告知信访人。但是,信访人的姓名(名称)、住址不清的除外。

有关行政机关应当相互通报信访事项的受理情况。

第二十三条 行政机关及其工作人员不得将信访人的检举、揭发材料及有关情况透露或者转给被检举、揭发的人员或者单位。

第二十四条 涉及两个或者两个以上行政机关的信访事项,由所涉及的行政机关协商受理;受理有争议的,由其共同的上一级行政机关决定受理机关。

第二十五条 应当对信访事项作出处理的行政机关分立、合并、撤销的,由继续行使其职权的行政机关受理;职责不清的,由本级人民政府或者其指定的机关受理。

第二十六条 公民、法人或者其他组织发现可能造成社会影响的重大、紧急信访事项和信访信息时,可以就近向有关行政机关报告。地方各级人民政府接到报告后,应当立即报告上一级人民政府;必要时,通报有关主管部门。县级以上地方人民政府有关部门接到报告后,应当立即报告本级人民政府和上一级主管部门;必要时,通报有关主管部门。国务院有关部门接到报告后,应当立即报告国务院;必要时,通报有关主管部门。

行政机关对重大、紧急信访事项和信访信息不得隐瞒、谎报、缓报,或者授意他人隐瞒、谎报、缓报。

第二十七条 对于可能造成社会影响的重大、紧急信访事项和信访信息,有关行政机关应当在职责范围内依法及时采取措施,防止不良影响的产生、扩大。

第五章 信访事项的办理和督办

第二十八条 行政机关及其工作人员办理信访事项,应当恪尽职守、秉公办事,查明事实、分清责任,宣传法制、教育疏导,及时妥善处理,不得推诿、敷衍、拖延。

第二十九条 信访人反映的情况,提出的建议、意见,有利于行政机关改进工作、促进国民经济和社会发展的,有关行政机关应当认真研究论证并积极采纳。

第三十条 行政机关工作人员与信访事项或者信访人有直接利害关系的,应当回避。

第三十一条 对信访事项有权处理的行政机关办理信访事项,应当听取信访人陈述事实和理由;必要时可以要求信访人、有关组织和人员说明情况;需要进一步核实有关情况的,可以向其他组织和人员调查。

对重大、复杂、疑难的信访事项,可以举行听证。听证应当公开举行,通过质询、辩论、评议、合议等方式,查明事实,分清责任。听证范围、主持人、参加人、程序等由省、自治区、直辖市人民政府规定。

第三十二条 对信访事项有权处理的行政机关经调查核实,应当依照有关法律、法规、规章及其他有关规定,分别作出以下处理,并书面答复信访人:

(一)请求事实清楚,符合法律、法规、规章或者其他有关规定的,予以支持;

(二)请求事由合理但缺乏法律依据的,应当对信访人做好解释工作;

(三)请求缺乏事实根据或者不符合法律、法规、规章或者其他有关规定的,不予支持。

有权处理的行政机关依照前款第(一)项规定作出支持信访请求意见的,应当督促有关机关或者单位执行。

第三十三条 信访事项应当自受理之日起60日内办结;情况复杂的,经本行政机关负责人批准,可以适当延长办理期限,但延长期限不得超过30日,并告知信访人延期理由。法律、行政法规另有规定的,从其规定。

第三十四条 信访人对行政机关作出的信访事项处理意见不服的,可以自收到书面答复之日起30日内请求原办理行政机关的上一级行政机关复查。收到复查请求的行政机关应当自收到复查请求之日起30日内提出复查意见,并予以书面答复。

第三十五条 信访人对复查意见不服的,可以自收到书面答复之日起30日内向复查机关的上一级行政机关请求复核。收到复核请求的行政机关应当自收到复核请求之日起30日内提出复核意见。

复核机关可以按照本条例第三十一条第二款的规定举行听证,经过听证的复核意见可以依法向社会公示。听证所需时间不计算在前款规定的期限内。

信访人对复核意见不服,仍然以同一事实和理由提出投诉请求的,各级人民政府信访工作机构和其他行政机关不再受理。

第三十六条 县级以上人民政府信访工作机构发现有关行政机关有下列情形之一的,应当及时督办,并提出改进建议:

(一)无正当理由未按规定的办理期限办结信访事项的;

(二)未按规定反馈信访事项办理结果的;

(三)未按规定程序办理信访事项的;

(四)办理信访事项推诿、敷衍、拖延的;

(五)不执行信访处理意见的;

(六)其他需要督办的情形。

收到改进建议的行政机关应当在30日内书面反馈情况;未采纳改进建议的,应当说明理由。

第三十七条 县级以上人民政府信访工作机构对于信访人反映的有关政策性问题,应当及时向本级人民政府报告,并提出完善政策、解决问题的建议。

第三十八条 县级以上人民政府信访工作机构对在信访工作中推诿、敷衍、拖延、弄虚作假造成严重后果的行政机关工作人员,可以向有关行政机关提出给予行政处分的建议。

第三十九条 县级以上人民政府信访工作机构应当就以下事项向本级人民政府定期提交信访情况分析报告:

(一)受理信访事项的数据统计、信访事项涉及领域以及被投诉较多的机关;

(二)转送、督办情况以及各部门采纳改进建议的情况;

(三)提出的政策性建议及其被采纳情况。

第六章 法律责任

第四十条 因下列情形之一导致信访事项发生,造成严重后果的,对直接负责的主管人员和其他直接责任人员,依照有关法律、行政法规的规定给予行政处分;构成犯罪的,依法追究刑事责任:

(一)超越或者滥用职权,侵害信访人合法权益的;

(二)行政机关应当作为而不作为,侵害信访人合法权益的;

(三)适用法律、法规错误或者违反法定程序,侵害信访人合法权益的;

(四)拒不执行有权处理的行政机关作出的支持信访请求意见的。

第四十一条 县级以上人民政府信访工作机构对收到的信访事项应当登记、转送、交办而未按规定登记、转送、交办,或者应当履行督办职责而未履行的,由其上级行政机关责令改正;造成严重后果的,对直接负责的主管人员和其他直接责任人员依法给予行政处分。

第四十二条 负有受理信访事项职责的行政机关在受理信访事项过程中违反本条例的规定,有下列情形之一的,由其上级行政机关责令改正;造成严重后果的,对直接负责的主管人员和其他直接责任人员依法给予行政处分:

(一)对收到的信访事项不按规定登记的;

(二)对属于其法定职权范围的信访事项不予受理的;

(三)行政机关未在规定期限内书面告知信访人是否受理信访事项的。

第四十三条 对信访事项有权处理的行政机关在办理信访事项过程中,有下列行为之一的,由其上级行政机关责令改正;造成严重后果的,对直接负责的主管人员和其他直接责任人员依法给予行政处分:

(一)推诿、敷衍、拖延信访事项办理或者未在法定期限内办结信访事项的;

(二)对事实清楚,符合法律、法规、规章或者其他有关规定的投诉请求未予支持的。

第四十四条 行政机关工作人员违反本条例规定,将信访人的检举、揭发材料或者有关情况透露、转给被检举、揭发的人员或者单位的,依法给予行政处分。

行政机关工作人员在处理信访事项过程中,作风粗暴,激化矛盾并造成严重后果的,依法给予行政处分。

第四十五条 行政机关及其工作人员违反本条例第二十六条规定,对可能造成社会影响的重大、紧急信访事项和信访信息,隐瞒、谎报、缓报,或者授意他人隐瞒、谎报、缓报,造成严重后果的,对直接负责的主管人员和其他直接责任人员依法给予行政处分;构成犯罪的,依法追究刑事责任。

第四十六条 打击报复信访人,构成犯罪的,依法追究刑事责任;尚不构成犯罪的,依法给予行政处分或者纪律处分。

第四十七条 违反本条例第十八条、第二十条规定的,有关国家机关工作人员应当对信访人进行劝阻、批评或者教育。

经劝阻、批评和教育无效的,由公安机关予以警告、训诫或者制止;违反集会游行示威的法律、行政法规,或者构成违反治安管理行为的,由公安机关依法采取必要的现场处置措施、给予治安管理处罚;构成犯罪的,依法追究刑事责任。

第四十八条 信访人捏造歪曲事实、诬告陷害他人,构成犯罪的,依法追究刑事责任;尚不构成犯罪的,由公安机关依法给予治安管理处罚。

第七章 附则

第四十九条 社会团体、企业事业单位的信访工作参照本条例执行。

第五十条 对外国人、无国籍人、外国组织信访事项的处理,参照本条例执行。

第五十一条 本条例自2005年5月1日起施行。1995年10月28日国务院发布的《信访条例》同时废止。