【正文】 f the country and guarantee that the Constitution and other laws are observed and implemented in these areas. Article 6 The organs of selfgovernment of national autonomous areas shall lead the people of the various nationalities in a concentrated effort to promote socialist modernization. On the principle of not contravening the Constitution and the laws, the organs of selfgovernment of national autonomous areas shall have the power to adopt special policies and flexible measures in the light of local conditions to speed up the economic and cultural development of these areas. Under the guidance of State plans and on the basis of actual conditions, the organs of selfgovernment of national autonomous areas shall steadily increase labor productivity and economic results, develop social productive forces and gradually raise the material living standards of the people of the various nationalities. The organs of selfgovernment of national autonomous areas shall inherit and carry forward the fine traditions of national cultures, build a socialist society with an advanced culture and ideology and with national characteristics, and steadily raise the socialist consciousness and scientific and cultural levels of the people of the various nationalities. Article 7 The organs of selfgovernment of national autonomous areas shall place the interests of the State as a whole above anything else and make positive efforts to fulfill the tasks assigned by State organs at higher levels. Article 8 State organs at higher levels shall guarantee the exercise of the power of autonomy by the organs of selfgovernment of national autonomous areas and shall, in accordance with the characteristics and needs of these areas, strive to help them speed up their socialist construction. Article 9 State organs at higher levels and the organs of selfgovernment of national autonomous areas shall uphold and develop the socialist relationship of equality, unity and mutual assistance among all of China39。 any act that undermines the unity of the nationalities or instigates national division shall also be prohibited. Article 10 The organs of selfgovernment of national autonomous areas shall guarantee the freedom of the nationalities in these areas to use and develop their own spoken and written languages and their freedom to preserve or reform their own folkways and customs. Article 11 The organs of selfgovernment of national autonomous areas shall guarantee the freedom of religious belief to citizens of the various nationalities. No State organ, public organization or individual may pel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion, nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion. The State shall protect normal religious activities. No one may make use of religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens or interfere with the educational system of the State. Religious bodies and religious affairs shall not be subject to any foreign domination. Chapter II Establishment of National Autonomous Areas and the Structure of the Organs of Selfgovernment Article 12 Autonomous areas may be established where one or more minority nationalities live in concentrated munities, in the light of local conditions such as the relationship among the various nationalities and the level of economic development, and with due consideration for historical background. Within a national autonomous area, appropriate autonomous areas or nationality townships may be established where other minority nationalities live in concentrated munities. Some residential areas and towns of the Han nationality or other nationalities may be included in a national autonomous area in consideration of actual local conditions. Article 13 With the exception of special cases, the name of a national autonomous area shall be posed of the name of the locality and the name of the nationality and the administrative status, in that order. Article 14 The establishment of a national autonomous area, the delineation of its boundaries and the elements of its name shall be proposed by the State organ at the nest higher level jointly with the State organ in the relevant locality, after full consultation with representatives of the relevant nationalities, before they are submitted for approval according to the procedures prescribed by law. Once established, no national autonomous area may, without legal procedures, be abolished or merged. Once defined, no boundaries of a national autonomous area may, without legal procedures, be altered. Where abolition or merger or alteration is really required, it shall be proposed by the relevant department of the State organ at the next higher level after full consultation with the organ of selfgovernment of the national autonomous area before it is submitted for approval according to legal procedures.
Article 15 The organs of selfgovernment of national autonomous areas shall be the people39。s governments of autonomous regions, autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties. The people39。s congresses at corresponding levels and to the administrative organs of the State at the next higher level. When the people39。s congresses. The people39。 regulations on the exercise of autonomy or separate regulations, in accordance with the Constitution and other laws. Article 16 In the people39。s congress of a national autonomous area from the nationality exercising regional autonomy and from the other minority nationalities shall be decided upon by the standing mittee of the people39。s Congress for the record. Among the chairman and vicechairmen of the standing mittee of the people39。s government of an autonomous region, an autonomous prefecture or an autonomous county shall rationally be assumed by people of the nationality exercising regional autonomy and of other minor