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PUBLIC FINANCE ORDINANCE

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PUBLIC FINANCE ORDINANCE ——附加英文版

Hong Kong


 PUBLIC FINANCE ORDINANCE
 (CHAPTER 2)
 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
  
  ion
  I    PRELIMINARY
  hort title
  nterpretation
  he general revenue
  harges on the general revenue
  II    THE ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE, AND
APPROPRIATION
  nnual estimates
  pproval of estimates of expenditure and appropriation
  uthorization of expenditure in advance of appropriation
  hanges to the approved estimates of expenditure
  upplementary Appropriation
  III   CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT
  General powers and duties of the Financial Secretary
  Power to make regulations and give directions, etc.
  Controlling officers.
  Controlling officers to obey regulations and directions, etc.
  Authority of controlling officers to incur expenditure
  Further authority of controlling officers in respect of urgent
  nditure
  IV    RECEIPT, PAYMENT AND CUSTODY OF PUBLIC MONEYS
  Duties of Director of Accounting Services
  Prompt collection of moneys
  Payment of public moneys
  Payment of certain moneys to be authorized by warrant
  Recoverable advances
  Advances to meet urgent need for payment
  Imprests
  Deposits
  Donations and grants
  Banking
  Investment of moneys
  Borrowing powers and loans
  Guarantees
  Establishment of funds
  Special suspense accounts
  Appropriations and warrants to lapse at close of financial year
  V    SURCHARGE
  Power to surcharge
  Notification of surcharge and right of appeal
  Appeal against surcharge
  Withdrawal of surcharge
  Collection of surcharge
  Surcharge in respect of deceased persons
  VI    MISCELLANEOUS
  Abandonment of claims, etc. and write-off of public moneys and
stores
  Disposal of serviceable stores, etc.
  Power of Governor to give directions
  Director of Accounting Services may give certain directions, etc.
to
  ic officers in receipt of certain moneys
  Trusts
  Transitional
  Effect of dissolution of Legislative Council
  t Schedule. Funds
  nd Schedule. Special Suspense Accounts
 Whole document
  
  rovide for the control and management of the public finances of 
Hong
  and for incidental and connected purposes.
  pril 1983] L. N. 109 of 1983
 PART I PRELIMINARY
  
  hort title
  Ordinance may be cited as the Public Finance Ordinance.
  nterpretation
  his Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires--
  ropriation Bill" and "Appropriation Ordinance" means a 
Bill or
  nance, as the case may be, which provides for appropriation from 
the
  ral revenue in respect of the approved estimates of expenditure
on the
  ices of the Government for a financial year;
  roved estimates of expenditure" means the estimates of 
expenditure
  ed to be approved under section 6;
  trolling officer" in relation to a head or subhead means the 
officer
  gnated as controlling officer of that head or subhead under 
section
  
  ector of Audit" means the Director of Audit appointed under
section 3
  he Audit Ordinance (Cap. 122);
  ctment" includes an imperial enactment;
  enditure" includes expenditure on the services of the 
Government
  ired to be met under any enactment;
  ance Committee" means the Finance Committee of the Legislative
Council
  blished under the Standing Orders of the Legislative Council;
  eral revenue" means moneys which under this Ordinance or any 
other
  tment are to be paid into or to form part of the general revenue;
  d" means a head of expenditure;
  lic moneys" means--
  the general revenue;
  any moneys which are accounted for in the books or records of 
account
  he Director of Accounting Services; and (Replaced 11 of 1990 s.
2)
  any other moneys which the Governor may declare in writing 
to be
  ic moneys for the purposes of this Ordinance;
  head" means a subhead of expenditure;
  plementary Appropriation Bill" and  "Supplementary 
Appropriation
  nance" means a Bill or Ordinance, as the case may be, which 
provides
  appropriation from the general revenue in supplementation 
of the
  opriation already made by an Appropriation Ordinance.
  he general revenue
  Except where otherwise provided by or under this Ordinance 
or any
  r enactment any moneys raised or received for the purposes 
of the
  rnment shall form part of the general revenue.
  Any refund or drawback may be made from the general 
revenue in
  rdance with regulations made under section 11. (Replaced 8 of 1984 
s.
  
  For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that the
reference in
  ection (1) to moneys raised or received for the purposes 
of the
  rnment does not include moneys held on trust.
  harges on the general revenue
  xpenditure shall be charged on the general revenue except as 
provided
  r under this Ordinance or any other enactment.
 PART II THE ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE, AND APPROPRIA- 
TION
  
  nnual estimates
  The Financial Secretary shall cause to be prepared in each 
financial
  estimates of the revenue and expenditure of the Government for 
the
  following financial year, and shall cause such estimates to be 
laid
  re the Legislative Council before or as soon as practicable after 
the
  encement of the financial year to which they relate.
  Subject to subsection (3), the estimates of revenue and 
expenditure
  l be in such form as the Financial Secretary may from time to 
time
  ct.
  The estimates of expenditure shall--
  classify expenditure under heads and subheads with the ambit of 
each
  described;
  in respect of each head show the estimated total 
expenditure, the
  ision sought in respect of each subhead, the establishment of
posts
  any), and the limit (if any) to the commitments which may be 
entered
  in respect of expenditure which is not annually recurrent; and
  specify the controlling officer designated in respect of each
head and
  ead under section 12.
  Where there is a requirement under any enactment that 
expenditure be
  from the general revenue, provision for such expenditure 
shall be
  uded in the estimates of expenditure for the purposes of this 
Part,
  without prejudice to the validity or effect of any such
requirement.
  pproval of estimates of expenditure and appropriation
  The heads contained in the estimates of expenditure for a 
financial
  shall be included in an Appropriation Bill which shall be 
introduced
  the Legislative Council at the same time as the estimates.
  Upon the enactment of the Appropriation Ordinance the 
estimates of
  nditure for the financial year to which the Ordinance relates
shall be
  ed to be approved to the extent that they are provided for in 
the
  nance and shall have effect from the first day of such financial
year.
  Expenditure for the financial year on the services of the 
Government
  l, subject to this Ordinance, be arranged in accordance with the
heads
  subheads and be limited by the provision in each subhead shown
in the
  mates of expenditure as approved or as may subsequently be 
changed
  time to time in accordance with section 8.
  uthorization of expenditure in advance of appropriation
  The Legislative Council may, in advance of an Appropriation
Ordinance,
  esolution authorize expenditure for the services of the
Government in
  ect of a financial year to be charged on the general 
revenue, in
  rdance with this Ordinance and subject to such 
limitations and
  itions as may be specified in the resolution.
  Expenditure charged on the general revenue pursuant to a 
resolution
  r this section shall be arranged in accordance with the 
heads and
  eads shown in the estimates of expenditure laid under section 
5 and
  provisions of this Ordinance shall, for the purposes 
of this
  ection and subject to such conditions and limitations as 
may be
  ified in the resolution, apply to such estimates as though they 
were
  approved estimates of expenditure.
  Expenditure charged on the general revenue pursuant to a 
resolution
  r this section shall be set off against the amounts 
respectively
  ided in the Appropriation Ordinance upon the same 
coming into
  ation.
  
  hanges to the approved estimates of expenditure
  Subject to this section, no changes shall be made to the 
approved
  mates of expenditure except with the approval of the Finance
Committee
  a proposal of the Financial Secretary.
  Without limiting the generality of subsection (1) such 
changes may
  ide for all or any of the following matters--
  the creation of new heads or subheads;
  supplementary provision in approved or new subheads;
  variations in the establishments of posts;
  increases in the limit to the commitments which may be entered
into in
  ect of expenditure which is not annually recurrent.
  The Finance Committee may delegate to the Financial 
Secretary the
  r to approve changes subject to such conditions, 
exceptions and
  tations as are specified in the delegation.
  The Financial Secretary, where a delegation by the Finance 
Committee
  r subsection (3) so provides, and subject to such 
conditions,
  ptions and limitations as are specified in the delegation, may
further
  gate his power to approve changes to any public officer.
  A delegation to any public officer under subsection (4) 
shall be
  ect to such further conditions, exceptions and limitations 
as the
  ncial Secretary may specify.
  Nothing in subsection (1) shall be construed as 
limiting  or
  cting--
  the power of the Governor to make any proposal, or allow or direct
any
  osal to be made, to the Legislative Council, the object or effect 
of
  h is to require a change to the approved estimates of expenditure;
or
  a requirement under any enactment that expenditure be met 
from the
  ral revenue.
  The Financial Secretary shall cause such changes to be made 
to the
  oved estimates of expenditure as are necessary in respect of any--
  approval given under subsection (1), (3) or (4);
  expenditure pursuant to a proposal referred to in subsection (6) 
(a);
  
  requirement referred to in subsection (6) (b) not otherwise 
provided
  by approval under this section.
  The Financial Secretary shall at the end of each quarter 
of the
  ncial year or as soon as practicable thereafter--
  report to the Finance Committee changes made to the approved
estimates
  xpenditure in that quarter upon approval by him or by any 
public
  cer pursuant to a delegation under section (3) or (4), as the case
may
  and
  table in the Legislative Council a summary of all changes made
to the
  oved estimates of expenditure in that quarter under this section.
  Without prejudice to section 9, expenditure in respect of 
which a
  ge to the approved estimates is made under this section 
shall be
  ged on the general revenue notwithstanding that there has 
been no
  opriation in respect thereof by an Appropriation Ordinance.
  upplementary Appropriation
  t the close of account for any financial year it is 
found that
  nditure charged to any head is in excess of the sum appropriated 
for
  head by an Appropriation Ordinance, the excess shall be included
in a
  lementary Appropriation Bill which shall be introduced 
into the
  slative Council as soon as practicable after the close 
of the
  ncial year to which the excess expenditure relates.
 PART III CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT
  
  General powers and duties of the Financial Secretary
  Financial Secretary shall, subject to this Ordinance and any 
other
  tment, have the management of the finances of the Government and 
the
  rvision, control and direction of all matters relating 
to the
  ncial affairs of the Government.
  Power to make regulations and give directions, etc.
  Without prejudice to any other provision of this 
Ordinance, the
  ncial Secretary may make such administrative regulations and give
such
  nistrative directions and instructions not inconsistent 
with this
  nance as may appear to him to be necessary or expedient for the
better
  ying out of the provisions and purposes of this Ordinance and for 
the
  ty, economy and advantage of public moneys and Government
property.
  Any regulations made or directions and instructions given 
by the
  rnor or by any person authorized by him, for purposes similar to
those
  espect of which regulations, directions and instructions may be 
made
  iven under subsection (1), and which are in force at the 
commencement
  his Ordinance, shall, in so far as they are not inconsistent with
this
  nance, remain in force and shall be deemed for all purposes to 
have
  made or given under this section and to be liable to revocation 
or
  dment hereunder.
  Controlling officers
  Estimates of expenditure laid before the Legislative Council 
shall
  gnate a controlling officer in respect of each head and subhead.
  Subject to section 14 (5), a controlling officer shall be 
responsible
  accountable for all expenditure from any head or subhead for which 
he
  he controlling officer, and for all public moneys and 
Government
  erty in respect of the department or service for 
which he is
  onsible.
  Controlling officers to obey regulations and directions, etc.
  y controlling officer shall obey all regulations made and 
directions
  nstructions given by the Financial Secretary under section 
11 and
  l, if so required, account to the Financial Secretary 
for the
  ormance of his duties as controlling officer.
  Authority of controlling officers to incur expenditure
  Subject to any regulations made or directions or instructions
given by
  Financial Secretary under section 11 and to any reservation 
made by
  Financial Secretary under subsection (3), a controlling officer 
may,
  accordance with this Ordinance, incur expenditure and 
authorize
  nditure to be incurred against any provision shown in any subhead 
for
  h he is the controlling officer.
  No expenditure shall be incurred against any provision shown 
in any
  ead except by or under the authority of the controlling officer.
  The Financial Secretary may, in writing, reserve the whole or any
part
  ny provision shown in any subhead and for so long as such 
reservation
  ins in force no expenditure shall be incurred against the 
provision
  rved.
  A controlling officer may, in respect of any subhead for which 
he is
  controlling officer, by allocation warrant signed by him or 
by a
  ic officer authorized generally or specially by him, 
authorize any
  r controlling officer to incur expenditure or authorize
expenditure to
  ncurred against any provision shown in that subhead--(Added 8 of
1984
  )
  for any purpose within the ambit of that subhead; and
  in accordance with the terms of the allocation warrant.
  The controlling officer to whom an allocation warrant is issued 
under
  ection (4) shall be responsible and accountable for any 
expenditure
  rred under the warrant as if he were the controlling 
officer
  gnated in respect thereof under section 12.
  
  Further authority of controlling officers in respect 
of urgent
  nditure
  where an urgent need has arisen for expenditure to be incurred
which--
  requires a change to the approved estimates of expenditure in 
respect
  atters referred to in section 8 (2) (b) or (d); and
  in the opinion of a controlling officer cannot be deferred until 
the
  ssary change is made in accordance with section 8 without 
serious
  iment to the public interest, the controlling officer may, 
on his
  onal responsibility, incur the expenditure in anticipation 
of such
  ge.
  As soon as practicable after incurring expenditure under
subsection
  the controlling officer shall report the matter to the 
Financial
  etary for the purpose of having the necessary change made 
to the
  oved estimates of expenditure.
  Where the necessary change to the approved estimates of
expenditure is
  made in accordance with section 8, the expenditure incurred shall 
not
  charged on the general revenue but shall remain the 
personal
  onsibility of the controlling officer who incurred the 
expenditure.
 PART IV RECEIPT, PAYMENT AND CUSTODY OF PUBLIC MONEYS
  
  Duties of Director of Accounting Services
  The Director of Accounting Services shall be responsible 
for the
  ilation and supervision of the accounts of the Government, 
for the
  gement of accounting operations and procedures, and for ensuring 
that
  regulations directions or instructions made or given 
under this
  nance relating thereto and in respect of the safe custody of 
public
  ys and its accounting are complied with.
  Without prejudice to the generality of his duties under
subsection (1)
  the powers conferred on the Financial Secretary by section 
11 the
  ctor of Accounting Services shall--
  ensure that adequate arrangements are made for bringing 
promptly and
  erly to account all public moneys received and paid by the
Government;
  pay such sums from public moneys as he is authorized to pay under
this
  nance or any other enactment;
  ensure, in so far as is practicable, that adequate 
arrangements are
  for the safe custody of public moneys; and
  bring to the notice of the Financial Secretary and the 
Director of
  t, in writing, any material defect in departmental control of
revenue,
  nditure, cash, stamps, securities, stores and other 
Government
  erty which may come to his notice and any persistent 
breaches of
  lations, directions or instructions made or given 
under  this
  nance.
  Subject to the provisions of any enactment, in the exercise 
of his
  es the Director of Accounting Services shall be entitled to 
inspect
  offices and shall have access to all records, books, 
vouchers

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吉林省社会科学优秀成果奖励若干规定

吉林省人民政府


吉林省人民政府令
 (第94号)


  《吉林省社会科学优秀成果奖励若干规定》已经1998年6月10日省政府第8次常务会议通过,现予发布,自发布之日起施行。

                              
省长 王云坤
                          
一九九八年六月十八日


          吉林省社会科学优秀成果奖励若干规定



  第一条 为了鼓励从事社会科学研究的人员开展科学研究的积极性和创造性,促进社会科学事业的繁荣与发展,更好地为我省经济和社会发展服务,根据本省实际,制定本规定。


  第二条 本省设立吉林省社会科学优秀成果奖,奖励符合本规定的在社会科学研究方面取得优秀成果的集体和个人。


  第三条 社会科学优秀成果奖分为下列三类:
  (一)著作类,包括正式出版社公开出版的社会科学专著、译著、工具书、教材、古籍整理出版物、通俗读物、研究资料、地方志书;
  (二)论文类,包括论文、调查报告;
  (三)咨询成果类,包括咨询方案、咨询报告、论证报告。


  第四条 吉林省社会科学优秀成果奖分为一等奖、二等奖、三等奖。对获奖成果授予证书和奖金。奖金由省财政专项核拨。


  第五条 属于下列范围之一的社会科学优秀成果,可以申报吉林省社会科学优秀成果奖:
  (一)在国内外公开出版的社会科学著作;
  (二)在国内市、州以上报刊或国外报刊上发表的社会科学方面的论文和调查报告;
  (三)被本省市、州以上领导决策时采纳,并产生明显经济或社会效益的咨询方案、咨询报告、论证报告。


  第六条 获奖的各类社会科学优秀成果,必须具备下列基本条件:
  (一)专著 选题新,在研究现实和历史重大问题上有创见,对学科建设有新贡献;
  (二)教材 内容有新意,能够反映当代最新科研成果,对科研、教学有重要应用价值;
  (三)工具书(包括研究资料书) 体例科学,资料可靠,知识性强,对学术研究具有较高的参考价值;
  (四)古籍整顿出版物 忠于原作,历史考证和研究富有新意,对当代社会科学研究有重要的借鉴、参考价值;
  (五)通俗读物 有较强的科学性、知识性,对传播和普及社会科学知识起到了积极的作用;
  (六)地方志书 资料可靠、记述准确,具有较高的史学价值;
  (七)译著 译文准确,对研究我国现代化建设中的重大理论问题和实际问题具有很高的参考价值,对深化学术研究起到促进作用;
  (八)论文 立题角度独特,论点新颖,具有创造性,对解决现实生活中的重大理论问题或实际问题起到了积极的作用;
  (九)调查报告、论证报告、咨询方案、咨询报告 适应社会实践需要,材料翔实可靠,具有较强的创新性,被市、州以上领导决策时采纳,对促进本省、本地区经济或社会发展起到了明显的作用。


  第七条 吉林省社会科学优秀成果奖的评审和授予工作,由吉林省社会科学优秀成果奖评审委员会(以下简称评审委员会)负责。
  评审委员会由从事社会科学工作的专家、学者和有关部门的负责人组成,其中,具有正高级专业技术职务的人员不少于三分之二。
  评审委员会的日常工作由鼓励省社会科学界联合会负责。


  第八条 吉林省社会科学优秀成果奖的评选、奖励工作每3年进行一次。
  评奖工作开始前,由评审委员会在《吉林日报》上发布公告。


  第九条 社会科学优秀成果奖的评奖工作按照评奖方案进行,评奖方案由评审委员会制定并组织实施。


  第十条 本省的集体和个人的社会科学优秀成果,以及外省和外国的集体和个人以我省的经济和社会发展为研究对象,并起到明显作用的社会科学优秀成果,均可以按照本规定,申报参加吉林省社会科学优秀成果奖的评选。


  第十一条 参加吉林省社会科学优秀成果奖评奖的集体和个人,分别按照下列规定申报其研究成果:
  (一)社会科学各省级学会会员向所在学会申报;
  (二)市、州社会科学工作者向所在市、州社会科学界联合会(以下简称市、州社科联)申报;
  (三)本条第一项、第二项以外的申报者,直接向评审委员会申报,并由其转交相关省级学会。


  第十二条 吉林省社会科学优秀成果奖实行三级评审制度。由社会科学各省级学会,各市、州社科联组成初审组,分别对申报参评的成果进行补审。通过初审的,由省社会科学各相关学会组成复审组进行复审。通过复审的,由评审委员会进行终审,确定获奖成果。


  第十三条 终审确定获奖成果后,由评审委员会在《吉林日报》上发布公告,告知有关人员可以查询。自公告发布之日起30日内,如有异议,可以向评审委员会提出,由其交初审组提出处理意见后,作出处理决定。


  第十四条 吉林省社会科学优秀成果奖获奖者业绩,记入本人档案,作为任用、晋级、评定专业技术职务的重要依据之一。


  第十五条 从事评审工作的人员,必须坚决原则,秉公办事,严禁弄虚作假,徇私舞弊,索贿受贿。
  对于违反本条例前款规定的,由其所在单位、上级机关或者有关主管部门给予行政处分;违反其他法律、法规规定的,由有关机关依法处罚。


  第十六条 对于剽窃他人研究成果或者采取其他不正当手段获奖的人员,由评审委员会撤销奖励,并由其所在单位、上级机关或者有关主管部门给予行政处分;违反其他有关法律、法规规定的,由有关机关依法处罚。


  第十七条 本规定自发布之日起施行。

从清朝末期中国开始研究西方律师制度,到目前该制度已经被社会广泛接受,经历了一个漫长、艰苦的孕育、产生、建设、发展时期。律师制度作为一种法律制度,与国家法制建设程度息息相关,随着我国法制建设的不断建全、完善,姗姗来迟的中国律师业开始进入了紫晨。
遇到官司一般都会聘请律师,可是不打官司有必要请律师吗?
一位美国著名作家曾经告诫人们:“当你感觉到可能会遇到麻烦的时候,应当咨询你的律师。”言简意赅,富有哲理地阐明了一个重要道理:在一个法制健全的国家里,律师的帮助将会给人们的生活带来意想不到的影响,可以有效地化解或者减少许多刑事、民事等法律风险。
法律作为调整各种社会关系的强制性规范,是以《宪法》为母法,由各种单行法律互相联系、互相制约的法律科学体系,只有专业人员才有可能掌握、运用,一般人很难搞清楚。严格地说一个法律本科毕业的学生,只是掌握了一部分法学基础理论知识,还不能说懂法,更达不到灵活运用的程度。资深律师之所以能够被社会所接受,是因为其不仅掌握了雄厚的法学理论知识,而且具有丰富的办案经验和技巧,能够较好的保护、维护当事人的合法权益。
西方国家公民如果遇到问题,会主动向专业律师咨询,寻求律师的帮助。然而中国人的传统习惯做法则恰恰相反,往往是马不停蹄的到处寻找熟人或者通过亲戚朋友找关系,谋求各类“关系人”的帮助。由于“关系人”不一定是这方面法律问题的专家,即便是这方面的专家都在忙于自己的工作或者事业,没有精力对你咨询的问题进行系统研究,只能大概提供一点参考意见。另外,由于咨询人与“关系人”之间不是服务与被服务的合同关系,所以“关系人”所提供的咨询意见的准确性很难得到保证。这种处理问题的方式耽误了不少时间,消耗了不少精力,花费了不少金钱,欠了不少人情,结果往往很难达到预想目的。律师作为专业法律服务人员是以有偿服务作为咨询的前提条件,收人钱财,替人消灾,所以有义务提供及时、准确的法律咨询。律师基于咨询人的叙述和提供的证据真实可靠、第三人没有异议的情况下,根据现行法律法规做出的咨询意见一般比较可靠。如果咨询人提供的证据不真实或者不全面或者第三人有证据证明该争议与事实不符,律师的咨询意见当然也不准确。所以许多律师的法律意见书都有这样一段话:“本律师根据咨询人提供的证据材料(一一列举)和口头叙述事实真实、无其他证据推翻该事实的情形下,根据我国现行法律法规,提出以下咨询意见。”这段话说明律师提供法律咨询的严肃性,同时也是律师的一种自我保护。律师必须坚持以法律为准绳,以事实为根据这样一个最基本的服务原则。社会各界人士如何利用律师的专业知识保护自己的合法权益,确实是一个值得深思的问题。
中国的法制建设经历了一个漫长的、不平凡的历史过程,许多能人贤士为此进行了不懈努力,甚至献出了宝贵的生命。新中国成立以来,在中国共产党的正确英明领导下,我国的法制建设逐渐纳入了正规。1978年12月22日,党的十一届三中全会公报郑重宣布:“为了保障人民民主,必须加强社会主义法制,使民主制度化、法律化,使这种制度和法律具有稳定性、连续性和极大的权威,做到有法可依,有法必依,执法必严,违法必究。从现在起,应当把立法工作摆到全国人民代表大会及其常务委员会的重要议程上来。检察机关和司法机关要保持应有的独立性;要忠实于法律和制度,忠实于人民利益,忠实于事实真相;要保证人民在自己的法律面前人人平等,不允许任何人有超于法律之上的特权。”党中央这一正确的、英明的、划时代的伟大决策,标志着当代中国社会从人治走向法治的伟大历史性转折。从此,我国的法制建设开始阔步前进。党的十二大党章中明确规定:“党必须在宪法和法律的范围内活动。”党的十三大进一步明确了民主和法制是建设社会主义现代化国家的目标之一。党的十四大、十五大明确提出“依法治国,建设社会主义法治国家”的伟大目标。 1999年3月,九届全国人大二次会议上,“依法治国,建设社会主义法治国家”这一治国方略,正式写入宪法修正案。党的十七大强调要全面落实依法治国基本方略,加快实现建设社会主义法治国家的目标。党的十八大报告指出:“全面推进依法治国。法治是治国理政的基本方式。要推进科学立法、严格执法、公正司法、全民守法,坚持法律面前人人平等,保证有法必依、执法必严、违法必究。完善中国特色社会主义法律体系,加强重点领域立法,拓展人民有序参与立法途径。推进依法行政,切实做到严格规范公正文明执法。进一步深化司法体制改革,坚持和完善中国特色社会主义司法制度,确保审判机关、检察机关依法独立公正行使审判权、检察权。深入开展法制宣传教育,弘扬社会主义法治精神,树立社会主义法治理念,增强全社会学法尊法守法用法意识。提高领导干部运用法治思维和法治方式深化改革、推动发展、化解矛盾、维护稳定能力。党领导人民制定宪法和法律,党必须在宪法和法律范围内活动。任何组织或者个人都不得有超越宪法和法律的特权,绝不允许以言代法、以权压法、徇私枉法。”经过三十多年的努力,目前我国各项法律日臻完善,调整各种社会关系法律体系基本形成,对社会进步、经济发展、社会稳定发挥了重要保障作用。
随着法制建设的发展,公民的主体意识和法律意识有了极大提高,公民、企业、事业单位、社会团体、党和国家机关及其领导人聘请律师担任法律顾问,提供法律帮助的越来越多。不打官司请律师在我国已经开始被社会各界广泛接受。
这一社会现象的出现,给律师提出了更高的要求,如何适应社会对法律服务的需求,提高综合素质、精通各项法律,为社会提供数量多、质量好、效率高、速度快、准确无误的法律服务,是摆在律师面前的一个重要课题。一个律师如果不能成为某一方面法律问题的专家,就不可能得到社会的认可。
1986年7月5日胡乔木同志为中华全国第一次律师代表大题词《律师颂》:“你戴着荆棘的王冠而来,你握着正义的宝剑而来。律师,神圣之门又是地狱之门,但你视一切险阻诱惑为无物。你的格言:在法律面前人人平等,惟有客观事实,才是最高的权威。”
胡乔木的题词指出了律师事业的伟大和律师执业的凶险。
中国律师事业的重建和发展确实经历了一个不平凡的历程,许多忠诚于律师事业的律师紧握正义的宝剑,为“神圣之门”付出了辛勤的劳动,甚至血的代价。中国律师制度重建后,尽管受到了党和政府的大力支持,但是这项新的法律制度,在发展中遇到了许多想象不到的阻力和风险:
……
上述不正常的情形,律师业内人士被统称为“侵犯律师合法权益”,看来我国的法制建设还需要一个发展的过程。立法固然重要,执法更重要,红头文件比国家法律管用的做法必须得到纠正。
我从文学作品或者新闻上都没有看到国外的律师因为刑事辩护或者民事代理而被关进监狱这方面的信息,说明即便是有也很少。国家既然认可了律师制度,就应该从立法上给律师一个宽松的法制环境,容忍律师在执业中的某些行为。在刑事案件中,控辩双方的法律地位应当是平等的,律师、控方均有权提供相关证据,是否认可由法庭认定。在我国,控方向法庭提供的犯罪证据材料不被法庭认可的情况很多,从来没有因此构成犯罪;控方向法庭提供的证据违反事实,被法庭采纳后造成犯罪嫌疑人受到冤枉的事件也时有发生,检察人员、审判人员因此受到刑事处罚的很少。但是律师则不一样,稍有不慎,就会按照《刑法》第306条的规定,以“辩护人、诉讼代理人毁灭证据伪造证据、妨害作证罪”追究律师的刑事责任,风险之大令人胆寒。《刑法》第306条对律师事业的发展设定了一条不应有的“高压线”,如果不进行修改,律师在刑事辩护中很难发挥应有的作用,也不利于律师制度的发展。相信随着国家法制建设的逐步完善,中国的律师制度一定能够更加完善。
美国,是一个现代资本主义法制高度发展的国家,如果离开了律师将会寸步难行。美国独立以来到目前为止有44任总统,其中做过律师的总统有24位,约占55%。历届律师出身的美国总统如下:
第二任总统:约翰•亚当斯;
第三任总统:托马斯•杰斐逊;
第六任总统:约翰•昆西•亚当斯;
第七任总统:安德鲁•杰克逊;
第八任总统:马丁•范布伦;
  第十任总统:约翰•泰勒;
  第十一任总统:詹姆斯•诺克斯•波尔克;
  第十三任总统:米拉德•菲尔莫尔;
  第十四任总统:富兰克林•皮尔斯;
  第十五任总统:詹姆士•布坎南;
  第十六任总统:亚伯拉罕•林肯;
  第十九任总统:拉瑟福德•B•海斯;
  第二十一任总统:切斯特•A•亚瑟;
  第二十二任、二十四任总统:格罗佛•克利夫兰;
  第二十三任总统:本杰明•哈里森;
  第二十五任总统:威廉•麦金莱;
  第二十七任总统:威廉•霍华德•塔夫脱;
  第三十任总统:卡尔文.库利奇;
第三十二任总统:富兰克林•罗斯福;
第三十三任总统:杜鲁门;
  第三十七任总统:理查德•尼克松;
  第三十八任总统:杰拉尔德•福特;
  第四十二任总统:比尔•克林顿;
  第四十四任总统:巴拉克•奥巴马。

上述数字说明,律师制度发展程度的高低,代表着一个国家的法制建设水平。律师是法制建设的一支重要力量,社会各界人士、国家机关有义务尊重律师、相信律师、为律师执业提供方便条件。
“依法治国,建设社会主义法治国家”的伟大目标正在实施,中国律师业一定能够越过紫晨,走向正?D。