ABSTRACT
This essay considers the nature and role of the administrative chambers (xíngzhèng sheˇnpàn tíng: 行政审判庭, literally ‘administrative adjudication chambers,’ but often also referred to in the abbreviated form as: xíngzhèng tíng: 行政庭, or administrative chambers) of the people’s courts (rénmín faˇyuàn: 人民 法院) in the PRC. The constitutional basis for the work of these chambers is Article 41 of the 1982 Constitution, which declares:
Citizens of the People’s Republic of China have the right to criticize and make suggestions to any state organ or functionary. Citizens have the right
to make to relevant state organs complaints and charges against, or exposures of, violation of the law or dereliction of duty by any state organ or functionary; but fabrication or distortion of facts with the intention of libel or frame-up is prohibited. Where complaints, charges or exposures are made by citizens, the state organ concerned must deal with them in a responsible manner after ascertaining the facts. Nobody may suppress such complaints, charges and exposures, or retaliate against the citizens making them. Citizens who have suffered losses through infringement of their civil rights by any state organ or functionary have the right to compensation in accordance with the law.
