AKAImBatman's Journal: China: Getting the Facts

A common theme that I've noticed in Slashdot stories about China is that no one seems to know China's actual laws about free speech, criticizing the government, or religion. Nearly everyone is surprised when I drag out the Chinese Constitution and show them the rights that the government supposedly guarantees.

While getting +5's for knowing this is a nice racket, I feel that it's far more important to catalog the information in one place so that others can learn and spread understanding of China's abuses.

Thus this weeks article is China: Getting the Facts.

If you find yourself in a discussion about China again, I hope you'll find it a useful resource to direct people to. If some of you feel that it's worthy of a front page Slashdot story, feel free to submit it. :-)

Error?

[Kalak]

Great piece.

If the President attempts to overstep his authority, the Supreme Court can again rule the actions out of line and command the resources of the US against him.

IIRC, and I'm too tired to check the Constution, only Congress can take action against the President, and only directly via the impeachment process, and then for henous crimes against the state like getting laid on the side....

Re:Error?

[AKAImBatman]

The President can only be arrested and/or prosecuted via impeachment. It takes an act of congress to begin an impeachment. However, the Supreme Court's decision is binding, and the President and all resource under him are required to obey the court orders.

Attempting to defy Supreme Court orders would be a fast way to get congress to vote on impeachment. :-)

Indeed

[Robotron23]

Good journal entry - its about time somebody tackled this issue. Any China-related topic now is full of paranoid/unrealistic comments from either tinhats, or general noobs, or bored economists. I recall a short time ago, there was a topic about the "Great Firewall" (a term thats tired already, not to mention it being an oxymoron to most /.'ers but I digress...) . People were blabbing on about how you could be stuck in jail for years if found browsing miscellanious democracy related sites.

Minutes later, a gu

Great Piece

[blighter]

From my quick read of your lead-in summary I thought I was about to encounter another idiot who takes the "rights" granted in communist constitutions at face value and then argues how they are actually fairer and more free than the U.S.

What a pleasant surprise when I find that my first impression was completely wrong and instead I get to read an informative analysis of the Chinese government's betrayal of the "rights" they've "guaranteed" their citizenry coupled with an insightful analysis of our governme