VietNamNet Bridge – At a recent workshop reviewing the National Assembly’s 70-year formation and development, many delegates focused their attention on the close connection between theoretical lessons learned over the past 70 years and the renewal of the organisation and operation of the National Assembly in the future. Former Vice Chairman of the NA Office Tran Ngoc Duong said the last ten years saw the largest number of draft laws passed by the NA during the Doi Moi (Reform) process.

At the workshop reviewing the National Assembly’s 70-year formation and development

Ten years, 238 laws and ordinances were passed

According to Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Duong, over the past ten years, the legislative activities of the NA has recorded remarkable achievements in both quality and quantity. After nearly 30 years of Vietnam's reform process (from January 1, 1987 to December 30, 2013), the NA and the NA Standing Committee adopted 483 laws and ordinances, eight times higher than the figure of 41 years ago (from September 2, 1945 to February 30, 1986, the NA passed a total of 63 laws and ordinances).

According to the report presented at the workshop, from January 2005 to June 2015, the NA approved 30 ordinances and 208 laws, including 40 legislative documents related to the organisation and operation of institutions in the political system, human rights, and citizens’ rights; 66 documents in the fields of economics; 74 documents in the fields of education, science and technology, health, sports, tourism, ethnic minorities, religion, family, population; in addition to 42 documents relating to the fields of security and defense, social order and safety.

In particular, during the 13th term, the NA revised the 1992 Constitution in order to ensure the constitutional basis for the promotion of the country’s reform in a comprehensive manner and proactive international integration.

The NA also adopted a number of new laws, Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Duong noted, including the Law on Personal Income Tax, the Law on Management and Use of State Capital in Production and Business, the Law on Public Debt Management, the Law on State Compensation Liability; the Law on Cadres and Civil Servants, the Law on Gender Equality; the Atomic Energy Law, the High Technology Law, and the Biodiversity Law, among others.

Regarding the quality of the new laws, Prof. Dr. Le Minh Thong, Deputy Chairman of NA Law Committee; Associate Professor, Doctor Bui Xuan Duc, Director of Theoretical Centre under the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee; and several delegates at the workshop agreed that the contents of the new laws which were passed recently ranged from various fields of social life with a focus on continuing to perfect the state apparatus and building a law-governed state of the people, by the people,for the people.

In additon, the process of law making also aims to innovate and complete the mechanisms of state management in the fields of economics, culture, education, science and technology, security, defense and foreign affairs.

Innovation in legislative activities and challenges

From the results of legislative activities of the National Assembly during the 12th and 13th terms, many delegates and researchers noted that over the past ten years, the NA’s legislative activities have covered almost all fields of social life, from building and improving laws on the organisation and operation of institutions in the political system; to ensure human rights and democratic freedoms of citizens; build and improve the laws on education, training, science and technology, health, culture, information, sports, ethnic minorities, religion, family, defense, and security, and so on.

In fact, the legislative activity has made progress in terms of quality and quantity, contributing to the synchronisation of the legal system, especially since the Constitution of 2013 came into effect.

It can be seen that in the number of bills that have been passed in the NA overthe past 10 years, the number of revised bills accounts for a large proportion (almost half).

Recognising this new point, Prof. Dr Tran Ngoc Duong said on one hand, the large number of passed bills and ordinances shows the increased efforts made by the NA. On the other hand, it alsoshows that the previously passed laws and ordinances still revealed many limitations and shortcomings that are needed to be addressed and amended. Therefore, in parallel with the adoption of many new laws, the 12th and 13th NA must undertake a hugh task of amending and supplementing a number of laws and ordinances that had been passed by the NA during its previous terms in order to meet new requirements of socio-economic development.

During the event, participants also analysed challenges facing the legislature in the context of the enforcement of the 2013 Constitution and the country’s increasing integration, thus putting forward orientations and measures to fine-tune the NA’s organisation and operation in the following tenures.

Some draft laws were not presented in accordance with the schedule; while otherswere encountering substantial delays. A number of draft lawslacked the necessary guidance documents and some failed to address the problem at hand.

Participants also stressed the need to continue its renovation to ensure effective implementation of the 2013 Constitution, relevant laws and the legal system, helping the country become a modern industrialised nation.

Delegates also analysed valuable experience in the organisation and operation of the NA as a basis for implementing its functions in legislation, supervision and making decisions on crucial national issues.

Nhan Dan