---
title: "Civil Servant Law — Definition & Meaning | Model Diplomat"
description: "The Civil Servant Law is China's key statute for managing state civil servants, crucial for understanding recruitment and discipline in the civil service."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/civil-servant-law"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Civil Servant Law is China's foundational statute, enacted in 2005 and revised in 2018, that governs the recruitment, ranking, appointment, discipline and management of state civil servants.
- When was the Civil Servant Law enacted and revised?
- How does the law define a civil servant in China?
- What did the 2018 revision change?
- How does China's civil service model differ from India's?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

The Civil Servant Law is China's foundational statute, enacted in 2005 and revised in 2018, that governs the recruitment, ranking, appointment, discipline and management of state civil servants.

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## Timeline

1. 27 April 2005

   The Civil Servant Law of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国公务员法) was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on , took effec…

2. 1 January 2006

   The Civil Servant Law of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国公务员法) was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on 27 April 200…

3. 29 December 2018

   The Civil Servant Law of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国公务员法) was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on 27 April 200…

4. 1 June 2019

   The Civil Servant Law of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国公务员法) was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on 27 April 200…

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In 2018, China's National People's Congress Standing Committee revised the Civil Servant Law to add a rank-grade promotion track and explicitly require civil servants to uphold Communist Party leadership.

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