作者：何清风 编辑：冯仍 责任编辑：罗志飞 鲁慧文
引言：一部优秀的宪法乃法治之魂
在历史的洪流中，宪法的意义不仅在于规范权力，更在于勾勒出一个国家的精神与未来。《五民宪法》以民治、民主、民权、民生、民族为核心政治理论，构建了一套既扎根于中国土壤又放眼全球未来的宪政蓝图。其第一章总则，作为宪法的灵魂篇章，明确了国家、宪法和军队的定义，阐明了公民的权利与义务，并通过特别条款构建权力制约体系。
《五民宪法》以民治为核心，超越了传统三民主义的理论范式，回应了21世纪中国对民主的深切渴望。本文将初步解读第一章内容，并在后续文章当中逐条解读每一条款的详细内容，揭开“由民治出发，引导出为公民表达意志的民主制度，即为民主之制度五民宪法”的思想内核，带领读者走进中国民主未来的宏伟蓝图。
五民主义的精髓：民治为魂
五民主义并非承袭于三民主义，而是以“民治”为核心的全新政治哲学，由民治逐步推导出民主、民权、民生和民族，民治就是那个“1”，民主、民权、民生、民族以及更多的公民权利则是后面的“0”。民治由两个核心理论组成：一为公民自治，即自我管理，强调个人在社会生活中的自主性以及权利与义务。一个人处于社会中有权利和义务进行自我管理，公民享有权利的同时则需要负有对等的义务；二为公民治理国家，公民治理国家是公民直接参与国家事务的权力，是公民治理国家，而非国家（统治者）统治公民。这一核心理念打破了传统政治的精英垄断权力、王权（皇权）垄断权力的传统政治理论，主张公民不仅是权力的来源，更是治理的主体，是由公民来治理国家。由民治出发，引导出民主为公民表达意志的制度，即为民主之制度；因有民主之制度，方可保障个人的权利与自由，以及其他诸多方面的公民权利，即为民权；因公民有了民权，公民能有效行使民权，以建立一个关注公平与福祉的社会，即为民生；公民的生存得以更好的保障，人们才有更多的可能复兴民族的文化，民族能守护国家的独立与文化传承。五民主义以民治为根，串联起民主、民权、民生、民族，形成一个立体而平衡的政治理论体系，为中国未来的政治体制民主化提供了理论支点。
《五民宪法》的核心内容：第一章 总则
第一章总则作为《五民宪法》的开篇，奠定了宪法的基调与框架，其内容涵盖以下关键要素：
- 国家的定义：第一章明确国家为“民治之国”，主权完全归于全体公民。国家不仅是一个政治实体，更是公民共同意志的体现，旨在实现民治之下的公平、正义与繁荣。
- 宪法的定义：宪法被定义为国家的最高法律，超越一切权势，确保民治、民主、民权、民生、民族的原则贯穿治理始终，确保国家的法治根基牢固，公权力的来源正当。
- 军队的定义：军队被定义为“公民的军队”、“国家的军队”，其核心职责是保卫国家主权与公民权利，而非服务于任何个人或派系，杜绝军事干政的可能性。
- 公民的权利与义务：公民享有广泛的自由，包括言论、结社、信仰等，同时负有参与公共事务、维护社会秩序的义务。民治理念贯穿其中，鼓励公民通过选举、监督与直接参与，共同塑造国家的未来。
- 宪法的特别条款：第一章引入创新的特别条款，为宪法的灵活性与适应性提供保障。这些条款允许在特殊情况下调整治理机制，以应对危机或重大社会变革，确保宪法的生命力。
《五民宪法》对中国民主的启示
《五民宪法》第一章以民治为核心，勾勒出中国民主的独特路径。它回应了西方民主在中国的“水土不服”，同时避免陷入过度集权与民粹主义的双重陷阱。通过将公民自我管理与国家治理相结合，《五民宪法》赋予公民前所未有的主体地位，打破了传统政治的被动参与模式。同时，其对军队的严格定义与公民权利义务的平衡设计，确保了政治体制的稳定性和可持续性。特别条款的设置则为宪法注入动态适应能力，使其能够应对技术革命、全球化等新挑战。在当今世界，民主的实践面临诸多困境：西方民主饱受分裂与低效之苦，威权体制则难以回应人民对自由的渴望。《五民宪法》提供了一种“第三条道路”，既继承了中国传统的政治智慧，又吸纳了现代民主的普世价值，并结合了中国的实际国情和世界主流政治体制发展的方向。它不仅是一部法律文本，更是一场关于中国民主未来的思想实验，也是全体中国人相互签署的共同契约，激发我们思考，促使我们团结：思考如何在保持国家稳定与文化自信的同时，赋予公民真正的治理权力？
结语：迈向民主的星辰大海
《五民宪法》第一章总则以民治为魂，勾勒出一幅令人振奋的民主图景。它告诉我们，中国的民主未来不是对西方的简单模仿，而是植根于自身文明的创新实践。民治、民主、民权、民生、民族——这个理念指引着中国迈向一个自由、民主、正义、平等、求实和繁荣的未来。下一篇文章将聚焦于条款细节，深入探讨《五民宪法》中的条款设计，敬请期待这场思想的盛宴！
—“五民主义”奠基人、《五民宪法》撰写人何清风，一身正气、两袖清风。
Title: Explaining China’s Democratic Future through the “Five-Min Constitution”
Part One: The Soul of the Five-Min Constitution — General Principles
By: He Qingfeng Editor: Feng Reng Executive Editors: Luo Zhifei, Lu Huiwen Translator: Lu Huiwen
Introduction: A Strong Constitution Is the Soul of the Rule of Law
Through the currents of history, a constitution not only regulates power—it embodies a nation’s spirit and future. The Five-Min Constitution anchors itself in the five pillars of People’s Governance, Democracy, Civil Rights, Livelihood, and Nationality, offering a constitution grounded in China’s reality and forward-looking toward global democratic norms. Chapter 1, the General Principles, serves as its soul—defining the state, Constitution, and military; clarifying citizens’ rights and obligations; and introducing special clauses that constrain power.
This constitution centers on People’s Governance (民治), surpassing traditional models like Sun Yat-sen’s Three Principles by advancing a 21st-century vision for Chinese democracy. This article offers a preliminary explanation of Chapter 1, with future articles planned to unpack each clause in detail—inviting readers into the core ideological framework: a democratic system born from people’s governance, safeguarding citizens’ expression and public will.
The Essence of Five-Minism: People’s Governance at the Core
Rather than merely echoing Three Principles, Five-Minism begins with People’s Governance (民治) as the core philosophy. From it flow Democracy (民主), Civil Rights (民权), Livelihood (民生), and National Identity (民族).
People’s Governance has two components:
1. Citizen Self-Governance: empowering individuals to manage their social lives with corresponding rights and duties.
2. Citizens Governing the State: shifting from state-imposed rule to citizen-led governance—situating citizens not just as the source of power but as its active agents.
From this foundation, democratic institutions emerge to enable citizens to express collective political will (Democracy), protect individual rights (Civil Rights), pursue societal welfare (Livelihood), and nourish national and cultural identity (Nationality).
Core Content of the Five-Min Constitution: Chapter One — General Principles
• Definition of the State: Declares China a “People’s Governed State,” with sovereignty vested entirely in its citizens—more than a political entity, the state becomes the living expression of collective citizen will, committed to justice, equality, and prosperity.
• Definition of the Constitution: Positioned as supreme law, subordinating all power to the constitutional order and embedding the five core principles within the legal framework.
• Definition of the Military: Established as a “citizen army” serving the people, not political factions or individuals—designed to eliminate the possibility of military interference in governance.
• Citizens’ Rights and Obligations: Guarantees freedoms including speech, assembly, belief, and association; citizens also owe duties to public life, civic participation, and social order.
• Special Constitutional Clauses: Built-in adaptive mechanisms permitting emergency flexibility or institutional reform while preserving constitutional continuity and responsiveness to crises or social transformation.
Implications for China’s Democratic Future
Chapter One sketches a uniquely tailored path to Chinese democracy—neither copying the West nor succumbing to populist risk. It empowers citizens as active rulers, not passive subjects. Firmly defines the military as a neutral defender of rights. Balances rights with civic obligations. And includes provisions allowing institutional adaptation to meet global, technological, and social challenges.
While Western democracies grapple with polarization and ossified processes, and authoritarian regimes fail to accommodate citizens’ yearning for freedom, the Five‑Min Constitution presents a third way.
Rooted in Chinese philosophical and political tradition, but informed by modern democratic values, it honors national conditions while embracing universal norms. It proposes not just legal text, but an intellectual experiment—and a collective pact among Chinese citizens—to reconceive governance. It challenges us to imagine democracy that protects stability, cultural continuity, and civic power all at once.
Conclusion: Sailing Toward Democratic Horizons
Chapter One establishes People’s Governance as the constitutional soul, mapping China’s future across the principles of Democracy, Civil Rights, Livelihood, and National Identity. It demonstrates that true democracy need not mirror Western models—it can grow from native soil. The Five‑Min Constitution lights a path toward a society that is free, equitable, just, and grounded in cultural integrity.
In upcoming installments, each constitutional clause will be explored in depth. This is more than writing—this is the beginning of a grand vision.
He Qingfeng, the visioner behind Five‑Minism and the draftee of the Five‑Min Constitution, represents integrity and public spirit.
Note on Constitutional Context
By contrast, the current Constitution of China enshrines “people’s democratic dictatorship” under CCP leadership, and employs “democratic centralism”, giving the Party absolute authority while restricting genuine pluralism and rights . This is fundamentally different from the citizen-centered, multipillar model proposed by the Five-Min Constitution.
