The Constitution - Sovereignty and Welfare

Original post by www.taiwanlawresources.com

Republican Philosophy:

Article 2 of the Constitution states:

第 2 條

中華民國之主權屬於國民全體。

Article 2

The sovereignty of the Republic of China shall reside in the whole body of citizens.

Vocabulary

中華民國  [Zhōnghuámínguó]  /Republic of China/

之  [zhī]  /(literary equivalent of 的)/

主權  [zhǔquán]  /sovereignty/

屬於  [shǔyú]  /be classified as/to belong to/to be part of/

國民  [guómín]  /national/nation/national people/

全體  [quántǐ]  /all/entire/

Article 2 further enunciates the republican philosophy adopted by Taiwan.

Social Welfare:

Article 142 of the Constitution states:

第 142 條

國民經濟應以民生主義為基本原則，實施平均地權，節制資本，以謀國計

民生之均足。

Article 142

National economy shall be based on the Principle of People’ s Livelihood and shall seek to effect equalization of land ownership and restriction of private capital in order to attain a well-balanced sufficiency in national wealth and people's livelihood.

Vocabulary

國民  [guómín]  /national/

經濟  [jīngjì]  /economy/economic/

應  [yìng]  /shall/

以  [yǐ]  /according to/so as to/in order to/by/

民生主義  [mínshēngzhǔyì]  /principle of people`s livelihood/people`s welfare/

為  [wéi]  /是/is/

基本  [jīběn]  /basic/fundamental/main/

原則  [yuánzé]  /principle/

實施  [shíshī]  /to implement/to carry out/

平均  [píngjūn]  /average/

地權  [dìquán]  /land ownership/land rights/

節制  [jiézhì]  /temperance/

資本  [zīběn]  /capital (as in capitalism)/

謀  [móu]  /to plan/seek/scheme/intend to/

國計  [guójì]  /national wealth/national economic condition/

之  [zhī]  /(literary equivalent of 的)/

均  [jūn]  /equal/even/uniform/each/

足  [zú]  /to be sufficient/

Taiwan is not considered a welfare state, but certain social welfare rights are guaranteed by the government.