Law on the Vietnam Fatherland Front No. 14/1999/QH10

LAW

Vietnam Fatherland Front

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To enhance the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in the cause of national renewal, contributing to the implementation of socialist democracy, strengthening close ties between the people and the Party and the State, promoting the spirit of patriotism, the tradition of the great unity of the entire nation - a decisive factor for the success of the Vietnamese revolution;

Inheriting the historical role of the National United Front established and led by the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh;

Based on the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1992;

This Law stipulates on the Vietnam Fatherland Front,

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. The Vietnam Fatherland Front in the political system

1.The Vietnam Fatherland Front is a political alliance and voluntary association of political organizations, socio-political organizations, social organizations, and representatives of various classes, strata of society, ethnic groups, religions, and overseas Vietnamese.

2.The Vietnam Fatherland Front is a part of the political system of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam led by the Communist Party of Vietnam, serving as the political foundation of the people's administration, where the will and aspirations of the people are expressed, the great unity of the entire nation is consolidated, the people's right to mastery is promoted, where consultations, cooperation, and unified actions among members take place, contributing to maintaining national independence and sovereignty, territorial integrity, achieving the success of industrialization and modernization for the goal of a wealthy people, a strong country, a fair and civilized society.

Article 2. Tasks of the Vietnam Fatherland Front

The Vietnam Fatherland Front has the task of uniting and building the great unity of the entire nation, enhancing political and spiritual consensus among the people; propagandizing and mobilizing the people to promote their right to mastery, implement the Party's policies, strictly enforce the Constitution and laws, supervise the activities of state agencies, elected representatives, and state officials; collect and reflect the opinions and suggestions of the people to the Party and the State; participate in building and consolidating the people's administration; together with the State, care for and protect the legitimate rights and interests of the people; participate in developing friendly relations and cooperation between the Vietnamese people and the people of other countries in the region and around the world.

Article 3. Principles of organization and operation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front

The Vietnam Fatherland Front organizes and operates according to the Charter of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in accordance with the Constitution and laws.

The organization and operation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front are carried out based on the principles of voluntariness, democratic consultation, coordination, and unified action.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at each level is the executive body of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at that level, elected by the Congress of Representatives of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at that level, responsible for organizing and implementing the tasks of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

Article 4. Members of the Vietnam Fatherland Front

Members of the Vietnam Fatherland Front are organizations and individuals specified in Clause 1 of Article 1 of this Law.

When coordinating and taking unified actions, members of the Vietnam Fatherland Front follow the Charter of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; at the same time, member organizations of the Front maintain the independence of their own organizations.

Article 5. Relations between the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the State

1. The relations between the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the State are cooperative relations to implement tasks and powers as prescribed by the Constitution and laws.

2. Cooperative relations between the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the State are implemented according to the Working Regulations on cooperation issued by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and relevant state agencies at each level.

3. The State creates conditions for the Vietnam Fatherland Front to operate effectively.

Chapter II

DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE VIETNAM FATHERLAND FRONT

Article 6. Mobilizing the National Solidarity Bloc

1. The Vietnam Fatherland Front develops diverse forms of activities and patriotic movements to mobilize and unite all Vietnamese people both within the country and abroad, regardless of social class, social stratum, ethnicity, belief, religion, or past, in order to mobilize all resources to build and defend the Socialist Fatherland of Vietnam.

2. The Vietnam Fatherland Front promotes the positive qualities of exemplary individuals from various classes, social strata, ethnicities, and religions to mobilize the people to fulfill the political, economic, social, national defense, security, and foreign policy tasks of the State.

3. The Vietnam Fatherland Front participates in propaganda and mobilization of overseas Vietnamese to unite their communities, assist each other in life, preserve cultural identity and fine traditions of the nation, maintain ties with family and hometown, contributing to building their hometowns and the country.

Article 7. Propaganda and Mobilization of the People to Exercise Their Right to Mastery and Implement Policies and Laws

The Vietnam Fatherland Front propagates and mobilizes the people to exercise their right to mastery and implement policies and laws with the following contents:

1. Participate in propaganda and mobilization of the people to implement the Party's guidelines, policies, and the State's laws;

2. Cooperate and participate with state agencies in organizing campaigns and patriotic movements, mobilizing the people to unite and help each other develop the economy, build a civilized lifestyle, address social issues, build a whole-of-the-people national defense, maintain political stability, public order, and social safety;

3. Participate with the People's Council and People's Committee at the same level in organizing mobilization of the people to implement grassroots democracy, guide the people in building village regulations and community agreements on self-management practices in villages, hamlets, wards, and other grassroots communities in accordance with the law, contributing to building and protecting the people's government;

4. Participate in grassroots mediation activities in accordance with the law on mediation;

5. Collect and study the opinions and aspirations of the people to reflect and make recommendations to the Party and the State.

Article 8. Participation in Election Work

Within its functions, tasks, and powers as prescribed by the law on elections, the Vietnam Fatherland Front organizes consultations, selects, and introduces candidates for National Assembly deputies and People's Council representatives; participates in election management organizations; cooperates with relevant state agencies in organizing meetings of voters in their places of residence, meetings between voters and candidates; participates in propaganda and mobilization of voters to implement the law on elections; participates in supervising the election of National Assembly deputies and People's Council representatives.

Article 9. Participation in Law Building

The Vietnam Fatherland Front participates in law building with the following contents:

1. Proposing to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and the Government onthe planned program for law and ordinance construction;

2. Submitting draft laws and ordinances to the National Assembly and the StandingCommittee of the National Assembly;

3. Jointly issuing resolutions and joint circulars with competent state agencies toguide the implementation of issues when laws stipulate the responsibility of theVietnam Fatherland Front in participating in state management;

4. Participating in providing opinions on draft laws, ordinances, draft resolutions,decrees, and other draft regulatory legal documents.

Article 10. Participation in Litigation, Selection of Judges, Introduction of People'sCourt Appellate Panels

The Vietnam Fatherland Front has the right and responsibility to participate inlitigation, participate in the Council for Judge selection, introduce qualifiedcandidates to be elected as People's Court Appellate Panels according to theprovisions of the law.

Article 11. Participation in Meetings of Within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the dossier as mentioned in Sub-clause b, Clause 1, Article 3 above, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will review and submit to the competent authority for decision (Issues exceeding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' jurisdiction will be referred to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision).the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Government, People'sCouncil sessions, meeting sessions Within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the dossier as mentioned in Sub-clause b, Clause 1, Article 3 above, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will review and submit to the competent authority for decision (Issues exceeding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' jurisdiction will be referred to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision).Amends and supplements certain articles of Decision No. 80/2001/QĐ-TTg dated May 24, 2001 of the Prime Minister on the handling and reorganization of state-owned houses and lands in Ho Chi Minh City as follows:

1. The Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front is invited toparticipate in meetings of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and theGovernment when discussing issues related to them.

The Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at the local level is invited to attendPeople's Council sessions; is invited to attend meetings of the same-level People'sCommittee when discussing related issues.

2. At regular People's Council sessions, the Vietnam Fatherland Front at the same levelannounces its activities in participating in government building; proposes proposalsand suggestions to the People's Council and the People's Committee on necessaryissues.

State agencies have the responsibility to consider and respond to the proposals of theVietnam Fatherland Front according to the provisions of the law.

Article 12. Supervisory Activities

1. The supervisory activities of the Vietnam Fatherland Front are people-orientedsupervision, supporting the state's supervision, inspection, and audit work, aimingto contribute to building and protecting a clean, strong, effective, and efficientVietnamese Socialist Republic, and protecting the legitimate rights and interests ofthe people.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front supervises the activities of state agencies, electedrepresentatives, civil servants, and public officials according to the provisions ofthe law.

2. The supervisory activities of the Vietnam Fatherland Front are implemented throughthe following forms:

a) Mobilizing the people to exercise their supervisory rights;

b) Participating in supervisory activities with state power agencies;

c) Through its own activities, collecting the opinions of the people and members of theFront to propose to competent state agencies to commend and reward good people andgood deeds, and to examine, resolve, and handle cases of law violations.

The head of an agency or organization is responsible for creating conditions for theVietnam Fatherland Front to perform its supervisory tasks. When receiving proposalsfrom the Front, the head of the agency or organization is responsible for consideringand responding within the time limit prescribed by law.

Article 13. People's Diplomatic Activities

The Vietnam Fatherland Front implements and expands people's diplomatic activitiesin the region and worldwide according to the foreign policy of the Party and theState, contributing to strengthening friendly relations among nations for peace,cooperation, and development. 

Chapter III

GUARANTEES FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF THE VIETNAM FATHERLAND FRONT

Article 14. Administrative apparatus

The Vietnam Fatherland Front has an administrative apparatus. The organization and staffing of the Vietnam Fatherland Front's administrative apparatus at all levels shall be prescribed by the competent authority.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front is responsible for nurturing, enhancing the capabilities and integrity of its cadres.

Article 15. Responsibilities of agencies and organizations

1.The heads of agencies and organizations are responsible for:

a)Providing conditions for officials and civil servants to perform their duties when they are assigned to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee or are tasked with working alongside the Vietnam Fatherland Front;

b)Supplying necessary information when requested by the Vietnam Fatherland Front to enable the Vietnam Fatherland Front to carry out its tasks as stipulated by law.

2.Agencies and organizations within the scope of their functions, tasks, and authorities are responsible for coordinating with the Vietnam Fatherland Front to implement campaigns initiated by the Vietnam Fatherland Front or to execute programs and projects entrusted to the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

Article 16. Operating funds and assets of the Vietnam Fatherland Front

1.The operating funds of the Vietnam Fatherland Front shall be allocated from the state budget in accordance with the provisions of law.

2.The Vietnam Fatherland Front may accept, manage, and utilize assets transferred by the State to the Vietnam Fatherland Front, as well as assets donated by domestic or foreign organizations and individuals, in accordance with the provisions of law. 

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 17. Effectiveness of the Law

This Law shall take effect from the date of promulgation.

Any provisions related to the Vietnam Fatherland Front that conflict with this Law shall be abolished.

Article 18. Guidance on Implementation

The Government and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front within the scope of their functions, tasks, and authorities shall provide guidance on the implementation of this Law./.

This Law was adopted by the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the tenth session, fifth meeting, on June 12, 1999.