Draft Amendment Announcement System: Ministry of Justice Emphasizes Legitimate Process for Gathering Public Opinion

(Central News Agency reporter Hsieh Chun-lin, Taipei, June 12) In response to recent media opinion pieces questioning the 'draft announcement' procedure for amendments to the inheritance section of the Civil Code, the Ministry of Justice stated today that this process does not replace statutory legislative procedures. Instead, it is a legitimate legal process under the existing 'draft announcement' system, designed to widely solicit opinions from all sectors of society.

In a press release, the Ministry of Justice explained that when government agencies under the Executive Yuan intend to amend laws, they first draft legal amendments and submit them to the Executive Yuan, which then forwards them to the Legislative Yuan for review. Prior to submission to the Executive Yuan, agencies may, in accordance with relevant Executive Yuan regulations and after considering the circumstances, solicit public feedback on proposed amendments through a 'draft announcement' process. This practice has been in place for many years.

According to the press release, the purpose of the draft announcement system for legal amendments is to enable all sectors of society to understand in advance the laws and policies currently being considered by government agencies and to provide opportunities for expressing opinions and making suggestions. This not only promotes democratic participation but also helps refine the content of draft amendments.

The press release noted that the Ministry of Justice, recognizing that the deletion of reserved shares for siblings and its accompanying measures are issues of significant public concern, announced on June 2 the 'Draft Announcement of Partial Amendments to the Inheritance Section of the Civil Code' to inform the public of the direction and content of the proposed amendments, thereby facilitating timely feedback. The announcement clearly states that the draft 'must still be submitted to the Executive Yuan for forwarding to the Legislative Yuan for review,' and should not be mistaken as having already passed the legislative process.

The Ministry of Justice emphasized that in advancing legislation under its jurisdiction, it consistently values public input and due legal process. It sincerely welcomes active participation and feedback from all sectors of society, aiming to make the future inheritance system more comprehensive and better aligned with the needs of modern society. (Editor: Lung Po-an) 1150612