民族区域自治制度
中国是一个统一的多民族国家，迄今为止，通过识别并由中央政府确认的民族有56个。其中，汉族人口最多，其他55个民族人口较少，习惯上被称为少数民族。世界上的多民族国家在处理民族问题方面有不同的制度模式，中国采用的是民族区域自治。民族区域自治是在国家统一领导下，各少数民族聚居的地方设立自治机关，行使自治权，实行区域自治。民族区域自治制度是中国的一项基本政治制度。
1984年5月1日，中国颁布了《民族区域自治法》，把党和国家的民族区域自治政策法律化。2001年2月28日，又根据社会主义市场经济条件下出现的新情况，对这一法律进行修改，进一步确立了民族区域自治是中国一项基本政治制度的法律地位。目前，依据宪法和法律，中国共建立了155个民族自治地方，包括5个自治区、30个自治州、120个自治县（旗）。此外，还建立了1100多个民族乡。根据宪法和民族区域自治法的规定，民族自治地方拥有广泛的自治权。
Regional ethnic autonomy
China is a multiethnic country, a nation of 56 ethnic groups that have been recognized andconfirmed by the central government. The Han ethnic group has the largest population, while the other 55 are minority ethnic groups with smaller populations. Compared with various different approaches to ethnic issues in other countries with multiethnic makeup, China's approach focuses on regional ethnic autonomy. Under the leadership of the central government, self-governance is exercised in regions with large ethnic minority populations, where local affairs are administered by local autonomous governing bodies. Regional ethnic autonomy is a basic component of China's political system.
The policies of the CPC and the central government on regional ethnic autonomy were later codified into law and promulgated on May 1, 1984 as the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy. The law was revised on February 28, 2001, in response to new developments associated with China's socialist market economy. The revised law further affirms regional ethnic autonomy as a basic component of China's political system. There are currently 155 ethnic autonomous areas in China designated in accordance with the Constitution and laws, including five autonomous regions, 30 autonomous prefectures, and 120 autonomous counties. There are also more than 1,100 ethnic townships. These autonomous regions, prefectures and counties enjoy extensive autonomy, as prescribed in the Constitution and the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy.