normative documents
红头文件 hóngtóu wénjiàn

Formal, official documents that are often employed by localities with no legislative authority to pass rules that are tantamount to law. Easily enacted or rescinded, these 'red-headed documents', are usually subject to the whim of current leaders and may flagrantly violate national law or citizen rights. The cartoon shows a red-headed document kicking some 'laws' out of the ring link
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