History

The judiciary of our country underwent an across-the-board reform in the last years of Qing Dynasty (1644–1912). In the 28th year of Emperor Guangxu's reign(1902), the Qing Court changed Xing Bu (Ministry of Penalties), which was one of the six government branches at that time, into Fa Bu(Ministry of Law) to serve as the nation's highest authority in judicial administration. After the proclamation of the Republic in 1912, Fa Bu was changed into Si Fa Bu(Ministry of Judiciary). After the nation was reunified in 1928, the Judicial Yuan was established under the five-power government system and in compliance with the Organic Law of the Judicial Yuan, a Ministry of Judicial Administration was set up in the Judicial Yuan. In October 1934, the old system was restored and the ministry was placed under Executive Yuan. On July 1, 1980, the government went to perfect the nation's judicial system by drawing a clear line between the judicial power and the administrative power, in another word, by placing the prosecution and judgment under the jurisdiction of two different branches. Hence, the court system under the Ministry of Judicial Administration was shifted to the Judicial Yuan and the Ministry of Judicial Administration was changed to the Ministry of Justice, which remains in the Executive Yuan until now. A new organic law was passed for the ministry in keeping with the Executive Yuan's structural reform program starting on January 1, 2012.