The Code consists of seven books and a supplementary provision. The first book of the code, also known as the "", was adopted on March 15, 2017 by National People's Congress, and took into effect on October 1, 2017, implementing and replacing a large part of the former "General Principles of the Civil Law" (1986). On August 27, 2018, the draft of other books of the Code was submitted to the fifth meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress for its first reading. On May 28, 2020, the third session of the 13th National People's Congress voted to adopt the Civil Code.