The Rule-of-Law Function, Practical Deficiencies, and Optimization Pathways of Village Regulations and Folk Conventions

村规民约作为基层治理的重要工具，兼具民间法和非正式制度的双重属性，在补充国家法律、维护乡村秩序、传承法治文化、引领文明风尚培育中发挥独特作用。其法理基础源于民间法的内生性和地域性以及非正式制度的灵活性和适应性，通过凝聚村民共识形成治理规范，促进基层治理法治化和现代化。然后在实践中存在内容合法性不足、制定程序不规范、执行监督薄弱等问题，主要体现为法律条款冲突、村民参与不足、监督不到位等。鉴于此，本文提出三条优化路径：一是强化内容合法性审查，确保内容既符合法律又贴近实际；二是规范制定程序，保障村民知情权、参与权和决策权；三是构建完善的执行监督机制，平衡法治与自治。通过制度创新，村规民约将为基层治理现代化提供有效方案。As a crucial instrument of grassroots governance, Village Regulations and Folk Conventions (VRFCs) embody dual characteristics of customary law and informal institutions. They uniquely supplement state legislation, maintain rural order, preserve legal culture, and promote social civility. Grounded in the endogenous nature of customary law and the adaptability of informal institutions, VRFCs translate community consensus into governance norms, facilitating the legalization and modernization of local governance. However, challenges persist, including insufficient legal validity, irregular formulation procedures, and weak enforcement oversight, manifested through legal conflicts, limited villager participation, and inadequate supervision. This study proposes three optimization strategies: enhancing legal compliance review to harmonize regulations with national laws and local realities; standardizing formulation procedures to ensure villagers’ rights to information, participation, and decision-making; and establishing robust enforcement mechanisms to balance rule of law with local autonomy. Through institutional innovation, VRFCs can serve as an effective approach to advancing grassroots governance modernization.