Abstract: Looking back to the major idea of autonomous regions for nationalities described in “The Common Programme” and the process of its founding, one may find that socialism is the essential attribute of autonomous region system, and that consolidation of the great family of the Chinese nation is the aim of this system. This system lays emphasis on the autonomous rights in inner affairs for the broad masses of nationalities, while its prerequisite and its inherit requirement is the equality. The reform of religions in China’s nationality regions has realized a division of administration and religion, and the unity of socialist system of politics and law. The autonomous system aims at setting up a new type of national relationship of close cooperation, unity and mutual aid. Therefore, socialism is the distinction of autonomous system from the ancient Chinese system for the nationalities, thus, the essential attribution of socialism must be upheld in understanding such a nationality autonomous region system. This system aims at building up and consolidate “the great family of Chinese nation”, emphasizing its unity and inseparability. Also in this process saw the carrying out of a political ethics of socialist great family, i.e., insisting on the political line for the broad masses on the basic stratum, to make a common effort in building a modern socialist country, to achieve a common development, by the way of consultation and comprehensive consideration of a great family mode in dealing with the concrete affairs of nationalities.