Abstract: The template copolymerization of acrylamide (AM) and 2-methacryloyloxyethyltrimethlammonium chloride (DMC) was studied using poly sodium acrylate (PAAS) as template in aqueous solution. The polymerization kinetics, sequence distribution and the flocculant performance were investigated. The results show that the copolymerization under the effect of PAAS is in accordance with type Ⅰtemplate mechanism. The rate of copolymerization is found to be proportional to the concentrations of monomers and initiator with exponents of 1.63 and 1.64. The presence of PAAS significantly increases the probability for long sequence of DMC in the copolymer. The setting rate of Kaolin suspensions flocculated by the copolymer obtained from template polymerization is much faster than the one flocculated by the copolymer synthesized without PAAS.