The Legislative Branch
The Legislative Branch of the People's Republic of China consists of the National People's Congress, The National People's Congress' Standing Committee, the Central Military Commission, and the Local People's Congresses and Local People's Government at various levels. Below, each of these are explored thoroughly.
The National People's CongressStatus: Unicameral
Seats (current): 2,987 members Members are indirectly elected by municipal, provincial, and regional people's congresses Term: 5 years Candidates: Only candidates that are members of the Chinese Communist Party, its allied parties, and Chinese Communist Party-approved independent candidates are to be elected. The National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China is the highest organ of state power. The NPC exercises the legislative power of the State, and is composed of deputies elected from various places within the State. The election of deputies is conducted by the Congress' Standing Committee. The National People's Congress meets in session once a year and is convened by its Standing Committee. Functions and Powers of the National People's Congress:
The NPC can remove from office the President and Vice-President of the PRC, the Premier, Vice-Premiers, State Councillors, Ministers in charge of ministries or commissions, the Auditor-General and the Secretary-General of the State Council, the Chairman of the Central Military Commission and other members of the Commission, the President of the Supreme People’s Court, and the Procurator-General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate. The organization and working procedures of the National People’s Congress and its Standing Committee are prescribed by law. |
The National People's Congress' Standing CommitteeTerm: 5 years, no more than two consecutive terms
Election: The NPC elects and can recall members of its Standing Committee The Standing Committee is the National People's Congress' permanent committee. The Standing Committee is composed of:
The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC directs the work of the Standing Committee and is assisted by the Vice-Chairmen and the Secretary-General. Functions and Powers of the Standing Committee:
The Standing Committee is responsible to the National People’s Congress and reports on its work to the Congress. |
The Central Military CommissionThe Central Military Commission is in charge of directing the armed forces of China. Terms: 5 years, same as NPC The Central Military Commission is composed of:
The Chairman of the Central Military Commission is responsible to the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee. The local People's Congresses and local People's Government at Various levelsTerm: The term of office of local people's governments at various levels is the same as that of the people's congresses at the corresponding levels.
Election: The number of deputies (seats) to local people's congresses at various levels and the manner of their election are prescribed by law. People's congresses and people's governments are established in provinces, municipalities directly under the Central Government, counties, cities, municipal districts, townships, nationality townships, and towns. Local people’s congresses at various levels are local organs of state power and can establish standing committees. They also ensure the observance and implementation of the Constitution and other laws and the administrative regulations in their respective areas. The people’s congresses of provinces, and municipalities directly under the Central Government, and their standing committees may adopt local regulations. Local people’s congresses at their respective levels elect and can recall governors and deputy governors, or mayors and deputy mayors, or heads and deputy heads of counties, districts, townships, and towns. The local people’s governments at various levels are the executive bodies of local organs of state power as well as the local organs of State administration at the corresponding levels. Governors, mayors, and heads of counties, districts, townships, and towns assume overall responsibility for local people’s governments at various levels. The people's governments are also responsible and report on their work to the State administrative organs at the next higher level. |