About NPC and CPPCC

[Tony]

Differences between China, Western political systems
People's Congress system and NPC
Legislative powers of NPC
NPC motions and CPPCC proposals
Election of NPC deputies
CPPCC origins & functions
How NPC, CPPCC function?
Major government reshuffles
Leaders of First CPPCC
NPC, the supreme legislature
People's congress system, NPC
About CPPCC
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
NPC motions & CPPCC proposals
People's congress system explained
Electric power in China
The NPC Standing Committee
Legislative power of NPC, its standing committee
Election of NPC Deputies
CPPCC sessions, leaders
Nature Of the CPPCC
Brief introduction to China's Cabinet ministers

[Tony]

Top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo elaborated on the essential differences between the system of China's people's congresses and Western capitalist countries' system of political power at the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) Monday.

The essential differences are listed as following:

BETWEEN PEOPLE'S CONGRESSES AND WESTERN PARLIAMENTS:

-- China's system of political parties is a system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), not a Western-style multiparty system.

-- The CPC is at the core of the country's leadership and the ruling party, while the non-communist parties are participating parties.

-- Deputies to county- and township-level people's congresses are directly elected by voters, while deputies to people's congresses above the county-level are elected by deputies to people's congresses at the next lower level.

-- The people's congresses have no congressional party groups, and they do not carry out activities on the basis of sectors of society.

-- No seats are assigned on the basis of parties within the people's congresses.

-- All congress deputies and senior members serve the people under the leadership of the CPC in accordance with the law, sharing the same fundamental interests.

NO SEPARATION OF THREE POWERS

-- The people's congresses exercise state power in a unified way, and the governments, courts and procuratorates are all created by them and are responsible to them and subject to their oversight.

-- The system of people's congresses is not a Western system with the separation of the three powers.

-- The people's congresses formulate laws and passing resolutions in accordance with the stands of the Party and the will of the people.

-- They oversee and support the governments, courts and procuratorates in exercising their functions.

BETWEEN NPC DEPUTIES AND WESTERN MPS

-- Deputies come from every region, ethnic group and sector of society of the country, and there is at least one deputy from each ethnic minority group no matter how small its population is.

-- Deputies are therefore broadly representative and they do not represent a single party or group as members of Western parliaments and congresses do.

-- Deputies live among the people and maintain close ties with them. They all hold posts in their respective fields of endeavor.

-- Deputies exercise their lawful duties and powers collectively at meetings, rather than each deputy addressing problems directly and separately from other deputies.

-- Functional organs of the standing committees of the people's congresses at all levels collectively advise, assist and serve the deputies.

[Tony]

The Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) is scheduled to open on March 5, 2009, in Beijing.

The People's Congress system is the fundamental political system of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the organizational form of state power of the people's democratic dictatorship in China, and the system of government of the country.

The system most directly reflects the nature of the PRC, indicating the status of the Chinese people of various ethnic groups as masters in the country's political life.
The NPC is the highest institution through which the Chinese people exercise their state power.

In 1953, China held people's congresses at different levels. In 1954, the First National People's Congress was convened, marking the establishment of the people's congress system in China.

The NPC exercises legislative power, amends the Constitution and supervises its enforcement, formulates and amends basic statutes and other laws; elects and decides on the leading personnel of state-level administrative, judicial, procuratorial and military bodies, and has the right to recall them; supervises government work in accordance with the Constitution and laws; and examines and decides on the fundamental, long-term and key issues of the state.

All administrative, judicial, procuratorial and military organs and other state-level institutions are responsible to the NPC and supervised by it.

The NPC Standing Committee, the permanent organ of the NPC, is elected by the NPC and exercises the legislative power of the state together with the NPC. Liu Shaoqi, Zhu De, Ye Jianying, Peng Zhen, Wan Li, Qiao Shi and Li Peng successively served as chairmen of past NPC Standing Committees. Wu Bangguo is chairman of the 10th and 11th NPC Standing Committees.

Among the ten terms of the NPC, nine had special committees except the Fourth NPC, which was in sessions during the period of the "Great Cultural Revolution" (1966-76).

The special committees are permanent bodies under the leadership and supervision of both the NPC and its Standing Committee.

The NPC's delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is known as "the NPC Delegation." On December 8, 1983, the Third Meeting of the Sixth NPC Standing Committee decided to join the IPU. In April 1984, the IPU Council's 134th meeting made an official announcement to accept the NPC Delegation as its member.

The NPC Delegation is aimed to promote mutual understanding and friendly exchanges with parliamentary members of different countries, develop friendship and cooperation with peoples of different countries, and safeguard world peace.

[Tony]

The legislative powers of the National People's Congress (NPC) and its Standing Committee are defined by the Constitution of China.

According to the Constitution, the NPC exercises the following legislative powers:

-- To amend the Constitution (In China, amendments to the Constitution are to be proposed by the Standing Committee of the NPC or by more than one-fifth of all deputies to the NPC and adopted by a majority affirmative vote of more than two-thirds of all the deputies);

-- To enact and amend statutes concerning criminal offenses and civil affairs;

-- To enact and amend statutes concerning State organs, which generally refer to various kinds of organic laws; and

-- To enact and amend basic statutes concerning other matters, such as laws on election, nationality and marriage.

The NPC Standing Committee exercises the following legislative powers:

-- To enact and amend statutes other than those that must be enacted by the NPC;

-- To enact, when the NPC is not in session, partial supplements and amendments to basic statutes enacted by the NPC provided that they do not contravene the basic principles of these statutes;

-- To interpret the Constitution and statutes;

-- To annul administrative rules and regulations, decisions and orders of the State Council that contravene the Constitution or the statutes; and

-- To annul local regulations or decisions of the governmental organs of provinces, autonomous regions and centrally-administered municipalities that contravene the Constitution, the statutes or the administrative rules and regulations.

[Tony]

There is a substantial difference between motions submitted to a session of the National People's Congress (NPC) and proposals to the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

The difference lies in that as the NPC is the country's top legislature, an NPC motion becomes legally binding when it is adopted; while a proposal to the CPPCC National Committee, the top advisory body, is not legally binding whether it is adopted or not.

NPC motions are submitted by NPC deputies or relevant departments to the NPC.
According to the Constitution, NPC deputies and members of the NPC Standing Committee have the right to submit motions and proposals within the respective functions and powers of the NPC and its Standing Committee in accordance with procedures prescribed by law.

According to the Organic Law of the NPC and NPC rules for the discharging of its duties, a motion on issues within the power of the NPC can be raised by the presidium of the NPC, the NPC Standing Committee, special committees of the NPC, the State Council, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, a provincial-level delegation (of deputies) to the NPC, or a group of at least 30 NPC deputies.

Afterwards, the NPC presidium decides if a motion is to be included in the agenda of an NPC session, or to be first handed over to a relevant special committee for examination. The special committee is to suggest to the presidium whether or not the motion is to be included in the agenda.

A motion, after examination by NPC deputies at full meetings of delegations or panel meetings, will be transferred by the presidium to a relevant special committee for further examination. The presidium will examine the report from the special committee and decide to submit the motion to a plenary session of the NPC for a vote. Adoption requires a simple majority voting in favor.

Members of the CPPCC put forward proposals to offer comments and suggestions on major political and social issues of the country to people's congresses and the government via the CPPCC.

For the presentation of a proposal, there is no restriction on timing, scope and number of sponsoring members. Generally, CPPCC members can raise a proposal in one of the following ways:

-- by one member or a group of members;
-- by one group or more groups jointly during the plenary sessions of the CPPCC;
-- in the name of a party or people's organization that has joined the CPPCC; and
-- in the name of a sub-committee of the CPPCC National Committee.

A department in charge of handling proposals is obliged to give a reply to each proposal. Generally speaking, an NPC motion is raised when the NPC is in session; while members of the CPPCC can raise proposals at any time they wish.

[Tony]

Deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) are members of the highest organ of state power in China and are elected in accordance with law.
All citizens of the People's Republic of China who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote and stand for election irrespective of nationality, race, sex, occupation, family background, religious belief, education, property status, or length of residence, except persons deprived of political rights according to law.
According to the Electoral Law, deputies to county- and township-level people's congresses are directly elected by voters, while deputies to people's congresses above the county-level are elected by deputies to people's congresses at the next lower level; deputies to the NPC are elected by people's congresses of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government. The armed forces conduct separate elections.
Deputies to the NPC are elected by secret ballot, and the number of candidates is greater than the number of deputies to be elected by between one fifth and a half. All parties and people's organizations may jointly or separately recommend candidates for NPC deputies, and a group of more than ten deputies to a provincial-level people's congress may recommend a candidate. People's congresses above the county level, in electing deputies to people's congresses at the next higher level, may elect people other than their own deputies.
The number of deputies to the NPC is limited within 3,000, and the distribution of the NPC deputies is decided by the NPC Standing Committee. The number of NPC deputies in Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and the electoral procedures there are subject to regulations made separately by the NPC Standing Committee.
A namelist of candidates for deputies to a people's congress is made public 20 days before the election, and officially announced five days before the election. Electors may vote for or against or abstain from voting, or vote for people other than the candidates. Candidates who stand for election as deputies to a people's congress can be deemed elected if they receive more than half of the votes. If the number of candidates who receive more than half of the votes cast exceeds that of deputies to be elected, only those with greater numbers of votes are deemed elected.
Results of the election are declared valid or invalid by the presidium. Expenses for the election are covered by the State, and the election is presided by the NPC Standing Committee.
The NPC deputies are subject to supervision by their electoral units, which also have the right to recall any deputies they have elected. An NPC deputy may submit his or her resignation letter to the standing committee of the people's congress which elected him or her.
According to the law, a by-election is held by the same electoral unit to choose a new deputy for the position of a deputy who falls vacant for various reasons during his or her tenure.

[Tony]

The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is a united front of the people and the country's highest political advisory body. It serves as a key mechanism for multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and is a major manifestation of socialist democracy.

The 11th CPPCC National Committee will hold its first annual session from today. It comprises representatives of the CPC and non-CPC parties, individuals without any party affiliation, and representatives of people's organizations, ethnic minorities and social strata.

Compatriots from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan, overseas-returned Chinese and specially invited people, too, are represented in the CPPCC.

Most of the CPPCC members are experienced political figures, social celebrities, and experts and scholars.
The CPPCC's main functions are to hold political consultations, exercise democratic supervision and participate in the discussions and the handling of State affairs. Political consultation covers major principles and policies proposed by the central and local governments and matters of political, economic, cultural and social importance.

Democratic supervision means to exercise, by means of offering suggestion and criticism, supervision over the implementation of the Constitution, other laws, regulations and major policies, and over the work of government agencies and their functionaries.

Discussing and handling State affairs means organizing CPPCC members to take part in the country's political, economic, cultural and social activities in the best possible way.

The 11th CPPCC is different from the one formed in 1946 following the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-45) and the decision taken by the CPC and the Kuomintang in their negotiations in Chongqing as part of the preparations for establishing a new government.

The first session of the new CPPCC was held in Beijing in September 1949. Authorized to perform the functions of the supreme organ of power, the session adopted a "Common Program" which bore the nature of a temporary constitution, proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China, elected a council of the central people's government, and elected the First CPPCC National Committee.

The CPPCC ceased to act as the supreme organ of power in 1954 when the National People's Congress was convened.
The CPPCC has a national committee and local committees. The CPPCC committees have a five-year term, and hold sessions every year.

[Tony]

The National People's Congress is the highest law-making body. The tenure of an NPC is five years and the 10th NPC will finish its term in 2008.
The country's administrative, judicial and procuratorial organs are created and overseen by the NPC.

NPC deputies, numbering less than 3,000, vote for national leaders.
The NPC usually holds its yearly full session in early March. This year's full session starts on Sunday, and is the fourth session of the 10th NPC.
Wu Bangguo is the chairman of the 10th NPC Standing Committee.

CPPCC

The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference is an organization of the united front that is widely represented. It is an important organ of multi-party co-operation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

It is composed of the CPC, other political parties, mass organizations, and representative public personages from all walks of life. There are representatives of compatriots from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao as well as returned overseas Chinese and other specially-invited people.
The major function of the CPPCC is to conduct political consultation and exercise democratic supervision, organize its members from various non-Communist political parties, mass organizations and public personages to take part in the discussion and management of State affairs.
The CPPCC session usually begins two days ahead of the NPC session, and the two sessions run parallel for more than one week.

Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee is Jia Qinglin.

China's non-Communist parties

The eight non-Communist parties are those established before the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, which were then dedicated to the realization of a bourgeois republic in China and supported the Communist Party of China in the latter's effort to overthrow the rule of the Kuomintang. They are independent organizations and enjoy political freedom, organizational independence and legal equality under the Constitution.

Government's work report, budget and State development report

The premier usually delivers the central government's work report at the opening full session of the NPC. The report, deemed as the state-of-the-union address, usually reviews the government's work in the past year and plans the work for the coming year.

The Minister of Finance will deliver a speech to NPC deputies on the budget, while the Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission discusses the social and economic developments.

NPC deputies will examine these reports and raise different opinions during the group discussion.

The examination on the government reports is one of the most important ways for NPC deputies to perform their governmental supervision duty.

Five-year plan

China introduced the first Five-Year Plan in 1953 to boost industrial development.

Now the NPC deputies will examine the 11th Five-Year Programme (2006-10) after the NPC session opens on Sunday. The word "programme" is used to replace the traditional "plan" with the aim of diminishing the influence of a planned economy.

At the closing session, NPC deputies will vote on the programme, which is the blueprint for the economic and social development over the next five years.

The programme will not just focus on economic development, but also pay attention to environmental and social issues.

Reports by the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate

Each year, the country's chief judge and chief procurator deliver a speech on the works of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate to the NPC. All deputies will vote on these reports.

Press conferences during the session

According to the general practice, several press conferences and group interviews will be arranged during the session. The foreign minister and premier usually meet the press during the session. The two press conferences are broadcast live across the country.

Ministers and NPC and CPPCC delegates also attend press conferences or accept group interviews on other occasions.

[Tony]

The First Session of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) was held in Beijing during September 21-30, 1949.

With the participation of 662 representatives from all walks of life, the session elected Mao Zedong chairman of the First CPPCC National Committee.

The CPPCC ceased to exercise the functions as the supreme organ of power with the birth of National People's Congress in September 1954. Since then, the CPPCC, with its broadest representation, began to function as a patriotic united front organization.
The annual session of the CPPCC National Committee provides the most solemn arena for political consultation in the country.

The first sessions of the second, third and fourth CPPCC national committees were held in 1954, 1959 and 1964 and elected Zhou Enlai chairman and Mao Zedong honorary chairman.

Deng Xiaoping was elected chairman of the Fifth National Committee of CPPCC, which was held in Beijing during February 24-March 8, 1978, with an attendance of 1,988 members, the first ever held after the 1966-1976 "Great Cultural Revolution".
The First Session of the Sixth CPPCC National Committee was convened during June 4-22, 1983. With 2,039 members attending, the session elected Deng Yingchao its chairperson.

The Seventh CPPCC National Committee met in its first session during March 24-April 10, 1988 and elected Li Xiannian its chairman. The session was attended by 2,081 members.

The First Session of the Eighth CPPCC National Committee was convened in Beijing during March 14-27, 1993 in Beijing with 2,093 members attending. It elected Li Ruihuan its chairman.

The First Session of the Ninth CPPCC National Committee was held in Beijing during March 3-14, 1998 in Beijing, with 2,196 members attending. It re-elected Li Ruihuan its chairman.

The First Session of the 10th CPPCC National Committee was held in Beijing during March 3-14, 2003, with the participation of 2,295 members.It elected Jia Qinglin its chairman.

The First Session of the 11th CPPCC National Committee was held in Beijing during March 3-14, 2008, with the participation of 2,195 members. It re-elected Jia Qinglin its chairman.

[Tony]

Editor's note: The annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) will begin in Beijing on March 5, 2006. The following is a guide to the structure and workings of the congress.

According to China's Constitution, the NPC is the highest organ of State power with a Standing Committee as its permanent body.

In 1954, five years after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the First National People's Congress was convened, marking the establishment of the people's congress system.

NPC and local people's congresses are responsible for creating and supervising administrative, judicial and procuratorial bodies at their respective levels.

Deputies to county and township people's congresses are directly elected while deputies to people's congress above the county level are elected by deputies at lower levels.
NPC deputies are supervised by their constituencies at local levels, who can recall them, and are ultimately responsible to the people.

Each NPC has a five-year term.

The NPC Standing Committee, elected by NPC members, has full parliamentary power when the NPC is not sitting. It is responsible to, and reports its work to the NPC. The NPC and its Standing Committee exercise legislative power.
The NPC can amend the Constitution and supervises its enforcement. It formulates and amends basic statutes and other laws. It also decides on and elects the leading personnel of State-level administrative, judicial, procuratorial and military bodies, has the right to recall them, and examines and makes decisions on fundamental, long-term and key issues affecting the nation.

The NPC is empowered to examine and approve the national economic and social development plans and reports on their implementation.

It is also responsible for examining and approving the State budget.

The NPC presidium, NPC Standing Committee, special working committees under the NPC, the State Council, the Central Military Commission, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate have the right to make proposals to the NPC.