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 The people's congress system, which is practiced at every level, is China's fundamental political system. The Constitution of the PRC provides that all power in the PRC belongs to the people. The NPC and local people's congresses at all levels, formed through democratic elections, are organs through which the people exercise state power.
The NPC is the highest organ of state power, with the
First NPC in 1954 marking the establishment of the system.
The NPC is composed of deputies elected from all provinces, autonomous
regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government and special
administrative regions and of deputies elected from the armed forces.
All the minority ethnic groups are entitled to appropriate representation
in the NPC.
The 10th NPC elected at the beginning of 2003 had a total of 2,985 deputies.
In the year, eight deputies died and two were dismissed. At the beginning
of 2004, nine deputies were elected (or by-elected) and two incumbent
deputies quitted. The 10th NPC had 2,984 deputies by February 29, 2004.
The NPC exercises the legislative power of the state, including amending
and supervising the enforcement of the Constitution and enacting and amending
basic laws and laws governing other matters. It also exercises the power
to elect, decide on and remove leaders and members of the highest state
organs, oversee the government, and examine and decide on major state
issues in line with the Constitution and other state laws. The administrative,
judicial, procuratorial, military and other organs of the state are created
by the NPC, and are therefore supervised by and responsible to it.
The NPC is elected for a term of five years. It meets in session annually,
convened by its Standing Committee.
The NPC Standing Committee is the permanent body of the NPC. Elected by
the NPC, it exercises the highest state power when the NPC is not in session.
The NPC Standing Committee is composed of chairperson, vice chairpersons,
secretary general and members.
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