Standing Committee of the National People's Congress

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China 中华人民共和国全国人民代表大会 常务委员会
Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress
Type
Type	Permanent organ of the National People's Congress
Leadership
Chairman	Li Zhanshu, CPC Since March 2018
Vice Chairperson	Wang Chen, Cao Jianming, Zhang Chunxian, Shen Yueyue, Ji Bingxuan, Alecken Eminbahe, Wang Dongming, Padma Choling, CPC Wan Exiang, RCKMT Chen Zhu, CPWDP Ding Zhongli, CDL Hao Mingjin, CDNCA Cai Dafeng, CAPD Wu Weihua, JS Since March 2018
Secretary-General	Yang Zhenwu, CPC Since March 2018
Majority Leader	Li Zhanshu, CPC Since March 2018
Structure
Seats	166
Political groups	Since March 2013: Government (115):      Communist Party of China (115) United Front and Independent (51):      China Democratic League (8)      September 3 Society (7)      Chinese Peasants' and Workers' Democratic Party (6)      Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang (5)      China Association for Promoting Democracy (5)      China Party for Public Interest (3)      Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League (3)      China Democratic National Construction Association (2)      Independent (12) Hong Kong (1) Macau Business Interest Union (1)
Elections
Voting system	Party-list proportional representation and Approval voting
Last election	March 2013
Next election	March 2018
Meeting place
Great Hall of the People, Xicheng District, Beijing City, People's Republic of China
Website
http://www.npc.gov.cn

This article is part of a series on the
Politics of China
Leadership Leadership generations Succession of power Hu–Wen Administration (2002–2012) Xi–Li Administration (2012–2017) Xi Core Administration (since 2017) 4th Leadership Core: Xi Jinping 19th Central Politburo 13th State Council Current State leaders Current provincial leaders National leaders Orders of precedence Paramount leader: Xi Jinping Communist Party leader: Xi Jinping Head of state: Xi Jinping Head of government: Li Keqiang Congress Chairman: Li Zhanshu Conference Chairman: Wang Yang Commander-in-chief: Xi Jinping Politburo Standing Committee Related systems Democratic centralism Collective leadership Organization Department Elections Civil service
Communist Party History Principal leaders Constitution Organization National Party Congress (19th) Central Committee (19th) General Secretary (list) Xi Jinping Central Politburo (19th) Standing Committee (list) Central Secretariat Top-ranked secretary: Wang Huning Central Military Commission Chairman: Xi Jinping Vice-Chairmen: Xu Qiliang, Zhang Youxia National Security Commission Chairman: Xi Jinping Vice-Chairmen: Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu Office Chief: Ding Xuexiang Comprehensively Deepening Reforms Commission Director: Xi Jinping Deputy Directors: Li Keqiang, Wang Huning, Han Zheng Secretary-General: Wang Huning Financial & Economic Affairs Commission Director: Xi Jinping Deputy Director: Li Keqiang Office Chief: Liu He General Office Director: Ding Xuexiang General Secretary's Office Chief: Ding Xuexiang Central Security Bureau Central Guard Unit Office of the Central Secrecy Commission Organization Department Head: Chen Xi Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (19th) Secretary: Zhao Leji Provincial committee Standing committee Secretary Deputy secretaries
United Front Political Consultative Conference National Committee Chairman: Wang Yang Vice-Chairpersons Top-ranked: Zhang Qingli Secretary-General: Xia Baolong Political parties: CPC (ruling) United Front Work Department Head: You Quan RCCK CDL CDNCA CAPD CPWDP CZGP JS TDSGL Federation of Industry and Commerce People's organizations
Ideology Marxism–Leninism Maoism  ("Mao Zedong Thought") Socialism with Chinese characteristics Deng Xiaoping Theory Primary stage of socialism Four Cardinal Principles Three Represents Scientific Outlook on Development Harmonious Socialist Society Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Chinese Dream Four Comprehensives
Constitution Law Constitution Previous constitutions 1954 1975 1978 "People's democratic dictatorship" (Article 1) Democratic centralism (Article 3) Constitutional oath of office (Article 27) Protection of human rights (Article 33) Freedom of religion (Article 36) Chinese legal system Civil law tradition Socialist law tradition Laws Legislation Law List of statutes General Principles of the Civil Law Marriage Law Labour law Labour Law Labour Contract Law Property law Property Law Intellectual property law Patent law Administrative law Administrative Procedure Law Criminal law Capital punishment Capital offences Death sentence with reprieve
Legislative National People's Congress (13th) Members Plenary sessions Voting results Presidium Standing Committee Chairman: Li Zhanshu Vice-Chairpersons Top-ranked: Wang Chen Secretary-General: Yang Zhenwu Special committees Ethnic Affairs Constitution and Law Supervisory and Judicial Affairs Financial and Economic Affairs Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Foreign Affairs Overseas Chinese Affairs Environment Protection and Resources Conservation Agriculture and Rural Affairs Social Development Affairs Legislation Law Elections
Presidency President (list): Xi Jinping Presidential spouse: Peng Liyuan Presidential Office Chief: Ding Xuexiang Vice-President: Wang Qishan
Executive State Council (Central People's Government) Li Keqiang Cabinet II Premier (list): Li Keqiang Vice-Premiers (list) Han Zheng Sun Chunlan Hu Chunhua Liu He State Councilors Wei Fenghe Wang Yong Wang Yi Xiao Jie Zhao Kezhi Secretary-General: Xiao Jie Cabinet-level departments National Development & Reform Commission Central bank National Audit Office General Office Secretary-General Deputy Secretary-Generals State-owned Assets Supervision & Administration Commission Most Central Enterprises
Military Central Military Commission (CMC) Chairman (supreme commander): Xi Jinping Vice-Chairmen: Xu Qiliang Zhang Youxia Members: Wei Fenghe Li Zuocheng Miao Hua Zhang Shengmin Departments: General Office Joint Staff Chief: Li Zuocheng Political Work Director: Miao Hua Logistic Support Equipment Development Training & Administration National Defense Mobilization Discipline Inspection Secretary: Zhang Shengmin National armed forces: People's Liberation Army Theater commands  People's Armed Police  China Coast Guard  Militia State Council National Defense Mobilization Commission Chairman: Li Keqiang Ministry of National Defense Minister: Wei Fenghe Ministry of Veterans Affairs State Administration for Sci., Tech. & Industry for National Defense Military history Armed conflicts Military modernization Military reform since 2015 CMC Leading Group for Military Reform Leader: Xi Jinping
Supervision Corruption in China Anti-corruption campaign since 2012 CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (19th) Secretary: Zhao Leji Deputy Secretaries Yang Xiaodu Zhang Shengmin Liu Jinguo Yang Xiaochao Li Shulei Xu Lingyi Xiao Pei Chen Xiaojiang Secretary-General: Yang Xiaochao National Supervisory Commission Director: Yang Xiaodu Central Leading Group for Inspection Work Leader: Zhao Leji Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Central Military Commission Secretary: Zhang Shengmin Independent Commission Against Corruption (Hong Kong) Commission Against Corruption (Macau)
Judiciary Law enforcement CPC Central Politics and Law Commission Secretary: Guo Shengkun Supreme People's Court President: Zhou Qiang People's Courts Judicial Police Supreme People's Procuratorate Procurator-General: Zhang Jun People's Procuratorates Judicial Police State Council Ministry of Public Security Minister: Zhao Kezhi (State Councilor) Public Security Organs People's Police State Immigration Administration Local public security bureaus Ministry of State Security Minister: Chen Wenqing State Security Organs People's Police Ministry of Justice Minister: Fu Zhenghua Judicial Administrative Organs People's Police Bureau of Prison Administration Urban Management (chengguan) Judiciary of Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Department of Justice Prosecutions Division Law enforcement in Hong Kong Security Bureau Regular Disciplined Services Hong Kong Police Force Judiciary of Macau Court of Final Appeal Public Prosecutions Office Secretariat for Security Macau Security Force Unitary Police Services Public Security Police Judiciary Police
Publicity Central Leading Group for Propaganda and Ideology Leader: Wang Huning Central Guidance Commission on Building Spiritual Civilization Director: Wang Huning Deputy Director: Huang Kunming Central Publicity (Propaganda) Department Head: Huang Kunming General Administration of Press and Publication National Film Bureau State Council Information Office China Daily Ministry of Culture and Tourism National Radio and Television Administration China Media Group China Central Television China Global Television Network China National Radio China Radio International Xinhua News Agency Reference News China News Service People's Daily Global Times China Today Censorship in China Radio jamming Media of China Internal media Publishing industry in China Internet in China Internet censorship Great Firewall Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission Director: Xi Jinping Deputy director: Li Keqiang Cyberspace Administration of China Director: Xu Lin
Hong Kong Macau Central Coordination Group for Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Leader: Han Zheng HK & Macau Affairs Office Director: Zhang Xiaoming Liaison Office in Hong Kong Liaison Office in Macau One country, two systems Special administrative regions Hong Kong Basic Law Chief Executive: Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor Hong Kong SAR Government Politics of Hong Kong Independence movement Mainland & HK CEPA Macao Basic Law Chief Executive: Chui Sai On Macau SAR Government Politics of Macau Mainland & Macau CEPA
Cross-Strait relations Cross-Strait relations Chinese Civil War One-China policy Taiwan independence movement Anti-Secession Law Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement Chinese unification Central Leading Group for Taiwan Affairs Leader: Xi Jinping Deputy Leader: Wang Yang Taiwan Affairs Office Director: Zhang Zhijun Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits
Foreign relations Central Foreign Affairs Commission Director: Xi Jinping Deputy Director: Li Keqiang Secretary-General: Yang Jiechi Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Wang Yi (State Councilor) Spokespersons Diplomatic missions Diplomatic missions in China Foreign aid to China Chinese foreign aid International Development Cooperation Agency Ministry of Commerce Ministry of National Defense International Military Cooperation Office NPC Foreign Affairs Committee CPC International Liaison Department State Council Information Office State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs Overseas Chinese Affairs Office Chinese nationality law Chinese passports (Hong Kong; Macau) Visa requirements for Chinese citizens (Hong Kong, Macau) Visa policy of China (Hong Kong; Macau) State Immigration Administration Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Panda diplomacy Beijing Consensus Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Belt and Road Initiative Silk Road Fund Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank BRICS New Development Bank China and the United Nations China and the World Trade Organization China–United States relations China–Russia relations China–European Union relations China–Africa relations
Related topics Administrative divisions Hukou system Family planning Ethnic minorities
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The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC; Chinese: 全国人民代表大会常务委员会) is a committee of about 150 members of the National People's Congress (NPC) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), which is convened between plenary sessions of the NPC. It has the constitutional authority to modify legislation within limits set by the NPC, and thus acts as a de facto legislative body. It is led by a Chairman, China's top legislator, who is conventionally ranked third in China's political ranking system, after the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and the Premier of the People's Republic of China. The current Chairman is Li Zhanshu.

The NPCSC also has the power to interpret the laws of the PRC, including its constitution. In contrast to other countries in which stare decisis gives the power of both final interpretation and adjudication to a supreme court, within the People's Republic of China constitutional and legal interpretation is considered to be a legislative activity rather than a judicial one, and the functions are split so that the NPCSC provides legal interpretations while the Supreme People's Court actually decides cases. Because an interpretation of the NPCSC is legislative in nature and not judicial, it does not affect cases which have already been decided.

A notable use of the constitutional interpretation power occurred in 1999 over the Right of Abode issue in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Lau Kong Yung v. Director of Immigration.^[1] The NPCSC interpreted the Basic Law of Hong Kong in accordance with the position taken by the Hong Kong government with respect to the eligibility of permanent residency in Hong Kong.

Chairman and Vice chairpersons of the 12th NPC Standing Committee

Elected by the 13th National People's Congress at its 1st session's 4th plenary meeting on March 17, 2018:

Chairman

Li Zhanshu (b. August 1950): 3rd-ranked member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CCCPC).

Vice Chairpersons (14)

1. Wang Chen (b. December 1950): member of the 19th Politburo, member of the 16th, 17th, and 18th CCCPCs, and former deputy head of CCCPC Publicity Department.
2. Cao Jianming (b. September 1955): member of the 17th, 18th, and 19th CCCPCs, alternate member of the 16th CCCPC, and former Procurator-General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate.
3. Zhang Chunxian (b. May 1953): member of the 18th Politburo, member of the 16th to 19th CCCPCs, and former secretary of the CPC Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Committee and Hunan Provincial Committee.
4. Shen Yueyue (female, b. January 1957): member of the 17th, 18th, and 19th CCCPCs; the former executive deputy head of the CCCPC Organization Department.
5. Ji Bingxuan (b. November 1951): member of the 17th, 18th, and 19th CCCPCs; the former secretary of the CPC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee, and the former chairman of the Standing Committee of the Heilongjiang Provincial People's Congress.
6. Arken Imirbaki (Uygur, b. September 1953): member of the 19th CCCPC; chairman of the Standing Committee of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional People's Congress.
7. Wan Exiang (b. May 1956): Vice President of the Supreme People's Court (since 2002); chairman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang (since 2012).
8. Chen Zhu (b. August 1953): hematologist; academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Central Committee chairman, Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party (since 2012).
9. Wang Dongming (b. July 1956): standing committee member of the 10th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a member of the 17th, 18th, and 19th Central Committees CCCPCs; the secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, and the chairman of the Standing Committee of the Sichuan Provincial People's Congress.
10. Padma Choling (Tibetan, b. October 1952): member of the 18th CCCPC; the former chairman of the Standing Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region People's Congress, and the Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
11. Ding Zhongli (b. January 1957): geologist; vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
12. Hao Mingjin (b. December 1956): the former Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Supervision.
13. Cai Dafeng (b. June 1960): chairperson of the China Association for Promoting Democracy.
14. Wu Weihua (b. September 1956): chairperson of the Jiusan Society.

Current members

References

See also

• Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
• Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, a Soviet Union institution, after which Standing Committee of the NPC was modelled.