IX. Legislative Organs
1. National People's Congress (NPC)
| Chair: | Wu Bangguo |
| Vice Chairs (13): | Wang Zhaoguo, Lu Yongxiang, Uyunqimg, Han Qide, Hua Jianmin, Chen Zhili, Zhou Tienong, Li Jianguo, Ismail Amat, Jiang Shusheng, Chen Changzhi, Yan Junqi, and Sang Guowei |
| Secretary General: | Li Jianguo |
| Deputy Secretaries General (9): | Wang Wanbin, Qiao Xiaoyang, Zhang Shaoqin, Cao Weizhou, Wang Qingxi, Li Lianning, He Yehui, Sun Wei, and Lui Zhenwei |
| Standing Committee Members: | 161 |
| Address: | Great Hall of the People, Beijing 100805 |
| Telephone: | 86-10-6309-6661 |
| Fascimile: | 86-10-6309-8690 |
| Website: | www.npc.gov.cn |
The NPC is China's legislature, empowered to ratify all law and to confirm PRC government leaders. In reality, the NPC is only just beginning to step away from its rubber stamp functions and develop the expertise necessary to draft and propose legislation. NPC laws are traditionally short in length, with detailed regulations and implementation measures left to functional ministries.
The NPC meets as a full body once each year, usually in March. The NPC Standing Committee meets every other month to review and pass legislation. Laws must be deliberated in at least three NPC Standing Committee sessions before becoming law.
NPC leaders and deputies are elected to five-year terms, the current 11th NPC having been inaugurated in March 2008. Wu Bangguo is the 11th NPC chair, and Li Jianguo is the newly appointed secretary general. The 11th NPC has 13 NPC vice chairs and 9 committees. A total of 161 members compose the 11th NPC Standing Committee.
Specialized Committees (9)
| Committee | Director | Telephone |
| Ethnic Committee | Ma Qizhi | 6309-1736 6309-1763/4 |
| Legal Committee | Hu Kangsheng | 6309-6020 6309-6784 |
| Internal and Judicial Affairs Committee | Huang Zhendong | 6309-1654 6309-1661 |
| Finance and Economics Committee | Shi Xiushi | 6309-7926 |
| Education, Science, Culture, and Public Heath Committee | Bai Keming | 6309-6905 6309-9910 |
| Foreign Affairs Committee | Li Zhaoxing | 6309-7273 |
| Overseas Chinese Committee | Gao Qiren | 6309-1728 |
| Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee | Wang Guangxi | 6309-1640 |
| Agriculture and Rural Committee | Wang Yunlong | 6309-1709 |
Other Committees under the NPC Standing Committee
| Committee | Chair / Vice Chair |
| Legislative Affairs Committee | Li Shishi (chair) An Jian, Li Fei (vice-chairs) |
| Budgetary Work Committee | Zhu Zhigang (chair) Wang Dacheng (vice chair) |
| Basic Law Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region | Qiao Xiaoyang (chair) Liang Aishi, Li Fei (vice chairs) |
| Basic Law Committee of the Macao Special Administrative Region | Qiao Xiaoyang (chair) Li Chengjun, Li Fei (vice chairs) |
2. Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee (CPPCC)
| Chair: | Jia Qinglin |
| Vice Chairs (25): | Wang Gang, Liao Hui, Du Qinglin, Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai, Ma Mankei, Bai Lichen, Chen Kuiyuan, Abdul'ahat Abdulrixit, Li Zhaozhuo, Huang Mengfu, Tung Chee-hwa, Zhang Meiying, Zhang Rongming, Qian Yunlu, Sun Jiazheng, Li Jinhua, Zheng Wantong, Deng Pufang, Wan Gang, Lin Wenyi, Li Wuwei, Luo Fuhe, Chen Zongxing, and Wang Zhizhen |
| Secretary General: | Qian Yunlu |
| Deputy Secretaries General (18): | Yang Chonghui, Jiang Zuojun, Sun Huaishan, Pan Guiyu, Chen Kangpu, Bian Jinping, Lu Changhua, Wang Shenghong, Tong Guangcheng, Chen Xiqing, Xiu Fujin, Zhang Baowen, Ma Peihua, Liu Xiaofeng, Wang Qinmin, Huang Zhixian, Song Beishan, and Lin Zhimin |
| Standing Committee Members: | 298 |
| Address: | 23 Taipingqiao Dajie, Beijing 100811 |
| Telephone: | Foreign Affairs Office: 86-10-6619-1578 |
| Fascimile: | Foreign Affairs Office: 86-10-6619-1570 |
| Website: | www.cppcc.gov.cn |
The CPPCC is a parliamentary body that functions in an advisory role to represent non-party interests and lacks any formal decision-making authority. In recent years the CPPCC and its local assemblies have begun to function as a forum for discussion of public issues, much like rotary clubs in the United States. CPPCC delegates are traditionally leading business, labor, and community figures.
The CPPCC meets annually in its full session in March alongside the NPC session. The 11th CPPCC was established in 2008 and will exist through March 2013. The 11th CPPCC has nine specialized committees.
| Committees | Director |
| Economic Committee | Zhang Zuoji |
| Education, Science, Culture, Health, and Athletics Committee | Xu Guanhua |
| Ethnic and Religious Committee | Tian Congming |
| Foreign Affairs Committee | Zhao Qizheng |
| Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and Overseas Chinese Committee | Chen Yulin |
| Literature and History Committee | Chen Fujin |
| Motions Committee | Li Tielin |
| Population, Resources, and Environment Committee | Zhang Weiqing |
| Social and Legislative Committee | Zhang Fusen |