Understanding the National People’s Congress
Making sense of China’s legislative system without the mystery
Inside the National People’s Congress
A clear look at how China’s top legislature is organized
The National People’s Congress (NPC) is China’s highest legislative body. It is often described as symbolic, but once you look at how it is structured, it resembles many legislative systems elsewhere. Below is a breakdown of its main branches and their functions.
The Top Level
National People’s Congress (NPC): The supreme body of state power. It passes laws, approves major policies, and elects state leaders such as the president, premier, and members of the State Council. It meets once a year in a session often called the “Two Sessions.”
Standing Committee of the NPC: A permanent body of about 170 members that works year-round. It drafts and revises laws, interprets statutes, supervises government organs, and handles foreign treaty ratification.
Chairman’s Council: The leadership team inside the Standing Committee. It includes the chairman, vice chairpersons, and secretary-general. It sets legislative agendas, assigns work to committees, and coordinates between different bodies.
Special Committees
These committees focus on policy areas. They do not compete like U.S. congressional committees but instead provide review, drafting, and consultation.
Ethnic Affairs Committee: Reviews policies on minority rights and regional autonomy.
Constitution and Law Committee: Drafts and revises laws, and reviews constitutional changes.
Supervisory and Judicial Affairs Committee: Oversees the work of supervisory commissions, courts, and procuratorates.
Financial and Economic Affairs Committee: Reviews state economic policy, budget planning, and financial reforms.
Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee: Examines policies on education, research, healthcare, and cultural affairs.
Foreign Affairs Committee: Reviews international treaties and foreign policy issues.
Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee: Addresses the interests of overseas Chinese and those who return to China.
Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee: Focuses on environmental law and sustainable resource use.
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee: Deals with farming policy, rural development, and food security.
Social Development Affairs Committee: Covers labor issues, social security, and public services.
Working Bodies and Affiliated Institutions
These are the professional arms of the NPC, closer to research offices or administrative organs in Western legislatures.
General Office: Handles scheduling, paperwork, and administration.
Legislative Affairs Commission: Drafts laws, interprets legal texts, and provides constitutional reviews.
Budgetary Affairs Commission: Examines national budgets and final accounts before they go to the Standing Committee.
Hong Kong Basic Law Committee: Interprets Hong Kong’s Basic Law and provides legal advice on implementation.
Macau Basic Law Committee: Performs the same function for Macau.
Deputies Affairs Committee: Provides services to NPC deputies, processes their motions and suggestions, and organizes training and support.
Departments Under the Working Bodies
These departments keep the NPC running day to day, much like offices within Congress or Parliament.
Secretariat: Manages meetings, agendas, and official documentation.
Research Office: Conducts background studies on policy and law.
Foreign Affairs Bureau: Manages the NPC’s contacts with foreign parliaments and organizations.
Press Bureau: Handles media relations and official statements.
Petitions Bureau: Receives and investigates complaints or proposals from citizens.
Personnel Bureau: Manages staff recruitment and personnel matters.
Logistics Bureau: Provides housing, transport, and logistical services.
Organ Affairs Bureau: Manages internal administration and resources.
Organ Party Committee: Coordinates Communist Party activities within the NPC.
Organ Disciplinary Inspection Committee: Oversees discipline and anti-corruption efforts among staff.
Organ Trade Union: Represents staff interests and welfare.
Organ Youth League Committee: Organizes youth activities and training.
NPC Standing Committee Security Bureau: Provides security, comparable to Capitol Police.
Information Center: Provides IT and data management services.
NPC Training Center: Runs educational programs for deputies.
NPC Press Center: Coordinates media coverage during sessions.
NPC Library: Houses legal, historical, and policy documents for research.
NPC Conference Center: Venue for meetings, conferences, and hearings.
People’s Congress Magazine Publishing House: Publishes the NPC’s official magazine, reports, and educational material.
Deputies Credentials Committee
This committee examines whether deputies were elected in line with law and procedure. It checks qualifications, reports results, and ensures the legality of representation before the NPC opens.
By seeing the system in detail, it becomes less secretive. The NPC has a layered design with legislative committees, budget offices, research bodies, and public complaint channels. While it operates under a different political framework than Western legislatures, its structure is organized and functional in a way that can be understood clearly.