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China's Political Magic: How Does the National People's Congress Work?
The National People's Congress (NPC) is the highest state authority of the People's Republic of China. As the largest legislative body in the world, the NPC has 2,977 members in 2023. As the only government agency, the operation of the NPC shows the workings of Chinese politics and reveals its relationship with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This article will explore the workings, history, powers and influence of the National People's Congress on Chinese politics.
The structure and operation of the National People’s Congress
The National People's Congress is elected every five years and usually holds a 10- to 14-day session in the spring. The agenda is held in the Great Hall of the People. At its annual meeting, the NPC votes to pass important bills and personnel appointments. Since Chinese politics operates within the framework of communism, the NPC is ultimately led by the CCP in the exercise of power. Many observers believe that the NPC is more of a rubber-stamp agency.
Historical evolution
The roots of the National People's Congress can be traced back to the First National Congress of Soviets held in the Soviet Republic of China in 1931. As history evolved, the Communist Party of China and the Kuomintang held a political consultative conference after World War II, which laid the foundation for the later National People's Congress.
In 1954, the Constitution transferred legislative power to the National People's Congress, forming the unique political structure today.
Functions of the National People’s Congress
According to the Constitution, the main functions of the NPC include constitutional amendment, legislation, election and appointment of national leaders. These functions give NPCs formal power to control Chinese politics.
Power to amend the constitution
The NPC has the sole power to amend the constitution, which requires a vote of at least two-thirds of the representatives. Constitutional amendments are proposed by the NPC Standing Committee or by more than one-fifth of the representatives.
Legislative power
NPC is the only organization with the power to formulate and amend basic laws. However, in fact, all legislative proposals are subject to preliminary approval by the CCP, which affects the independence of legislation to a certain extent.
Right of election and appointment
NPC is responsible for electing important national positions, including the president of the country and the prime minister of the State Council. However, in fact all candidates are decided internally by the CCP before the election, and the votes of NPC representatives are limited to only one candidate.
As BBC News reported, the representation of those NPCs exists in form, but they rarely exercise their right to speak.
The current operational status of the National People’s Congress
Although the structure of the National People's Congress is very interesting, the true meaning and influence of its representatives are often questioned. Representatives often participate only symbolically, and real opinions are often suppressed on the most important issues. Even so, NPC is still indispensable in the implementation of government policies.
External relations and public image
The NPC also needs to communicate with foreign legislative bodies to promote China’s diplomatic interests. This includes promoting the CCP's major policy initiatives. This interaction not only displays a communicative government image externally, but also maintains internal policy stability.
Conclusion
The way the National People’s Congress operates as China’s highest authority demonstrates the uniqueness and complexity of Chinese politics. Even though it has been criticized as a rubber stamp, this institution still plays an indispensable role in formulating laws and national policies. Faced with such a special political structure, are you doubtful about the effectiveness and transparency of national governance?
