What are the functions and powers of the NPC?

Legislative power

Supervisory power

Election and personnel appointment and removal power

Legislative power

NPC has power to revise Constitution, to supervise Constitution enforcement and to enact and amend basic laws.

Supervision power

To listen to and deliberate NPC Standing Committee work reports, State Council, Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate; to alter or annul inappropriate NPC Standing Committee decisions; to address inquiries.

Personnel appointment and removal power

1. Aspect of election

NPC elect Chairman, Vice-Chairmen, Secretary-General and members of NPC Standing Committee.

To elect PRC President and Vice-President

To elect Central Military Commission Chairman

2. Aspect of appointment determination

To decide on State Council Premier’s choice upon nomination by PRC President, and to decide on choice of Vice-Premiers, State Councilors, Ministers in charge of ministries or commissions, Auditor-General and Secretary-General of State Council upon nomination by Premier.

3. Aspect of removal power exercise

NPC has power to remove from office the above-mentioned persons. As prescribed by laws, proposal for removal from office should be submitted by NPC Presidium or more than 3 deputations or more than 1/10 deputies at NPC Presidium recommendation in order to be passed by majority vote of all deputies.

Article 63 of the Constitution of China provides that NPC has power to remove from office following persons:

PRC President and Vice-President;

Premier, Vice-Premiers, State Councilors, Ministers in charge of ministries or commissions, Auditor-General and Secretary-General of State Council;

Central Military Commission Chairman and other members of Central Military Commission;

President of the Supreme People's Court;

Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

4. Major issues determination power

NPC has power to examine and approve report on national economic and social development planning and its implementation;

To have power to examine and approve reports on state budget and its implementation;

To have power to alter or annul inappropriate decisions of NPC Standing Committee

To approve establishment of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under Central Government;

To decide on establishment of special administrative regions and systems to be instituted there;

To decide on war and peace issue;

To exercise such other functions and powers as highest organ of state power should exercise.