China is a country of many peoples and many political parties. Before the state adopts important measures or makes decisions on issues having a bearing on the national economy and the people's livelihood, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), as the party in power, consults with representatives of all ethnic groups, political parties and non-Party personages, and all other social sectors, in order to reach a common understanding.
Party control is tightest in government offices and in urban economic, industrial, and cultural settings; it is considerably looser in the rural areas, where the majority of the people live.
State Structure
The Chinese Government has always been subordinate to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP); its role is to implement party policies. The primary organs of state power are the National People's Congress (NPC), the President, and the State Council. Members of the State Council include Premier Zhu Rongji, a variable number of vice premiers (now four), five state councilors (protocol equal of vice premiers but with narrower portfolios), and 29 ministers and heads of State Council commissions.
Under the Chinese Constitution, the NPC is the highest organ of state power in China. It meets annually for about 2 weeks to review and approve major new policy directions, laws, the budget, and major personnel changes. These initiatives are presented to the NPC for consideration by the State Council after previous endorsement by the Communist Party's Central Committee. Although the NPC generally approves State Council policy and personnel recommendations, various NPC committees hold active debate in closed sessions, and changes may be made to accommodate alternate views.
When the NPC is not in session, its permanent organ, the Standing Committee, exercises state power.
State Councillors: Zhou Yongkang, Cao Gangchuan, Tang Jiaxuan, Chen Zhili, Hua Jianmin
State Military Commission: Chairman: Hu Jintao,; Vice Chariman: Guo Boxiong, Cao Gangchuan; Xu Caihou. Committion Members: Liang Guanglie, Liao Xilong, Li Jinai, Chen Bingde, Qiao Qingchen, Zhang Dingfa, Jing ZHiyuan.
President of People's Republic of China
The President and Vice-President of the People's Republic of China are elected by the National People’s Congress. Their term of office is five years.
The President, in pursuance of the decisions of the National People’s Congress and its Standing Committee, promulgates statutes, appoints or removes the Premier and other members of the State Council, confers state medals and titles of honor, issues orders of special pardons, proclaims martial law, proclaims a state of war, issues mobilization orders, receives foreign diplomatic representatives on behalf of the People's Republic of China, appoints or recalls plenipotentiary representatives abroad, and ratifies or abrogates treaties and important agreements concluded with foreign states.
The Vice-President assists in the work of the President and may perform the functions and exercise those powers of the President as may be deputed by the President. In case the office of the President falls vacant, the Vice-President will succeed to the office of the President.
The State Council and Local Governments
The State Council of the People's Republic of China, that is, the Central People's Government, is the highest state administrative organ. It enforces that laws and decisions formulated and approved by the National People's Congress and it s Standing Committee, to which it is responsible and accountable. Within the limits of its power and functions, it has the power to adopt necessary administrative measures and regulations, and issue orders.
The Premier takes overall responsibility for and directs the work of the State Council. He calls and presides over executive and plenary meetings of the State Council. Members of the executive meetings are the Premier, Vice-Premiers, State Councilors and the Secretary-General. Plenary meetings are attended by the Premier, Vice-Premiers, State Councilors, the Secretary-General, ministers in charge of ministries and commissions and the Auditor-General. Decisions on major issues concerning the work of the State Council must be discussed and approved either at the executive meetings or the plenary meetings of the State Council.
The State Council exercises unified leadership over the work of the ministries and commissions and the local governments at different levels. It directs and administers affairs of economy, finance, banking, commerce, education, science, culture, public health, physical culture, family planning, public security, urban and rural development, judicial administration and supervision. In addition it is responsible for the strengthening of national defense, and conducts foreign and civil affairs as well as affairs concerning the nationalities and overseas Chinese.
