The Nature of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)

The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference is an organization of the patriotic united front of the Chinese people. It is an organization of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. It is composed of the Communist Party of China, other political parties, commonalties, ethnic groups, representatives of compatriots of Taiwan , Hong Kong and Macao and other specially invited persons.

The system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China is a basic political system in China. Many major issues concerning economic construction, political life, social life and the united front should go through consultation in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference . Such consultation may take the form of full discussion and repeated exchanges of opinions so that the policies, regulations and laws taken by the state are adequate and well-prepared.

The Constitution of China stipulates that the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation shall continue to exist and develop. The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference will further its friendly exchanges with foreign countries, the modernization drive, maintaining the integrity of the country and strengthening the unity among all ethnic groups.

Functions of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

According to the charter of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference , its functions are to conduct political consultation and exercise democratic supervision, organize its members from various non-CPC political parties, commonalties and representatives from all social fields to take part in the discussion and management of state affairs.

Political consultation covers socialist material and spiritual construction, the building of a socialist democratic legal system, important policies and planning of the reform and opening up program, reports on the work of the government, national financial and fiscal budget, economic and social development planning, major issues in political life in the country, drafting of major national laws, changes in the administrative feature at the provincial level, major policies for foreign affairs, major policies in regard to the unification of the motherland, major issues involving people's live, affairs of common interest of the political parties, important affairs of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and important issues in regard to the patriotic united front.

Democratic supervision covers such areas as the implementation of the Constitution, laws and regulations of the state, implementation of major policies formulated by the CPC Central Committee and the state, the implementation of the national economic and social development plans and financial budget, and honesty of state organs and their staff.

Membership of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

All political parties and mass organizations that support the charter of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference may sit on the National Committee or local committees.

Individuals, invited by the National Committee or the standing committees of local committees, may also become members of the National Committee or local committees.

Units or individuals who have joined the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference have the obligation to observe and implement CPPCC charter. They have the freedom to withdraw from the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference .

Structure of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

The relationship between the National Committee and local committees and between higher level committees and lower level committees is one of guidance.

Local committees have the obligation to observe and carry out national decisions adopted by the National Committee and lower level committees have the obligation to observe and carry out regional decisions adopted by the higher level committees.

The National Committee has a chairman, vice chairmen and secretary-general. Its Standing Committee presides over the work of the National Committee.

The Standing Committee is composed of the chairman, vice chairmen, secretary-general and members. Candidacy of members to the Standing Committee is proposed by political parties, mass organizations, and people representing various walks of life of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference , and elected by the plenary session of the National Committee. The chairman of the National Committee presides over the work of the Standing Committee and vice chairmen and secretary-general assist the chairman's work. The National Committee has several vice secretaries-general to assist the secretary-general.