Law of the People's Republic of China on the Organization of the National People's Congress

Law of the People's Republic of China on the Organization of the National People's Congress

December 10, 1982

(Adopted at the Fifth Session of the Fifth National People's Congress and promulgated for implementation by the proclamation of the National People's Congress on December 10, 1982)

Chapter I Sessions of the National People's Congress

Article 1 Sessions of the National People's Congress shall be convened in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China.
The first session of each National People's Congress shall be convened by the Standing Committee of the previous National People's Congress within two months of the election of deputies to the current National People's Congress.

Article 2 A month before the convening of a session of the National People's Congress, its Standing Committee shall notify the deputies of the date of the session and of the main items on the proposed agenda.
The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply to specially convened sessions of the National People's Congress.

Article 3 After deputies to the National People's Congress have been elected, their credentials shall be examined by the Credentials Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
Based on the reports submitted by the Credentials Committee, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress shall affirm the qualifications of deputies or invalidate the election of individual deputies, and shall publish the list of affirmed deputies prior to the first session of each National People's Congress.
Deputies to the National People's Congress who are elected through by-elections shall have their credentials examined in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraphs.

Article 4 Deputies to the National People's Congress shall be grouped into delegations based on the units that elect them. Each delegation shall elect a head and deputy-heads.
Before each session of the National People's Congress is convened, the delegations shall discuss matters concerning preparations for the session put forward by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. During the session, the delegations shall deliberate on the bills and proposals submitted to the Congress, and the heads of delegations or representatives chosen by them may express, on behalf of those delegations, opinions on the bills and proposals at meetings of the Presidium or at plenary meetings of the session.

Article 5 Before each session of the National People's Congress, a preparatory meeting shall be held to elect a Presidium and a Secretary-General for the session, adopt an agenda for that session and make decisions on other preparatory work.
The preparatory meeting shall be presided over by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. The preparatory meeting of the first session of each National People's Congress shall be conducted by the Standing Committee of the previous National People's Congress.

Article 6 The Presidium shall preside over the sessions of the National People's Congress.
The Presidium shall elect some of its members to rotate as executive chairmen of the sessions.
Standing chairmen shall be elected by the Presidium to convene and preside over meetings of the Presidium.

Article 7 For each session, the National People's Congress shall set up a secretariat which shall work under the direction of the Secretary-General.
Each session of the National People's Congress shall install several Deputy Secretaries-General, whose choice shall be decided on by the Presidium.

Article 8 Members of the State Council, members of the Central Military Commission, the President of the Supreme People's Court and the Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate may attend meetings of the National People's Congress but without voting rights. By decision of the Presidium, responsible officers of other State organs and public organizations may also attend meetings of the National People's Congress without voting rights.

Article 9 The Presidium, the Standing Committee and the special committees of the National People's Congress, the State Council, the Central Military Commission, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate may submit to the National People's Congress bills or proposals that fall within the scope of its functions and powers. The Presidium shall decide whether to refer the bills or proposals to the various delegations or to the delegations and relevant special committees for deliberation.
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