Zhou Xiaoguang is the first NPC deputy from Yiwu in Zhejiang Province, the world famous distribution center for small commodities. She has displayed an enterprising spirit in her capacity as a law maker. The first to open an NPC deputy's office, she made another unprecedented move by soliciting ideas from her constituency, via an advertisement on a local TV channel, for NPC proposals.

During her five-year tenure in the 10th NPC Ms. Zhou sponsored 125 motions and handed in 109 proposals. More than 100 of her motions and all the proposals were accepted, the best known ones including those for anti-monopoly laws and the standardization of jacks in different mobile phone models. She was reelected into the 11th NPC in 2008.

NPC deputies are required to have expertise in particular realms and to demonstrate good judgment. Jiang Jian, a five-term NPC deputy since 1988 and president of the Red Cross Qufu Hospital, is a prolific champion of causes: she has put more than 900 motions and proposals through the NPC which cover a scope well beyond her own public health field, such as lotteries, personal banking credit, assets evaluation and education. "I am not a Jack of all Trades. But I never speak before knowing my business," Ms. Jiang said. Before bringing an issue to the NPC she always does extensive research, refers to volumes of materials, and often consults with experts in the field.

The relevance and depth of her proposals won them all a high profile at the NPC. In the 11 proposals from deputies at the top of the NPC's work agenda in 2008 two were from Jiang Jian. Of the 58 motions and proposals from her in 2009 12 have made it onto the planned legislation list or entered the reviewing process.

The delegation from Henan Province contributed 240 motions in the 2009 NPC, of which more than 70 were suggested by Tang Zuxuan, president of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Dengzhou City. Besides detecting problems in the lives of those around him, Mr. Tang gleans opinions among his colleagues, neighbors and other people he knows. "As a representative of the people, I am a spokesman for the average Joe, and try to present their views to the highest legislature," he said. "But of course I won't do so before investigations on my own."

A Precaution against Corruption

Han Deyun, a partner of a law firm in Chongqing, and deputy to the 10th and 11th NPC, has handed in more than 150 motions and proposals since his election in 2003. The most prominent of these is the one advocating a law requiring civil servants to declare personal wealth.