CPPCC Meetings
Meetings are an important way in which the CPPCC exercises its functions and its members participate in the deliberation and administration of state affairs. The main meetings of the CPPCC National Committee include plenary sessions, meetings of the Standing Committee, Chair’s Council meetings, Secretaries-general’s meetings and meetings of special committees. In addition, workshops and consultative meetings on special topics, special briefings, evaluative meetings, public hearings and seminars are held in light of needs.
Plenary sessions are the highest form of consultation by the CPPCC. The Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee calls and presides over a plenary session, but the first session of the new term is chaired by the presidium elected at the preparatory meeting before the session. The plenary session is held once a year, generally in March in conjunction with the annual session of the NPC. A plenary session can be convened on an ad hoc basis if the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee deems it necessary. A session can be held when over two-thirds of the CPPCC members attend. The agenda of the plenary session mainly includes opening and closing ceremonies, meetings to hear speeches, joint-group and group discussions, and attending the session of the annual NPC as nonvoting observers.
The main tasks of the plenary session are to elect the Chairperson, Vice-chairpersons, Secretary-general and members of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, and decide on increases or changes in the composition of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee; to make suggestions and criticisms by consulting on and discussing the state’s major principles and policies, and crucial issues affecting political, economic, cultural and social activities; to listen to and examine the work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, and the report on handling proposals and other reports; to listen to and discuss the Report on the Work of the Government, the Report on the National Planning and Budget, the Report on the Work of the Supreme People’s Court, the Report on the Work of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and other important reports and make comments and suggestions on them. At a plenary session, meetings to hear speeches are convened. All political parties, mass organizations, groups and special committees are entitled to present written speeches by individuals or groups of members. The Secretariat of the plenary session will then decide who will speak at the meetings, according to relevant regulations.
Members attending the plenary session are divided into section according to their groupings. The leader, recommended by the members of a section presides over the meeting while the convener of the section will chair the meeting until the leader is chosen. A joint discussion can be attended by members of different groups. The person who presides over the discussion is chosen through recommendation by all attending the discussion.
The leading members of the CPC Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the NPC, the State Council, the Central Military Commission, the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate are invited to attend the plenary sessions, of the CPPCC,and the diplomatic envoys and press officers of all countries to China are invited to attend it as observers.
Meetings of the Standing Committee are the main form of the CPPCC’s performance of its functions of political consultation, democratic supervision and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs when a plenary session is not in session. They are responsible for calling and presiding over the meetings of the CPPCC National Committee and handling its work when its plenary session is not in session.
The Chairperson of the National Committee presides over the meetings of the Standing Committee or entrusts Vice-Chairpersons to chair them. Generally speaking, the Standing Committee meets every quarter of the year. Ad hoc meetings may be held if necessary and only over two-thirds of all members of the Standing Committee are prepared to attend.
Normally, meetings of the Standing Committee last three to four days. Their agenda mainly includes opening and closing ceremonies, meetings for speeches, listening to reports or briefings, group discussions based on special topics, regular group discussions, etc. Their main tasks are to examine the important affairs concerning the conference business and work of the CPPCC National Committee and its Standing Committee; to consult on and discuss the state’s general principles and policies, and the major issues affecting the national economy and the people’s livelihood by listening to reports and explanations of major issues made by the leading members of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and relevant government departments; to examine the documents submitted to the plenary session of the CPPCC National Committee; to examine important motions, proposals, inspection reports, investigation reports, reports on visits to foreign countries and other reports; to study important matters concerning the CPPCC’s work; to consult and decide on the units, the number of members, candidates and groups of the next National Committee; and to consult and decide on increases or changes in the groups, and the number of members and candidates of the current National Committee.
Only if the proposals made at meetings of the Standing Committee or other matters which require voting are adopted by half of all members of the Standing Committee can they become valid.
Meetings of the Chair’s Council are the CPPCC’s main form of consultation when meetings of the Standing Committee are not in session. Composed of the Chairperson, Vice-chairpersons and Secretary-general of the CPPCC National Committee, they are responsible for handling the important day-to-day work of the Standing Committee. They are called and presided over by the Chairperson or Vice-chairpersons entrusted by the Chairperson. Generally speaking, they are held once a month, although ad hoc meetings can be convened if necessary and only over half of all the council members are prepared to attend.
Their main tasks are to discuss increases or changes in the groups, the number of members and candidates of the current National Committee and ask the Standing Committee to make decisions through consultation; to discuss the units, the number of members, candidates and groups of the next CPPCC National Committee, and ask the Standing Committee to decide via consultation; to discuss the state’s general principles and policies and the major concerns of the people, during which the leaders of relevant departments are invited to the meeting to give information and hear opinions; to examine important suggestions made to the CPC Central Committee and the State Council in the name of the CPPCC National Committee or its Standing Committee; to draft the agendas and schedules of meetings of the Standing Committee; to call and preside over meetings of the Standing Committee, draft their agenda and schedule and examine the documents submitted to the meetings; and to implement the resolutions of the Standing Committee and handle its important day-to-day work.
(Source: http://www.cppcc.gov.cn/zxww/zxyw/home/)
