Working Rules for the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)

(Adopted at the Second Session of the Standing Committee of the Seventh CPPCC National Committee on June 9, 1988, amended at the Seventeenth Session of the Standing Committee of the Eighth CPPCC National Committee on June 14, 1996 and the Eighth Session of the Standing Committee of the Tenth CPPCC National Committee on February 28, 2005) These Rules are formulated in accordance with the Constitution of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference with a view to further improving the work of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (hereinafter referred to as the Standing Committee) by making it institutionalized and standardized and ensuring that it has procedures to go by.Chapter I General ProvisionsArticle 1 Under the guidance of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents", the Standing Committee shall take the Constitution of the People's Republic of China as the fundamental principles and the Constitution of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference as the basis, hold high the banners of patriotism and socialism, uphold the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation led by the Communist Party of China and implement the principle of "long-term coexistence, mutual supervision, treating each other with all sincerity and sharing weal and woe" in an effort to promote the unity and cooperation among all political parties, public organizations and personages of all ethnic groups and all walks of life joining the CPPCC, to further consolidate and develop the patriotic united front and promote the great unity and union of the Chinese nation, and shall, focusing on the two major subjects of unity and democracy, vigorously perform the functions of political consultation, democratic supervision and participation in and deliberation of state affairs, striving for the attainment of the grand goal of accelerating our modernization drive, achieving national reunification and maintaining world peace.Article 2 The work relating to meetings of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (hereinafter referred to as the National Committee) is directed by the Standing Committee. When the National Committee is not in plenary session, its work is attended to by the Standing Committee. Article 3 The Standing Committee is composed of the Chairman, Vice Chairmen and Secretary-General of the National Committee as well as other members.Article 4 The Chairman of the National Committee directs the work of the Standing Committee. The Vice-Chairmen and Secretary-General assist the Chairman in his/her work.Article 5 The Standing Committee exercises the following functions and powers:(1) To interpret the Constitution of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and supervise its enforcement; (2) To decide, through consultation, on the units to be included in the next National Committee, the number of its members as well as the candidates for them and the representation given to various sectors of society on the Committee; to decide, through consultation, on any increase of or change to the units joining the current National Committee and the number of its members thus involved and on the candidates for them;(3) To convene and preside over plenary sessions of the National Committee; to call, before the convocation of the first plenary session of a new National Committee, a preparatory meeting attended by all committee members to elect a presidium to conduct the first plenary session;(4) To decide on the extension of the term of the National Committee under extraordinary circumstances, which requires at least a two-thirds majority vote in favor of it among all members of the Standing Committee;(5) To organize efforts to accomplish the tasks set forth in the Constitution of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference;(6) To carry out decisions adopted at plenary sessions of the National Committee;(7) To examine and adopt important recommendations to be forwarded to the CPC Central Committee, the NPC Standing Committee and the State Council when the National Committee is not in plenary session;(8) To propose a name list to be decided at a plenary session of the National Committee in case of the need to increase or change the composition of the Standing Committee;(9) To appoint or remove deputy secretaries-general of the National Committee upon the proposal of the Secretary-General;(10) To decide on the establishment of any working organ of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference or any change to such organ, and to appoint or remove its leading members;(11) To decide, in accordance with the Constitution of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, on disciplinary actions against units or individuals joining the CPPCC;Article 6 Members of the Standing Committee shall earnestly carry out the Constitution of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference as well as regulations formulated and decisions made by the National Committee and the Standing Committee, take an active part in the activities of the Standing Committee, enhance contacts with people of all walks of life, make friends extensively and promptly relay opinions and demands from the masses.Chapter II Standing Committee MeetingsArticle 7 The Standing Committee normally meets in session once a quarter; a session may be convened at any time when necessary.Article 8 Half a month prior to the convocation of a Standing Committee meeting, all members of the Standing Committee must be notified of matters relating to the meeting after its draft agenda and schedule have been worked out by the Chairmen's Meeting; they may be notified at short notice in case of an interim session. Article 9 The Standing Committee meeting is chaired by the Chairman of the National Committee or may be chaired by a vice-chairman authorized by the Chairman.Article 10 The major tasks of the Standing Committee meeting are:(1) To review the performance of National Committee meetings and Standing Committee meetings and important matters in their work;(2) To discuss, through consultation, major principles and policies of the CPC Central Committee and the State and major issues in social life, hear reports or explanatory speeches on related important issues made by leading officials of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council or other departments concerned, and offer suggestions and opinions;(3) To examine the documents to be submitted to a plenary session of the National Committee;(4) To deliberate important recommendations, proposals, inspection reports, investigation reports, reports on visits abroad and other reports. Article 11 When the Standing Committee meets in session, deputy secretaries-general of the CPPCC National Committee, deputy chairmen of CPPCC Special Committees, director-general of the Research Department of the General Office and officials in charge of units at the bureau level, who are not members of the Standing Committee, are entitled to attend the meeting as nonvoting participants. Article 12 When the Standing Committee meets in session, related members of the CPPCC National Committee, leading officials of CPPCC local committees of related provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the jurisdiction of the Central Government or sub-provincial cities may be invited, in light of the meeting agenda and needs, to attend the meeting as nonvoting participants, and, if necessary, leading officials of related Party and government departments and representatives from some other sectors may be invited too. Article 13 A Standing Committee meeting cannot be held unless a two-thirds majority of the entire committee is in attendance; socialist democracy shall be given full scope at the meeting, items on the agenda shall go through full discussion and consultation and all kinds of views and suggestions offered by the committee members must be fully reflected; a resolution discussed at the meeting or a decision that must be put to vote will come into force only after it has been adopted by a vote of simple majority of the entire Committee.Article 14 Standing Committee meetings will be conducted in a way that combines plenary sessions with group discussions. Groups may be organized, depending on the agenda of the meeting, by sectors or in a cross-sectoral manner.Article 15 A timetable for speakers at a plenary session of the Standing Committee may be made when necessary. Parties, organizations, special committees, or Standing Committee members (individually or jointly) may submit their speech notes to apply for a chance to speech at the meeting, and overall arrangement will be made.Article 16 A member of the Standing Committee must ask for leave of absence if he/she is unable to attend a committee meeting because of illness or other special reasons.Article 17 A forum may be held, if necessary, to have discussion and consultation on a special topic and hear views and suggestions. Related members of the Standing Committee and other related people shall be invited to such forums for consultation.Article 18 The Chairmen's Meeting shall preside over the day-to-day work of the Standing Committee when it is not in session.Chapter III DocumentsArticle 19 Decisions made, suggestions offered and opinions or criticism aired by the Standing Committee shall be approved, by signature, by the Chairman or by a Vice-chairman or the Secretary-General authorized by the Chairman, and be made in documents issued by the National Committee or its General Office and shall be delivered to relevant authorities or departments. Article 20 Standing Committee meetings and forums on special topics attended by Standing Committee members shall normally be covered by the media, and Information Bulletin and Minutes of the meetings shall be compiled and distributed by the General Office. Chapter IV Supplementary RuleArticle 21 These rules shall be implemented upon their being adopted by a Standing Committee meeting. The power of interpretation and amendment of these rules shall be vested in the Standing Committee.