Regulations of the CPPCC National Committee on Political Consultation, Democratic Supervision and Participation in and Deliberation of State Affairs

(Adopted at the Ninth Session of the Eighth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on January 14, 1995)The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is an organization of the patriotic united front of the Chinese people, an important organ of the multiparty cooperation and political consultation led by the Communist Party of China (CPC), and an important form of promoting socialist democracy in China's political life. The system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation led by the CPC, which demonstrates the features and advantages of the political system in China, is a basic political institution in China. It has taken shape in the long years of revolution and construction and will exist and develop for a long time to come. In accordance with the relevant stipulations in the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Constitution of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference as well as the requirements placed on the CPPCC by the CPC Central Committee and under the guidance of the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, the following regulations are formulated with a view to improving socialist democracy, work step by step to institutionalize and standardize political consultation, democratic supervision and participation in and deliberation of state affairs, so as to give fuller play to the role of democratic parties, patriots with no party affiliations, people's organizations, personages of ethnic minorities and patriots from all circles in the political life of China. Article 1 The major function of the CPPCC is to conduct political consultation and exercise democratic supervision, organize the political parties, organizations as well as personages of ethnic minorities and public figures from all circles, which and who have joined the CPPCC, to take part in the discussion and administration of state affairs.Article 2 The aim of political consultation, democratic supervision and participation in and deliberation of state affairs is: to promote socialist democracy, reflect opinions and demands from all quarters, lay a broad platform for democratic parties, patriots with no party affiliations, people's organizations, personages of ethnic minorities and patriots from all circles, which and who have joined the CPPCC, to play their role, pool wisdom from various sources, and accelerate the process of putting major state decision-making on a more scientific and democratic basis; to supervise the implementation of the state's Constitution, laws, principles and policies, assist and spur state organs in their efforts to improve their work, increase efficiency, eliminate bureaucratism and oppose corruption; to promote the progress of socialist material and spiritual civilization, strengthen socialist democracy and legal system, promote the development of the socialist market economy and productive forces; to harmonize the relations between different social groups, enhance mutual communication and understanding between them, and enhance the unity and cooperation among all political parties led by the Communist Party; and to implement the principles of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" and work for early national reunification. Article 3 Political consultation refers to pre-decision making consultation on major state and local principles and policies and major issues in political, economic, cultural and social life and consultation on major problems emerged in the process of implementing policy decisions. Political consultation mainly covers the progress in socialist culture and ideology, the strengthening of socialist democracy and legal system, major principles and policies regarding reform and opening-up and major measures adopted, the report on the work of the government, the state fiscal budget, the economic and social development plan, important matters in the political life of the country, important proposed state laws, candidates for state leaders proposed by the CPC Central Committee, changes to provincial-level administrative divisions, major principles and policies on foreign affairs, major principles and policies on national reunification, major issues concerning the well-being of the masses, common affairs among political parties, major internal affairs of the CPPCC and other important issues concerning the patriotic united front.Political consultation mainly takes the following forms: plenary sessions of the CPPCC National Committee, Chairmen's Meetings, Standing Committee workshops, special committee meetings, and forums for consultation which are called when necessary and attended by representatives of various political parties, patriots with no party affiliations, people's organizations, personages of ethnic minorities and patriots from all circles, etc. Article 4 Democratic supervision refers to supervision, exercised through suggestions and criticism, over the enforcement of the state's Constitution, laws and regulations, the implementation of major principles and policies and the work of state organs and functionaries.Democratic supervision mainly covers the enforcement of the state's Constitution, laws and regulations, the implementation of major principles and policies formulated by the CPC Central Committee and leading state organs, the implementation of national economic and social development plans and fiscal budgets, the performance of duties by state organs and functionaries as well as their abidance of law and discipline and clean governing, and compliance with the CPPCC Constitution and implementation of CPPCC resolutions by units and individuals joining the CPPCC. Democratic supervision mainly takes the following forms: recommendations forwarded to the CPC Central Committee and the State Council by plenary sessions of the CPPCC National Committee, Standing Committee meetings or Chairmen's Meetings, suggestions or related reports forwarded by special committees; inspections conducted by CPPCC members, proposals tabled by CPPCC members, tip-offs provided by CPPCC members, or criticism and suggestions offered by CPPCC members in other ways; participation in investigation or inspection activities organized by the relevant departments of the CPC Central Committee or the State Council. Article 5 Participation in and deliberation of state affairs are an expansion and extension of political consultation and democratic supervision. With regard to their coverage and methods, participation in and deliberation of state affairs include, in addition to those prescribed in Articles 3 & 4, organizing investigations and study on selected topics that touch upon issues or problems the general public is concerned about and Party and government organizations pay much attention to and suit the CPPCC, proactively offering constructive opinions to leading organs of the Party and government, and generously offering advice on the reform and opening-up and socialist modernization drive by employing various ways to give scope to the free airing of views and make full use of all talents and give full play to the specialized knowledge and role of CPPCC members.Article 6 Upon proposals by the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, democratic parties, people's organizations or relevant Party and government departments of the central authorities, the Chairmen's Meeting of the CPPCC National Committee shall arrange consultation activities and decide on the forms of such activities and the scope of participants.In case of any issues that need to be put to consultation from the viewpoint of the Chairmen's Meeting of the CPPCC National Committee, the Meeting may propose to the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, democratic parties, people's organizations and relevant Party and government departments of the central authorities that they be referred to the CPPCC for consultation.Article 7 To conduct political consultation, the CPPCC National Committee may invite, if necessary, leading members of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and relevant Party and government departments of the central authorities to attend a meeting for such purpose and give explanations on the questions for consultation.Article 8 After the topics for consultation and the date for a meeting have been decided on, relevant departments of the CPPCC National Committee shall deliver, at lease one week prior to the meeting, a meeting notice together with relevant documents to those who will participate in the meeting, so that they will be well prepared and opinions from all parties concerned will be fully reflected at the meeting. Article 9 The democratic rights of CPPCC members should be protected. Divergent opinions may be freely expressed at all CPPCC meetings.Article 10 Plenary sessions of the CPPCC National Committee, Standing committee meetings and other forms of consultation meetings or important activities should normally be covered by the media.Article 11 Special committees of the CPPCC National Committee shall, under the direction of the Standing Committee, organize their members to participate in various regular activities, handle well the work related to workshops and investigations on special topics as well as proposals tabled and tip-offs provided by their members, and keep in close contact with the relevant Party and government departments of the central authorities for the purpose of mutual support and cooperation.Article 12 Important suggestions put forth by special committees and important proposals tabled by their members, after being adopted by the special committees concerned, may be forwarded to Standing Committee meetings or Chairmen's Meetings for discussion. After being adopted by Standing Committee meetings or Chairmen's Meetings, they must be forwarded, in the form of recommendations presented by the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee or the Chairmen's Meeting, to the authorities concerned.Article 13 Suggestions, opinions or criticism offered in the name of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, the Chairmen's Meeting or special committees shall be made in official documents by the General Office of the CPPCC National Committee and delivered to the authorities or departments concerned. The authorities or departments concerned must take an active and responsible approach in studying and handling them, and feedback, as soon as possible, the results of the handling in the form of official documents. The departments concerned shall conscientiously study and handle the proposals tabled and tip-offs provided by units and individuals joining the CPPCC and give replies in good time.Article 14 To earnestly perform the major functions of political consultation, democratic supervision and participation in and deliberation of state affairs, the CPPCC National Committee shall work in various ways to help CPPCC members gain access to related information and create favorable conditions for them to participate in the discussion and administration of state affairs. CPPCC members shall work hard to improve themselves, carry on investigations and study of actual situations, keep in close touch with the political parties or people's organizations they represent and people of the sectors concerned, and actively relay opinions and demands from the masses, so as to better play their due role in participation in and deliberation of state affairs.Article 15 These regulations shall be implemented from the date of their adoption by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.Local committees may implement these regulations in light of the local conditions.