March 3, 2016 9:13 am
Thousands of delegates from around China are gathering in Beijing this week for the National People’s Congress, an annual conclave that is the closest the ruling Communist party gets to seeking broader public input on its decisions.
What is the NPC?
China’s version of the legislative branch of government, the NPC meets once a year for about 10 days in March. The meeting opens with pomp and ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, a temple to communist architecture built in the 1950s. The interior features thick red carpets, marble columns and lush decorations that aim to reflect the diversity of China’s provinces. The 2,943 delegates range from meek “model workers” and token ethnic minorities in colorful costumes to ministers and provincial party secretaries or captains of state-owned industry. The latter have been thinned by a two-year anti-corruption probe.
China’s version of the legislative branch of government, the NPC meets once a year for about 10 days in March. The meeting opens with pomp and ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, a temple to communist architecture built in the 1950s. The interior features thick red carpets, marble columns and lush decorations that aim to reflect the diversity of China’s provinces. The 2,943 delegates range from meek “model workers” and token ethnic minorities in colorful costumes to ministers and provincial party secretaries or captains of state-owned industry. The latter have been thinned by a two-year anti-corruption probe.
Is the NPC a rubber-stamp parliament?
Yes — every law that goes up before the NPC is passed and every ministerial appointment approved. But the body is not as supine as it appears on the surface. Many draft laws never make it to the NPC for a final vote, either because they have been blocked by industrial lobbies, are too socially controversial or because party backers realise opposition within the ranks is too high. Similarly, China’s tea-leaf readers love to count the votes on ministerial approval as a clue to who is genuinely popular and who is held in relative disregard.
Yes — every law that goes up before the NPC is passed and every ministerial appointment approved. But the body is not as supine as it appears on the surface. Many draft laws never make it to the NPC for a final vote, either because they have been blocked by industrial lobbies, are too socially controversial or because party backers realise opposition within the ranks is too high. Similarly, China’s tea-leaf readers love to count the votes on ministerial approval as a clue to who is genuinely popular and who is held in relative disregard.
Why do Chinese refer to the ‘two meetings’?
The NPC meets at the same time as the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Congress, an advisory body made up of 2,220 representatives from business, academia and the eight powerless “dwarf” parties that allied with the Communists during the Chinese civil war. While lacking formal power, CPPCC delegates tend to bring views from a broader segment of society. Some are also very active in organising fact-finding tours to explore social and economic issues, the results of which can influence national policy. The CPPCC’s fortunes waned under the absolute rule of Chairman Mao Zedong but the body was revived and expanded under Jiang Zemin in the 1990s, during a time of rapid economic opening.
The NPC meets at the same time as the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Congress, an advisory body made up of 2,220 representatives from business, academia and the eight powerless “dwarf” parties that allied with the Communists during the Chinese civil war. While lacking formal power, CPPCC delegates tend to bring views from a broader segment of society. Some are also very active in organising fact-finding tours to explore social and economic issues, the results of which can influence national policy. The CPPCC’s fortunes waned under the absolute rule of Chairman Mao Zedong but the body was revived and expanded under Jiang Zemin in the 1990s, during a time of rapid economic opening.
So what do they do during those 10 days?
Delegates spend most of the time broken into groups, either by province or by affinity group, in the case of the CPPCC. Every delegate has to read a statement reflecting on the premier’s work report presented at the first session and senior leaders rotate among the delegations. The slogan-filled meetings may drone on but many delegates manage to inject their own priorities into their statements. Others come armed with dozens of proposals for how China can be better governed, many of which get an enthusiastic airing in the Chinese press. Some make their way into future policy initiatives.
Delegates spend most of the time broken into groups, either by province or by affinity group, in the case of the CPPCC. Every delegate has to read a statement reflecting on the premier’s work report presented at the first session and senior leaders rotate among the delegations. The slogan-filled meetings may drone on but many delegates manage to inject their own priorities into their statements. Others come armed with dozens of proposals for how China can be better governed, many of which get an enthusiastic airing in the Chinese press. Some make their way into future policy initiatives.
Do the ‘two meetings’ ever change?
The openness of the meetings and the degree of genuine discussion as oposed to parrotting slogans varies considerably with the political climate. Since unusually lively meetings in 2007 and 2008, a power consolidation under Xi Jinping, China’s president and general secretary of the Communist party, has been reflected in much more stilted and closed NPC sessions.
The openness of the meetings and the degree of genuine discussion as oposed to parrotting slogans varies considerably with the political climate. Since unusually lively meetings in 2007 and 2008, a power consolidation under Xi Jinping, China’s president and general secretary of the Communist party, has been reflected in much more stilted and closed NPC sessions.
