What is the CPPCC?

The CPPCC is an organization in the patriotic united front of the Chinese people, an important organ for multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and an important means of promoting socialist democracy in China's political activities.

It is neither a body of state power nor a policymaking organ, but an important platform on which various political parties, people's organizations, and people of all ethnic groups and from all sectors of society work together in democratically participating in state affairs.

In practice, CPPCC members serve as advisers for the government and legislative and judicial organs, and put forward proposals on major political and social issues.

What are its functions?

The main functions of the CPPCC are to conduct political consultation, exercise democratic oversight and participate in the discussion and the handling of state affairs. Political consultation covers major principles and policies proposed by the central and local governments and matters of importance concerning political, economic, cultural and social affairs.

Democratic oversight means offering suggestion and criticism, as well as supervision over the implementation of the Constitution, other laws, regulations and major policies, and over the work of government agencies and their functionaries.

Participation in discussing and handling state affairs means organizing CPPCC members of various parties, people's organizations, people of various ethnic minorities and other social groups to take part in the country's political, economic, cultural and social activities.

Who are the members and how do they work?

CPPCC members come from China's various walks of life and ethnic groups.

The CPPCC consists of representatives of the CPC and non-Communist parties, personages without party affiliation, and representatives of people's organizations, ethnic minorities and various social strata.

It also has the representatives of compatriots of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan, returned overseas Chinese, and specially invited people.

Most of the CPPCC members are experienced political figures, social celebrities, and experts and scholars specializing in various fields.

They can put forward proposals to offer comments and suggestions on major political and social issues of the country to people's congresses and the government via the CPPCC.

A department in charge of handling proposals is obliged to give a reply to each proposal.