The Council of Chairpersons consists of the chairman, vice chairpersons and the secretary-general of the NPCSC.[1] According to the Constitution of China, the Council of Chairpersons handles the day-to-day work of the NPCSC.[2] According to the Organic Law of the NPC, the day-to-day work includes:[3]
- deciding on the duration for each session of the Standing Committee, drafting its legislative agendas, and proposing suggestions on adjusting the agenda when necessary;
- deciding whether the bills, proposals and written inquiries submitted to the Standing Committee should be referred to the relevant special committees or submitted to plenary sessions of the Standing Committee for deliberation;
- deciding whether or not to refer bills, proposals, draft decisions, and draft resolutions to be voted in plenary sessions of the Standing Committee, and putting forward opinions on subsequent handling of those yet to be referred;
- adopting annual work outlines, legislative plans, oversight plans, deputies work plans, plans for special tasks, documents of work disciplines and rules, etc. of the Standing Committee;
- directing and coordinate the day-to-day work of the special committees; and
- handling other important day-to-day work assigned to it by law.
The Council of Chairpersons additionally proposes the members of the NPC Presidium and the Secretary-General before each NPC session, which is then reviewed and adopted by the Standing Committee. The Council of Chairpersons also has the powers to introduce bills to the Standing Committee, recommending the Standing Committee to dismiss some members of the State Council from their posts, and recommend the appointing or removal of vice chairpersons and members of the NPC Special Committees to the Standing Committee.[3] Like the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the Council of Chairpersons meets in the Great Hall of the People.[4]