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State Council
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State Council
The State Council (国务院, pinyin: Guówùyuàn) is the chief civilian administrative body of the People's Republic of China. It is chaired by the Premier and contains the heads of each governmental department and agency. There are about 50 members in the Council.

Standing Committee members of the State Council include the premier, four vice-premiers, five state councilors, and the secretary-general. The State Council meets once a month. Its standing committee meets twice a week.

The vice-premiers and state councilors are nominated by the premier, and appointed by the president with National People's Congress' (NPC) approval. The premier is nominated and appointed by the president with NPC approval. Incumbents may serve two successive five-year terms.

Each vice premier oversees certain areas of administration. The secretary-general, which should not be confused with the Secretary General of the Communist Party of China, as head of the General Office, handles the day-to-day work of the State Council.

Each ministry supervises one sector. Commissions outrank ministries and set policies for and coordinate the related activities of different administrative organs. Offices deal with matters of ongoing concern. Bureaus and administrations rank below ministries.

Although formally responsible to the NPC and its Standing Committee in conducting a wide range of government functions both at the national and at the local levels, the State Council maintains a large amount of autonomy, owing to the fact that many of its members are top members of the Communist Party of China. Although there were attempts to separate the party and state in the late 1980s under Zhao Ziyang and have the Party in charge of formulating policy and the State Council executing policy, these efforts were largely abandoned in the early 1990s and a system has developed where the Party and State are effective fused at the level of the State Council. Because of this, it would be inaccurate to say that the Party controls the State as was the case in the former Soviet Union. Rather it would be more accurate to say that the members of the State Council derive their authority from being members of the state, while as members of the Party they coordinate their activities and determine key decisions such as the naming of personnel.

As the chief administrative organ of government, its main functions are to formulate administrative measures, issue decisions and orders, and monitor their implementation; draft legislative bills for submission to the NPC or its Standing Committee; and prepare the economic plan and the state budget for deliberation and approval by the NPC. The State Council is the functional center of state power and clearinghouse for government initiatives at all levels. With the government's emphasis on economic modernization, the State Council clearly acquired additional importance and influence.

Despite the inclusion of the Ministry for National Defense in the State Council does not control the People's Liberation Army which functions independently of the state council.

See also: Politics of China

Ministries and Commissions of the State Council:

Special Commission directly under State Council

Bureaux and Administrations under the State Council:

Offices:

Institutions:

Bureaux supervised by commissions and ministries:

External link