State Council of the People's Republic of China

The State Council is described by the Chinese constitution as the executive organ of the National People's Congress (NPC), as well as the "highest state administrative organ".[5] Constitutionally, the main functions of the State Council 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.[5] The State Council is under authority of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), with the ultimate decisions being made by the Politburo.[6]

The State Council is officially led by the premier, who is appointed by the NPC upon the nomination by the president,[5] though in practice the premier is chosen within the CCP leadership, including the Politburo Standing Committee.[7] The premier is assisted by vice premiers (one executive and generally three others), state councillors, and a secretary-general (who normally also serves as a state councillor), who collectively make up the Executive Meeting of the State Council.[5]

Each vice premier oversees certain areas of administration in support of the premier.[8] In practice, the vice premiers and State Councillors assume responsibility for one or more sectors or issues, and remain in contact with the various bodies responsible for policy related to that area. This allows the Standing Committee to oversee a wide range of government functions. [9] Each State Councillor performs duties as designated by the Premier. The secretary-general heads the General Office which handles the day-to-day work of the State Council.[10]

The plenary session of the State Council meets every six months. Between meetings it is guided by a Standing Committee of the State Council of the People's Republic of China (Executive Meeting) that meets two to three times a month, and can be called at the discretion of the premier.[11]

The State Council includes 26 constituent ministries, and oversees the provincial-level governments throughout China.[6] 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. In addition to the ministries, there are 38 centrally administered government organizations that report directly to the state council. The heads of these organizations attend full meetings of the state committee on an irregular basis.

There were attempts to separate the party and state in the late 1980s under Deng Xiaoping and Zhao Ziyang and have the CCP in charge of formulating policy and the State Council executing policy, but these efforts were largely abandoned in the early 1990s. Currently, the State Council work rules state that it "adheres to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" and "resolutely safeguards the authority of the Party Central Committee"[12]

The State Council controls the Ministry for National Defense but does not control the People's Liberation Army, which is instead controlled by the Central Military Commission (CMC).[13] The State Council previously had joint command over the People's Armed Police (PAP) together with the CMC, principally through the Ministry of Public Security, though 2018 reforms placed the PAP solely under CMC command.[14]^: 15

• Department of State Affairs in the Three Departments and Six Ministries system
• Ming dynasty: Central Secretariat → Grand Secretariat
• Qing dynasty: Grand Secretariat → Grand Council → Cabinet
• Republic of China: State Council (1912–28) → Executive Yuan (1928–present)
• People's Republic of China: Government Administration Council of the Central People's Government (1949–54); Ministries of the PRC

• Official website