Standing Committee of the National People's Congress

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress is a committee of about 150 members of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China , which is convened between plenary sessions of the NPC. It has the constitutional authority to modify legislation within limits set by the NPC, and thus acts as a ''de facto'' legislative body. It is led by a Chairman, China's top legislator, who is conventionally ranked third in China's , after the General Secretary and President, which is usually one person. The current Chairman is Wu Bangguo.

The NPCSC also has the power to interpret laws and constitutional of the PRC. In contrast to other countries in which stare decesis gives the power of both final interpretation and adjudication to a supreme court, within the People's Republic of China constitutional and legal interpretation is considered to be a legislative activity rather than a judicial one, and the functions are split so that the NPCSC provides legal interpretations and the Supreme People's Court and the Court of Final Appeal of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region actually decide cases. Because an interpretation of the NPCSC is legislative in nature and not judicial, as it does not affect cases which have already been decided.

A notable use of the latter power occurred in 1999 during the dispute of the in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. In the case, the NPCSC interpreted the in accordance with the position taken by the Hong Kong government with respect to the eligibility of permanent residency in Hong Kong.

Leading members

* Chairman :
** Wu Bangguo

* Vice Chairpersons:
** Wang Zhaoguo
** Lu Yongxiang
** Uyunqimg
** Han Qide
** Hua Jianmin
** Chen Zhili
** Zhou Tienong
** Li Jianguo
** Ismail Tiliwaldi
** Jiang Shushen
** Chen Changzhi
** Yan Junqi
** Sang Guowei

Chairmen of the Standing Committee

* Liu Shaoqi
* Zhu De
* Vacant
* Ye Jianying
* Peng Zhen
* Wan Li
* Qiao Shi
* Li Peng
* Wu Bangguo