Aspecial committee (Chinese:全国人民代表大会专门委员会;pinyin:Quánguó Rénmín Dàibiǎo Dàhuì Zhuānmén Wěiyuánhu) is a legislative committee in theNational People's Congress (NPC), the national legislature of thePeople's Republic of China. Article 35 of the Organic Law of the National People's Congress specifies that the NPC shall create anEthnic Affairs Committee, aConstitution and Law Committee (formerly just Law Committee), aFinancial and Economic Affairs Committee, anEducation, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee, aForeign Affairs Committee, and anOverseas Chinese Affairs Committee, as well as any other special committees that it deems necessary. Over time, the NPC has added anInternal and Judicial Affairs Committee, anEnvironment Protection and Resources Conservation Committee, anAgriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, andSocial Development Affairs Committee, for a total of ten special committees.[1]
Article 37 of the Organic Law indicates that the functions of special committees are to include deliberating on bills and proposals received from thePresidium andStanding Committee, submitting bills and proposals to the same, examine and report on items considered to contravene theConstitution and laws, examine questions referred by the Presidium and Standing Committee, and investigate and propose solutions to issues. The Ethnic Affairs Committee can additionally make proposals to strengthen ethnic unity and review legislation related to theAutonomous regions of China. The Law Committee deliberates on all draft laws submitted to the NPC.[1]
Shi Hexing, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance, has written that special committees have strengthened the NPC and the people's congress system as a whole.Wan Li, formerChairman of the National People's Congress, also emphasized the great importance of special committee. In 2005, the General Office of the NPC Standing Committee issued "Several Opinions on Giving Full Scope to the Role of Special Committees," which further strengthened them by setting a specific work system and procedures.[2]
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