View source for State Council of China

{{Short description|Chief administrative authority of China}}
{{Redirect|Central People's Government|the central government of the PRC during 1949–1954|Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China (1949–1954)}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name     = State Council of the People's Republic of China
| nativename_a    = {{lang|zh-Hans|中华人民共和国国务院}}
| nativename_r    = Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Guówùyuàn
| logo            = File:National Emblem of the People's Republic of China (2).svg
| logo_width      = 150px
| logo_caption    = [[National Emblem of China]]
| image           =
| image_caption   = The State Council's First Conference Room
| seal            = 
| seal_width      = 
| seal_caption    = 
| formed          = {{start date and age|df=yes|1954|9|27}}
| preceding1      = [[Government Administration Council]] of the [[Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China (1949–1954)|Central People's Government]] (1949–1954)
| dissolved       = 
| superseding     = 
| agency_type     = Executive body of the [[National People's Congress]]<br>Highest organ of State administration
| jurisdiction    = [[Government of China|Government of the People's Republic of China]]
| headquarters    = [[Zhongnanhai#Regent Palace|State Council Office Secretariat]], [[Zhongnanhai]], [[Beijing]]
| motto           = 
| employees       = 
| budget          = 
| chief1_name     = [[Li Qiang]]
| chief1_position = [[Premier of China|Premier]]
| chief2_name     = [[Ding Xuexiang]], [[He Lifeng]], [[Zhang Guoqing]], [[Liu Guozhong]]
| chief2_position = [[Vice Premier of China|Vice Premiers]]
| chief3_name     = [[Wang Xiaohong]], [[Wu Zhenglong]], [[Shen Yiqin]]
| chief3_position = [[State councillor (China)|State councillors]]
| child1_agency   = [[General Office of the State Council|General Office]]
| child2_agency   = [[Constituent departments of the State Council|26 Constituent Departments (cabinet-level)]]
| website         = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes       = 
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| s = 中华人民共和国国务院
| t = 中華人民共和國國務院
| p = Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Guówùyuàn
| l = "People's Republic of China State Affairs Court"
| altname = State Council<br>(commonly used abbreviation)
| s2 = 国务院
| t2 = 國務院
| p2 = Guówùyuàn
| mi2 = {{IPAc-cmn|g|uo|2|.|wu|4|.|yuan|4}}
| l2 = "The Court of State Affairs"
| altname3 = Central People's Government<br>(Constitutional synonym<ref name="Constitution:85">Article 85 of the ''[[Constitution of the People's Republic of China]]''</ref>)
| c3 = 中央人民政府
| p3 = Zhōngyāng Rénmín Zhèngfǔ
| l3 = Central People Government
| links = no
| order = st
}}
{{Politics of China |expanded = Executive }}

The '''State Council of the People's Republic of China''', synonymous with '''Central People's Government''', is the [[Supreme executive and administrative organ|supreme administrative organ]] of China's [[unified state apparatus]] and the executive organ of the [[National People's Congress]] (NPC), the [[Supreme state organ of power|supreme organ of state power]]. It is composed of a [[Premier of China|premier]], [[Vice Premier of China|vice premiers]], [[State councillor|state councilors]], ministers, chairpersons of commissions, an [[Auditor-General of the National Audit Office|auditor-general]], the [[Governor of the People's Bank of China|governor]] of the [[People's Bank of China]], and a [[Secretary-General of the State Council|secretary-general]].

The [[Government Administration Council]] of the [[Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China (1949–1954)|Central People's Government]] was established in 1949 with the [[proclamation of the People's Republic of China]]. Under the [[1954 Constitution of China|1954 constitution]], the Government Administration Council was succeeded by the State Council, which became the supreme administrative organ of the state. Since 1982, the State Council has undergone [[Institutional reform of the State Council|institutional reforms]] every five years. 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 of the National People's Congress|Standing Committee]]; and prepare the economic plan and the state budget for deliberation and approval by the NPC.

The premier of the State Council is responsible for the State Council and exercises overall leadership of its work. The secretary-general of the State Council, under the leadership of the premier, is responsible for handling the daily work of the State Council and heads the General Office of the State Council. The premier is appointed by the NPC after a nomination from the [[President of China|president]]; the premier then nominates members of the State Council for appointment by the NPC or its Standing Committee. The [[executive meeting of the State Council]], consisting of the premier, vice-premiers, state councilors, and the secretary-general, is held two to three times a month, while the [[Plenary meeting of the State Council|plenary meeting]], consisting of all members of the State Council, is held every six months.

The State Council directly oversees provincial-level People's Governments, and in practice maintains membership with top levels of the [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP). The State Council is constitutionally accountable to the NPC and its Standing Committee. The [[Organic Law of the State Council]] outlines that the State Council acts under the leadership of the [[Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party|CCP Central Committee]] and follows [[Ideology of the Chinese Communist Party|CCP ideology]]. Aside from a few, members of the State Council are also members of the CCP Central Committee.

== History ==
The predecessor of the State Council was the [[Government Administration Council]] of the [[Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China (1949–1954)|Central People's Government]], which was established on 1 October 1949 with the [[proclamation of the People's Republic of China]]. However, the Government Administration Council was lower in status and had a smaller scope of authority than the State Council; the State Council is equal to the Central People's Government, while the Government Administration Council was only a constituent body of the Central People's Government. The Government Administration Council did not have the authority to manage military affairs, so it did not have a Ministry of National Defense under it.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2021-03-29 |title=Inside the Chinese Bureaucracy: Reading the State Council's Gazette |url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/inside-chinese-bureaucracy-reading-state-councils-gazette |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=[[Wilson Center]] |language=en}}</ref>

In September 1954, the first session of the [[1st National People's Congress]] adopted the [[Constitution of China]] and the [[Organic Law of the State Council]], among other things. According to the constitution, the [[National People's Congress]] (NPC) is the [[supreme organ of state power]]; the State Council is the executive organ of the NPC and the highest administrative organ of the state.<ref name=":5" /> Since 1982, the State Council has undergone [[Institutional reform of the State Council|several institutional reforms]], with adjustments made on average every five years to coincide with each change of government. The most recent adjustment was in 2023. The number of departments under the State Council has been reduced from 100 before 1982 to 26 today.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Guobin |first=Zhu |last2=Kinglun |first2=Ngok |date=2007-06-30 |title=Marketization, Globalization and Administrative Reform in China: A Zigzag Road to a Promising Future |url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2048124 |journal=International Review of Administrative Sciences |language=en |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210508171523/https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2048124 |archive-date=2021-05-08}}</ref>

== Organization ==
{{Main|Constituent departments of the State Council}}
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".<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=Constitution of the People's Republic of China |url=http://en.npc.gov.cn.cdurl.cn/constitution.html |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=[[National People's Congress]] |archive-date=2022-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103102453/http://en.npc.gov.cn.cdurl.cn/constitution.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name=":02" /> The State Council has flexibility in decision-making, especially with regard to economic matters, but the [[Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party|Politburo]] has ultimate authority.<ref name=":0" /> According to the [[Organic Law of the State Council]], the [[Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party|CCP Central Committee]] exercises leadership over the State Council.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Zheng |first=William |date=2024-03-06 |title=Xi's dominance in Chinese politics to grow with change to State Council: expert |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3254387/chinas-communist-party-get-deeper-control-over-state-council-led-premier-li-qiang-ties-are-redefined |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307115123/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3254387/chinas-communist-party-get-deeper-control-over-state-council-led-premier-li-qiang-ties-are-redefined |archive-date=2024-03-07 |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=[[South China Morning Post]] |language=en |quote=It includes specific clauses saying the council will closely follow the Communist Party’s ideology, leadership and instructions, further defining its role as faithful policy implementer of the ruling party.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 11, 2024 |title=China passes law granting Communist Party more control over cabinet |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-passes-law-granting-communist-party-more-control-over-cabinet-2024-03-11/ |access-date=March 11, 2024 |work=[[Reuters]]|author-first1=Mei Mei|author-last1=Chu|author-first2=Laurie|author-last2=Chen}}</ref> The law also stipulates the State Council must follow the [[Ideology of the Chinese Communist Party|CCP's ideology]] and policies.<ref name=":2" />

=== Composition ===
The State Council is composed of the [[Premier of China|premier]], several [[Vice Premier of China|vice premiers]], several [[state councillor]]s, ministers of ministries, directors of committees, the auditor general, and the [[Secretary-General of the State Council|secretary-general]]. The premier leads the State Council<ref name=":022">{{Cite book |last=Li |first=David Daokui |title=China's World View: Demystifying China to Prevent Global Conflict |date=2024 |publisher=[[W. W. Norton & Company]] |isbn=978-0393292398 |location=New York, NY |author-link=David Daokui Li}}</ref>{{Rp|page=58}} and is appointed by the NPC upon the nomination by the [[President of China|president]],<ref name=":02" /> though in practice the premier is chosen within the CCP leadership, including the [[Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party|Politburo Standing Committee]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=21 November 2012 |title=China's backroom power brokers block reform candidates |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1087355/chinas-backroom-power-brokers-block-reform-candidates |access-date=26 September 2021 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413084516/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1087355/chinas-backroom-power-brokers-block-reform-candidates |url-status=live }}</ref> The vice premiers (one executive and generally three others), state councillors, and a secretary-general (who normally also serves as a state councillor) all assist the premier.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Wei |first=Changhao |date=2024-03-11 |title=NPC 2024: Annotated Translation of the Revised State Council Organic Law |url=https://npcobserver.com/2024/03/china-npc-2024-state-council-organic-law/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=NPC Observer |language=en-US}}</ref> The premier leads the [[Leading Party Members Group of the State Council|Leading Party Members Group]], which responsible for overseeing the implementation of CCP Central Committee policies in the State Council.<ref>{{Cite web |last=He |first=Alex |date=December 2018 |title=The Emerging Model of Economic Policy Making under Xi Jinping |url=https://www.cigionline.org/static/documents/documents/CIGI%20Paper%20No.208.pdf |access-date=8 March 2025 |website=Centre for International Governance Innovation}}</ref>

Each vice premier oversees certain areas of administration in support of the premier.<ref>{{Cite news |last=He |first=Laura |date=4 March 2023 |title=Meet the 4 men tapped to run China's economy |work=[[CNN]] |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/01/economy/china-economic-financial-leadership-reshuffle-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=19 June 2023 |archive-date=19 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619140957/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/01/economy/china-economic-financial-leadership-reshuffle-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Neil |date=5 April 2023 |title=What are the Policy Assignments of China's New State Council Leadership? |url=https://asiasociety.org/policy-institute/what-are-policy-assignments-chinas-new-state-council-leadership |access-date=19 June 2023 |website=[[Asia Society]] |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413232716/https://asiasociety.org/policy-institute/what-are-policy-assignments-chinas-new-state-council-leadership |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name=":4" />

The State Council includes 26 constituent departments, and oversees the [[Province-level divisions of China|province-level]] governments throughout China.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last1=Cheng |first1=Li |last2=Prytherch |first2=Mallie |date=7 March 2023 |title=China's new State Council: What analysts might have missed |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2023/03/07/chinas-new-state-council-what-analysts-might-have-missed/ |access-date=19 June 2023 |website=[[Brookings Institution]] |archive-date=19 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619140957/https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2023/03/07/chinas-new-state-council-what-analysts-might-have-missed/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 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. The establishment, dissolution, or merger of the constituent departments are proposed by the premier and decided by the NPC or its Standing Committee.<ref name=":4" /> 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.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

The State Council controls the [[Ministry of National Defense (China)|Ministry for National Defense]] but does not control the People's Liberation Army, which is instead controlled by the [[Central Military Commission (China)|Central Military Commission]] (CMC).<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Boswell |first=Matthew |date=2009 |title=Media Relations in China's Military: The Case of the Ministry of National Defense Information Office |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24904949 |journal=Asia Policy |issue=8 |pages=97–120 |jstor=24904949 |issn=1559-0968 |access-date=2023-10-24 |archive-date=2023-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103045613/https://www.jstor.org/stable/24904949 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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 (China)|Ministry of Public Security]], though 2018 reforms placed the PAP solely under CMC command.<ref name="Wuthnow2019">{{cite book |last=Wuthnow |first=Joel |url=https://inss.ndu.edu/Portals/82/China%20SP%2014%20Final%20for%20Web.pdf |title=China's Other Army: The People's Armed Police in an Era of Reform |date=16 April 2019 |publisher=Institute for National Strategic Studies |location=Washington |access-date=3 October 2019 |archive-date=4 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704193636/https://inss.ndu.edu/Portals/82/China%20SP%2014%20Final%20for%20Web.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|15}}

=== Meetings ===
The [[plenary meeting of the State Council]] meets every six months, composed of all members of the State Council. Between meetings it is guided by an [[executive meeting of the State Council]] which is held two to three times a month, and can be called at the discretion of the premier.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Zheng |first=William |date=28 March 2023 |title=New work rules for China's State Council put the party firmly in charge |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3215029/new-work-rules-chinas-state-council-put-party-firmly-charge |access-date=19 June 2023 |archive-date=19 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619130544/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3215029/new-work-rules-chinas-state-council-put-party-firmly-charge |url-status=live }}</ref> The Executive Meeting is composed of the premier, vice premiers, state councilors, and the secretary-general.<ref name=":4" />

== Members ==
=== Executive Meeting ===
{{Excerpt|Executive meeting of the State Council#Current executive meeting}}

=== Constitution departments ===
{{Excerpt|Constituent departments of the State Council#Current departments}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|China|Politics}}
* [[Department of State Affairs]] in the [[Three Departments and Six Ministries]] system
* [[Ming dynasty]]: [[Zhongshu Sheng|Central Secretariat]] → [[Grand Secretariat]]
* [[Qing dynasty]]: [[Grand Secretariat]] → [[Grand Council (Qing dynasty)|Grand Council]] → [[Cabinet of Prince Qing|Cabinet]]
* [[Taiwan|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 of the People's Republic of China (1949–1954)|Central People's Government (1949–54)]]; [[Constituent departments of the State Council|Constituent departments of the PRC]]
*[[Government of Hong Kong]]
*[[Government of Macau]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}

{{State Council of the People's Republic of China}}
{{PRC State Organs}}
{{Politics of China navbox}}
{{Asia topic |Cabinet of |title = National cabinets of Asia }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:State Council Of The People's Republic Of China}}
[[Category:State Council of China| ]]
[[Category:National cabinets|China, People's Republic of, State Council]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1954]]
[[Category:1954 establishments in China]]
[[Category:Zhongnanhai]]