The CCP, the government and the military make up the three parts of China’s political system. The government and the military are under the authority of the CCP.
There are four main tiers of decision-making bodies within the CCP:
Politburo Standing Committee
Politburo
Central Committee
National People's Congress
Politburo Standing Committee
The Politburo Standing Committee is made up of seven members and is the highest-ranking tier in the CCP. Led by General Secretary Xi Jinping, it is the equivalent to the UK or Scotland's Government Cabinet, and is where major political decisions are made.
Politburo
The Politburo is made up of 25 senior members of the CCP, who hold senior government positions or important regional leadership roles. Members of the Politburo Standing Committee are also in the Politburo.
Central Committee
The Central Committee is made up of leaders in provincial government, the military and state-owned businesses. Members are chosen every five years. They represent electoral units across China, state owned enterprises, the public service sector, and the People’s Liberation Army.
National People’s Congress
The National People's Congress is the legislative body of China.
Every year in March, the 3,000 delegates of the National People’s Congress gather to approve laws and appointments of officials.
In reality, laws and appointments have already been decided on by the Politburo Standing Committee, and Politburo. The NPC’s role is to endorse these actions.
