People's Congress is the organ of state power in People's Republic of China (PRC). Including the National People's Congress; People's congresses of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government; People's congresses of cities and autonomous prefectures divided into districts; People's congresses of counties, autonomous counties, cities not divided into districts and municipal districts; People's congresses of townships, nationality townships and towns. The National People's Congress is the highest organ of state power, and local people's congresses at various levels are local organs of state power.
People's congresses are democratically elected. The National People's Congress is composed of deputies elected by provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, special administrative regions and the People's Liberation Army. The people's congresses of provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, cities divided into districts and autonomous prefectures are composed of deputies elected by the people's congresses at the next lower level. The people's congresses of counties, autonomous counties, cities not divided into districts, municipal districts, townships, nationality townships and towns are composed of representatives directly elected by voters.
The National People's Congress is elected for a term of five years and meets once a year. If the NPC Standing Committee deems it necessary, or more than one-fifth of the deputies to the National People's Congress propose, a meeting of the National People's Congress may be convened temporarily. The meeting of the National People's Congress is held in the first quarter of each year and convened by the NPC Standing Committee. When the National People's Congress is in session, it elects a presidium to preside over the session. The term of office of local people's congresses at various levels is five years. Local people's congresses at all levels hold meetings at least once a year. On the proposal of more than one-fifth of the deputies, a meeting of the people's congress at the corresponding level may be convened temporarily. Meetings of local people's congresses at or above the county level shall be convened by the standing committees of the people's congresses at the corresponding levels. The people's congresses of townships, nationality townships and towns shall be convened by the presidium of the previous people's congress. When local people's congresses at various levels meet, they elect a presidium, which shall preside over the meeting.