The Central People's Government Council was the highest authority of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. It was established in October 1949 after the proclamation of the People's Republic of China by Mao Zedong.
The Chairman of the Central People's Government was responsible for presiding over the meetings of the Central People's Government Council and leading its work, while the Vice Chairman of the Central People's Government was responsible for assisting the chairman in performing his duties. The council also had a Secretary-General who was elected from within the council.
The Central People's Government Council represented the People 's Republic of China externally and controlled state power internally. It led the Central People's Government as the highest executive body of state affairs. The council was also responsible for formulating the organization of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission, the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuratorate of the Central People's Government, which served as the highest military command body, the highest judicial body, and the highest procuratorial body, respectively. The Central People's Government Council had a general office and, as needed, set up subsidiary working bodies.
The Central People's Government Council was abolished in September 1954 due to the adoption of the constitution of the People's Republic of China and the implementation of the people's congress system. It only lasted for one term. The Central People's Government Council included the Chairman of the Central People's Government, six Vice Chairmen, and 56 members of the Central People's Government, who were elected by the plenary session of the CPPCC.
History On 27 September 1949, the first plenary session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) passed the Organic Law of the Central People's Government. It also elected the Central People's Government Council on 30 September 1949. The government was then promulgated by Mao Zedong at the ceremony of proclamation of the People's Republic of China on 1 October 1949.
On 20 September 1954, with the enactment of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China by the 1st National People's Congress (NPC), the Central People's Government Council ceased to exist.
Powers The powers of the Council included making and interpreting law, deciding on administrative policies, correcting the decisions and orders of the Government Administration Council, ratifying foreign treaties, handling issues concerning war and peace, approving the state budget, granting amnesty and pardon, giving honorary awards, appointing and removing senior officials, and preparing and convening the National People's Congress. The Council effectively acted as China's collective head of state. As explained by Dong Biwu during his report to the drafting process to the first plenary session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, "The powers and functions of the Central People’s Government Council are often provided by other countries’ constitutions as those of the heads of state".
Membership
PortraitInformationPolitical partyOther positions heldChairman of the Central People's GovernmentMao ZedongBirthplace: Xiangtan, HunanDecember 26, 1893 - September 9, 1976 Chinese Communist PartyChairman of the Chinese Communist PartyChairman of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People's GovernmentChairman of the 1st National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative ConferenceVice Chairman of the Central People's GovernmentZhu DeBirthplace: Yilong, SichuanDecember 1, 1886 – July 6, 1976 Chinese Communist PartyVice Chairman of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People's GovernmentStanding Committee Member of the 1st National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Liu ShaoqiBirthplace: Ningxiang, HunanNovember 24, 1898 – November 12, 1969 Chinese Communist PartyVice Chairman of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People's GovernmentStanding Committee Member of the 1st National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative ConferenceSoong Ching-lingBirthplace: Wenchang, GuangdongJanuary 27, 1893 – May 29, 1981Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese KuomintangHonorary Chairwoman of the All-China Women's FederationChairwoman of the executive committee of the China People's Relief AssociationChairwoman of the executive committee of the China Welfare InstituteChairwoman of the China National Committee for the Protection of ChildrenDirector of the World Peace CouncilChairwoman of the Asia-Pacific Regional Peace Liaison CommitteeZhang LanBirthplace: Nanchong, Sichuan1872 – February 9, 1955China Democratic LeagueMember of the Standing Committee of the 1st National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative ConferenceLi JishenBirthplace: Cangwu, Guangxi1885 – October 9, 1959Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang China Zhi Gong PartyFirst Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National CommitteeGao GangBirthplace: Hengshan, ShaanxiOctober 25, 1905 – August 17, 1954 Committed suicide Chinese Communist PartyChairman of the State Planning Commission of the Central People's GovernmentMember of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People's Government
Member of the Central People's Government
Chen Yi, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission He Long, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission Li Lisan, concurrently member of the Executive Yuan Lin Boqu Ye Jianying, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission He Xiangning (female, Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang), also a member of the Supreme People's Procuratorate Lin Biao, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission and a member of the Standing Committee of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Peng Dehuai, Vice Chairman of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission Liu Bocheng, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission Wu Yuzhang Xu Xiangqian, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission Peng Zhen Bo Yibo, also a member of the Political Affairs Committee Nie Rongzhen, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission Zhou Enlai, concurrently Premier of the State Council, Vice Chairman of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission, and Vice Chairman of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Dong Biwu, Vice Premier of the State Council Saifuding Rao Shushi, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission Tan Kah Kee (non-partisan), member of the Standing Committee of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Luo Ronghuan, also Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme People's Procuratorate Deng Zihui, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission Ulanhu, member of the Standing Committee of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Xu Teli Cai Chang (female) Liu Geping Ma Yinchu (non-partisan) Chen Yun, Vice Premier of the State Council Kang Sheng Lin Feng Ma Xulun (Democratic Progressive Party), concurrently a member of the Political Affairs Committee, and a member of the Standing Committee of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Guo Moruo (non-partisan), Vice Premier of the State Council, Vice Chairman of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Zhang Yunyi, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission Deng Xiaoping, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission Gao Chongmin (Democratic League) Shen Junru (China Democratic League), concurrently President of the Supreme People's Court, Vice Chairman of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Shen Yanbing (non-partisan), member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Chen Shutong (non-partisan), Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Situ Meitang (China Zhi Gong Party) Li Xijiu (Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang; died on March 10, 1952), also a member of the Supreme People's Procuratorate Huang Yanpei (China Democratic National Construction Association), Vice Premier of the State Council, Standing Committee Member of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Cai Tingkai (Civil Promotion), also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission Xi Zhongxun, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission Peng Zemin (Farmers and Workers Democratic Party) Zhang Zhizhong (Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang), also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission Fu Zuoyi (non-partisan), also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission Li Zhuchen (China Democratic National Construction Association) Li Zhangda (National Salvation Association; died on December 9, 1953) Zhang Bojun (Peasants and Workers Democratic Party), concurrently a member of the Political Affairs Committee, and a member of the Standing Committee of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Cheng Qian (Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang), Vice Chairman of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission Zhang Xiruo (non-partisan), member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Tan Ming-shu (Democratic Alliance) Tan Pingshan (Democratic Alliance), also Minister of State Zhang Nanxian (non-partisan) Liu Yazi (Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang) Zhang Dongsun (China Democratic League) Long Yun (Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang), also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission
Secretary General of the Central People's Government
Lin Boqu (elected by the Central People's Government Committee)
References