In order to strengthen the work of the National People's Congress as the highest organ of state power, the Constitution makes provision for special committees to be set up. Though these committees are not organs of state power in their own right, they pursue their particular remits under the auspices of the highest organ of state power.

The NPC and its Standing Committee have established various special committees as permanent bodies under the leadership of the NPC. When the NPC is not in session these special committees work under the direction and supervision of the NPC Standing Committee.

Each special committee has a Director, Deputy Directors and members elected from among the NPC deputies on the nomination of the Presidium. When the NPC is not in session, its Standing Committee may appoint additional Deputy Directors and members. The NPC Standing Committee may also appoint specialists who are not NPC deputies as part-time or full-time advisers to the special committees.

The 9th NPC established nine special committees, namely the Ethnic Groups Committee, the Law Committee, the Financial and Economic Committee; the Education, Science, Culture and Health Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Overseas Chinese Committee, the Civil and Judicial Affairs Committee, the Environment and Resources Protection Committee and the Agriculture and Rural Areas Committee.