The National People's Congress, the highest organ of state power, is composed of some 3,000 deputies. Deputies to the NPC are organized into delegations according to the units elected them. A Presidium is elected from among the NPC deputies at a preliminary meeting and provides the chair for plenary sessions of the NPC. Various special committees are established to assist the NPC in its legislative work.

The National People's Congress has established eight special committees to help it discharge its legal responsibilities. These are the Ethnic Affairs Committee, the Law Committee, the Committee for Internal and Judicial Affairs, the Financial and Economic Committee, the Education, Science, Culture and Health Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee and the Environment and Resources Protection Committee.