The National People's Congress represents the highest level of state power.

The State Council represents the highest level of state administration. The Supreme People's Court is the highest level of the judiciary. The Supreme People's Procuratorate is the highest organ of supervision by the state of such matters as corruption, citizens' rights, the judicial process, criminal investigation, the prisons and so on.

The State Council, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate are all created by, are responsible to and report to the National People's Congress.

To summarize the relationships, the NPC makes the key decisions, which are then put into effect by executive bodies under the overall supervision of the NPC.

The NPC has far-reaching powers that go way beyond those of other state bodies. It has powers to:

amend the Constitution;

supervise the enforcement of the Constitution;

enact and amend the basic laws of the country;

decide the composition of the NPC Standing Committee;

elect and dismiss the President and Vice President of the state;

decide the composition of the State Council;

decide the composition of the Central Military Commission;

elect and dismiss the President of the Supreme People's Court;

elect and dismiss the Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate;

decide major issues of state;

supervise the organs of state.

The President and Vice President of the People's Republic of China are elected by the National People's Congress. Like members of the NPC itself they serve for a term of five years and may not serve for more than two consecutive terms.

The President of the People's Republic of China proceeds in accordance with the decisions of the NPC and its Standing Committee, which confer on him the executive authority to:

promulgate statutes;