People's congresses are established in provinces, autonomous
regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government,
autonomous prefectures, counties, autonomous counties, cities,
municipalities, towns, ethnic townships and towns. Standing
committees are established at people's congresses above the county
level.
The term of office of people's congresses of provinces, autonomous
regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government
and cities divided into districts is five years. That of counties,
autonomous counties, cities not divided into districts, municipal
districts, townships, ethnic townships and towns is three
years.
Local people's congresses at various levels ensure the observance
and implementation of the Constitution and the law and the
administrative rules and regulations in their respective
administrative areas. According to the limits of their authority as
prescribed by law, they adopt and issue resolutions and examine and
approve plans for local economic and cultural development and for
the development of public services.
Local people's congresses at and above the county level shall
examine and approve the plans for economic and social development
and the budgets of their respective administrative areas and
examine and approve the reports on their implementation. They have
the power to alter or annul inappropriate decisions made by their
own standing committees.
The people's congresses of provinces, autonomous regions,
municipalities directly under the Central Government, of cities
which are capitals of the provinces or autonomous regions as well
as large cites approved by the State Council have the right to
adopt local regulations in light of their regional economic and
cultural characteristics.
Local people's congresses at and above the county level elect and
have the power to recall presidents of the people's courts and
chief procurators of people's procuratorates at the corresponding
level.
The election or recall of chief procurators of people's procurators
of people's procuratorates shall be reported to the chief
procurators of the people's procuratorates at the next higher level
for submission to the standing committees of the people's
congresses at the corresponding level for approval.
(China.org.cn May 20, 2003)