Background: Differences between CPPCC members & NPC deputy

Every March, thousands of CPPCC members and NPC deputies gather in Beijing to discuss the country's political and social issues. They submit proposals and raise motions. But there are substantial differences between the CPPCC and the NPC.

The major difference is that NPC deputies are members of the highest organ of state power in China. They are elected level upon level, from grass roots up to the top lawmaking body. The number of deputies in the NPC is limited to 3000. The distribution of NPC deputies is decided by the NPC Standing Committee.

Members of the CPPCC National Committee come from the Communist Party of China, non-Communist parties, people without party affiliation, and representatives of social organizations and ethnic minorities. It also includes representatives from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, Taiwan, returned overseas Chinese and other specially invited people.

Another major difference is that NPC deputies and relevant departments submit motions to the NPC.

But if CPPCC members have comments and suggestions on major political and social issues, they put forward proposals to the people's congress and the government, via the CPPCC.

The NPC is the country's top legislative body. An NPC motion becomes legally binding once it is adopted.

However, a proposal to the CPPCC National Committee, the top advisory body, is not legally binding whether adopted or not.

The 11th NPC has 2987 deputies while the 11th CPPCC has 2237 members.