(Adopted at the Fifth Session of the Seventh National People's Congress on April 3, 1992; amended for the first time in accordance with the Decision on Amending Certain Laws adopted at the 10th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Eleventh National People's Congress on August 27, 2009; amended for the second time in accordance with the Decision on Amending the Law of the People's Republic of China on Deputies to the National People's Congress and to the Local People's Congresses at Various Levels adopted at the 17th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Eleventh National People's Congress on October 28, 2010; amended for the third time in accordance with the Decision on Amending the Organic Law of the Local People's Congresses and Local People's Governments of the People's Republic of China, the Electoral Law of the National People's Congress and Local People's Congresses at Various Levels of the People's Republic of China, and the Law of the People's Republic of China on Deputies to the National People's Congress and to the Local People's Congresses at Various Levels, adopted at the 16th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on August 29, 2015; and amended for the fourth time in accordance with the Decision on Amending the Law of the People' s Republic of China on Deputies to the National People' s Congress and to the Local People' s Congresses at Various Levels adopted at the Third Session of the Fourteenth National People' s Congress of the People's Republic of China on March 11, 2025)

Contents

Chapter I General Provisions

Chapter II Work of Deputies During a Session of the People's Congress at the Corresponding Level

Chapter III Activities of Deputies When the People's Congress at the Corresponding Level Is Not in Session

Chapter IV Support for the Performance of Deputy Duties

Chapter V Supervision of Deputies

Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 This Law is formulated in accordance with the Constitution to ensure that deputies to the National People's Congress and the local people's congresses at various levels exercise their functions and powers, discharge their obligations and fulfill their roles as deputies in accordance with the law.

Article 2 Deputies to the National People's Congress and the local people's congresses at various levels shall be elected as prescribed by the law.

Deputies to the National People's Congress are members of the highest organ of state power. Deputies to the local people's congresses at various levels are members of local organs of state power at corresponding levels.

The term of office for deputies to the National People's Congress and the local people's congresses at various levels shall be five years, commencing from the first session of the current people's congress at each level until the first session of the next people's congress at the corresponding level.

Article 3  Deputies to the National People's Congress and the local people's congresses at various levels shall uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China, follow the guidance of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, remain firmly committed to the path of socialist political advancement with Chinese characteristics, and participate, under the principle of democratic centralism, in the exercise of state power in accordance with the functions and powers vested in the people's congresses at corresponding levels by the Constitution and relevant laws.

Article 4 Deputies to the National People's Congress and the local people's congresses at various levels shall take it as their mission to uphold, improve, and implement the system of people's congresses. They shall maintain political resolve, serve the people, uphold the rule of law, promote democracy, fulfill their duties diligently, and actively contribute to building the people's congresses and their standing committees into political institutions that consciously uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China, institutions of state power that ensure the running of the country by the people, working institutions that fully assume functions conferred by the Constitution and laws, and representative institutions that always maintain close ties with the people.

Article 5 Deputies to the National People's Congress and the local people's congresses at various levels shall follow a people-centered approach, practice whole-process people's democracy, always maintain close ties with the people, faithfully represent their interests and will, and consciously accept public oversight.

Article 6 Deputies to the National People's Congress and the local people's congresses at various levels shall remain loyal to the Constitution, promote the spirit of the Constitution and uphold its authority, maintain the unity and dignity of the socialist legal system, and contribute to the advancement of comprehensive law-based governance and the building of a higher-standard socialist country under the rule of law.

Article 7 A deputy shall enjoy the following rights:

(1) attending sessions of the people's congress at the corresponding level as well as participating in deliberations on all bills and proposals, reports and other agenda items, and expressing their opinions;

(2) putting forward bills and proposals, written inquiries, and proposals for removal from office together with other deputies in accordance with the law;

(3) putting forward suggestions, criticisms and opinions on all aspects of the work;

(4) participating in all elections of the people's congress at the corresponding level;

(5) participating in the casting of votes regarding all matters to be decided by the people's congress at the corresponding level;

(6) participating in uniformly organized duty-related activities when the people's congress at the corresponding level is not in session;

(7) obtaining information and various kinds of support required for duty performance in accordance with the law; and

(8) other rights stipulated by the law.

Article 8 A deputy shall perform the following duties:

(1) exemplifying compliance with the Constitution and the law, and keeping state secrets, as well as assisting in the implementation of the Constitution and the law in production, work and social activities in which he participates;

(2) attending meetings of the people's congress at the corresponding level on time, conscientiously deliberating on bills and proposals, reports, and other agenda items, expressing their opinions, participating in elections and voting, observing meeting discipline, and fulfilling all responsibilities during sessions;

(3) taking the lead in publicizing and implementing the guiding principles of the people's congress at the corresponding level;

(4) actively participating in activities that are uniformly organized for duty performance, such as inspection tours, investigation and research on specific issues, and law implementation inspections;

(5) intensifying learning of duty performance and conducting investigation and research to continuously enhance the capacity to perform deputy duties;

(6) maintaining close ties with the voters of the electoral district or the electoral unit that elected him, as well as the general public, heeding and conveying their opinions and demands, and striving to serve the people;

(7) taking the lead in applying core socialist values, forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, consciously abiding by social ethics, and being honest and self-disciplined, just and upright, as well as diligent and responsible; and

(8) other duties stipulated by the law.

Article 9 For a deputy, conducting his work when the people's congress at the corresponding level is in session and carrying out activities when the people's congress at the corresponding level is not in session in accordance with the provisions of this Law, are both his performance of deputy duties.

The state and society shall provide support for deputies in their performance of deputy duties.

Deputies remain engaged in their own production and work. Deputies shall properly arrange their production and work and give priority to the performance of deputy duties when attending sessions of the people's congress at the corresponding level, as well as participating in the activities that are uniformly organized for performing deputy duties during the period when the people's congress is not in session.

Article 10 Deputies shall be subject to supervision by the voters of the electoral districts or the electoral units that elected them.

Article 11 The standing committees of the people's congresses at and above the county level and the presidiums of the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, and towns shall maintain close contact with deputies, reach out to the public on a greater variety of issues and in more diversified ways, strengthen capacity-building for deputy-related work, support and guarantee the performance of deputy duties in accordance with the law, and fully leverage deputies' roles.

The people's governments, supervisory commissions, people's courts, and people's procuratorates at all levels shall strengthen ties with deputies, listen to their opinions and suggestions, and improve work in all areas. 

Article 12 The standing committee of each of the people's congresses at and above the county level shall establish a deputies affairs commission as its working body.

Chapter II Work of Deputies During a Session of the People's Congress at the Corresponding Level

Article 13 Deputies shall attend sessions of the people's congress at the corresponding level on time. Deputies unable to attend the sessions due to special reasons such as medical conditions shall submit leave requests in accordance with regulations.

Before attending a session of the people's congress at the corresponding level, deputies shall prepare for performing deputy duties by soliciting opinions and demands from the general public through various channels and conscientiously study draft bills and proposals as well as reports to be submitted for deliberation according to arrangements.

Article 14 Deputies to the people's congresses at and above the county level shall form delegations by electoral units, administrative areas, and the like. Deputies to the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, and towns may form delegations as needed.

Deputies shall participate in plenary meetings of the session, plenary meetings of the delegation, and group meetings as organized by the presidium or delegation, to deliberate on bills and proposals as well as reports, and other items on the meeting agenda.

Upon recommendation or invitation, deputies may attend meetings of the presidium or meetings of special committees as non-voting participants and express their opinions.

Deputies shall express opinions pertaining to the theme of the session and shall abide by the rules of procedure.

Article 15 Deputies shall have the right, in accordance with procedures prescribed by the law, to submit to the people's congress at the corresponding level bills and proposals within the scope of its functions and powers. Bills and proposals submitted shall consist of purposes, grounds and schemes.

The presidium of the people's congress at the corresponding level shall decide whether to list the bills and proposals put forward according to the law by deputies on the agenda of the session, or shall do so after referring the bills and proposals to the respective special committees for deliberation and opinions as to whether they shall be listed on the agenda.

Deliberations on a bill or proposal already placed on the agenda of a session shall be terminated if the sponsoring deputies request its withdrawal before it is put to vote at the session, subject to approval by the presidium.

Article 16 Deputies to the National People's Congress shall have the right, in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Constitution, to submit to the National People's Congress bills on the amendment to the Constitution.

Article 17 Deputies shall participate in elections conducted by the people's congress at the corresponding level.

Deputies to the National People's Congress shall have the right to express opinions on candidates nominated by the Presidium for the component members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, candidates for the President and Vice-President of the People's Republic of China, Chairperson of the Central Military Commission, Chairperson of the National Commission of Supervision, President of the Supreme People's Court and Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and candidates for members of the special committees of the National People's Congress.

Deputies to the people's congresses at and above the county level shall have the right to nominate candidates for component members of the standing committees of the people's congresses, leading members of the people's governments, chairpersons of supervisory commissions, presidents of the people's courts, chief procurators of the people's procuratorates, and deputies to the people's congresses at the next higher level through procedures prescribed by law, and may express opinions on candidates for these positions proposed by the presidiums and deputies of the people's congresses at corresponding levels in accordance with the law.

Deputies to the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, and towns shall have the right, in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the law, to nominate candidates for chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the people's congresses, as well as leading members of the people's governments at corresponding levels, and shall have the right to express opinions on the aforesaid candidates nominated according to the law by the presidiums and the deputies to the people's congresses at corresponding levels.

Deputies to the people's congresses at various levels shall have the right to express opinions on the candidates for the presidiums of the people's congresses at corresponding levels.

When voting on confirmed candidates, deputies may cast an affirmative vote or a negative vote or abstain from voting; and those who cast a negative vote may propose other candidates.

Article 18 Deputies to the National People's Congress shall participate in deciding on the choice of the component members of the State Council, and Vice-Chairpersons and members of the Central Military Commission.

Deputies to the people's congresses at and above the county level shall participate in the vote for the members of special committees of the people's congresses at corresponding levels.

Article 19 During deliberations on a bill, proposal or report, deputies may put forward questions to the relevant state organs at the corresponding level, and such organs shall send their leaders or persons in charge to answer the questions.

Article 20 During a session of the National People's Congress, a delegation or a group of 30 or more deputies shall have the right to jointly make written inquiries to the State Council, the ministries under the State Council, the National Commission of Supervision, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

Deputies to the local people's congresses at and above the county level shall have the right, in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the law, to make written inquiries to the people's governments and their departments, supervisory commissions, people's courts and people's procuratorates at corresponding levels.

Deputies to the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, and towns shall have the right to make written inquiries to the people's governments at corresponding levels in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the law.

In a written inquiry, the person as well as the subject and content to be inquired about shall be clearly stated.

A written inquiry shall, based on a decision of the presidium, be answered by the state organ inquired. If half or more of the deputies who made the written inquiry are not satisfied with the reply, they may demand another reply from the organ inquired.

Article 21 Deputies to the National People's Congress shall have the right to make a proposal for the removal from office of a component member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the President or Vice-President of the People's Republic of China, a member of the State Council, a member of the Central Military Commission, the Chairperson of the National Commission of Supervision, the President of the Supreme People's Court or the Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the law.

Deputies to a local people's congress at or above the county level shall have the right to make a proposal for the removal from office of a component member of the standing committee of the people's congress, a member of the people's government, the chairperson of the supervisory commission, the president of the people's court or the procurator-general of the people's procuratorate at the corresponding level in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the law.

Deputies to a people's congress of a township, an ethnic township, or a town shall have the right to put forward a proposal to remove from office the chairperson or a vice-chairperson of the people's congress, or a leading member of the people's government at corresponding levels in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the law.

In a proposal for removal from office, the reasons for the removal shall be clearly stated.

Article 22 Deputies to a people's congress at or above the county level shall have the right to put forward a proposal for setting up an investigative committee on specific issues in accordance with the law.

Article 23 Deputies may, in a vote conducted by the people's congress at the corresponding level, cast an affirmative vote or a negative vote or abstain from voting.

Article 24 Deputies shall have the right to put forward suggestions, criticisms and opinions as regards all aspects of the work to the people's congress at the corresponding level. Suggestions, criticisms and opinions shall be clear and specific, with an emphasis on reflecting actual situations and issues.

Chapter III Activities of Deputies When the People's Congress at the Corresponding Level Is Not in Session

Article 25 The standing committee of a people's congress at or above the county level shall organize deputies to the people's congress at the corresponding level to carry out activities when the people's congress at the corresponding level is not in session.

The standing committee of a local people's congress at or above the county level shall, upon the commission of the standing committee of the people's congress at the next higher level, organize the deputies to the people's congress at the next higher level who are elected by the people's congress at the corresponding level to carry out activities when the people's congress at the next higher level is not in session.

The chairperson and vice-chairpersons of the people's congress of a township, an ethnic township or a town shall, according to the arrangements of the presidium, organize deputies to the people's congress at the corresponding level to carry out activities when the people's congress is not in session.

Article 26 When a people's congress is not in session, deputies shall primarily engage in collective activities, with the activities of deputy groups as the basic form. Deputies may heed and convey the opinions and requests of the voters of the electoral districts or units that elected them through various methods.

Article 27 Deputies to a people's congress at or above the county level may, following the principle of facilitating organization and operations, form deputy groups based on locations, specializations, or other classifications, with support from the standing committee of the people's congress at the corresponding or a lower level.

Deputies to a people's congress at or above the county level may take part in the activities of deputy groups of the people's congresses at lower levels.

Article 28 The standing committees of local people's congresses at and above the county level and the presidiums of the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, and towns shall regularly organize and assist deputies within their administrative areas to conduct activities to stay in contact with the people in accordance with the proximity principle, to solicit and reflect public opinions and requests of the people.

Article 29  Deputies to the people's congresses at and above the county level shall inspect the work of state organs and relevant entities at the corresponding or lower levels as arranged by the standing committees of the people's congresses at corresponding levels. Deputies to the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, and towns shall inspect the work of the people's governments and relevant entities at corresponding levels as arranged by the presidiums of the people's congresses at corresponding levels. Deputies to the people's congresses at and above the level of cities divided into districts may also conduct cross-electoral-unit inspection tours within their administrative areas as arranged.

Deputies may, during inspection tours conducted in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, suggest an interview with the leaders of the relevant state organs at the corresponding or lower levels. The leaders of the state organs to be interviewed or the persons in charge entrusted by such leaders shall listen to the suggestions, criticisms and opinions of the deputies.

Deputies may conduct on-the-spot inspection tours in their respective localities with their deputy cards. The standing committees of the local people's congresses at or above the county level or the presidiums of the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, or towns shall, upon requests by deputies, make arrangements for deputies to the people's congresses at the corresponding or higher level to conduct on-the-spot inspection tours in their respective localities with their deputy cards.

Article 30 Deputies shall conduct investigation and research on specific subjects concerning socio-economic development, major problems and issues pertaining to the immediate interests of the people and of broad public concern, and key priorities of the standing committees of the people's congresses at corresponding levels, as arranged by the standing committees of the people's congresses or the presidiums of the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, or towns. Deputies to the people's congresses at and above the level of cities divided into districts may also conduct cross-electoral-unit investigation and research on specific subjects within their administrative areas as arranged.

Article 31 Reports prepared by deputies based on their inspection tours as well as investigation and research on specific subjects shall be forwarded by the offices or working bodies of the standing committees of the people's congresses at corresponding levels, or by the presidiums of the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, or towns, to relevant state organs or organizations. The relevant state organs or organizations shall provide feedback to deputies on the handling of the opinions and suggestions raised in the reports in time.

During inspection tours or investigation and research on specific subjects, deputies may bring up suggestions, criticisms, and opinions to the relevant organs or organizations but shall not directly handle the matters.

Article 32 Deputies shall have the right, in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the law, to propose the convocation of an additional session of the people's congress at the corresponding level.

Article 33 Deputies to a people's congress at or above the county level may be invited to attend, as nonvoting participants, meetings of the standing committee and the special committees of the people's congress at the corresponding level, and may participate in relevant meetings organized by the standing committee, the special committees, and the office or working bodies of the standing committee. They may participate as arranged in law implementation inspections, questioning about specific issues, and other activities organized by the standing committee of the people's congress at the corresponding level.

Deputies to the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, and towns shall participate in law implementation inspections and other activities organized by the presidiums of the people's congresses at corresponding levels.

Article 34 Deputies to the National People's Congress and those to the people's congresses of provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, autonomous prefectures and cities divided into districts may attend, as nonvoting participants, meetings of the people's congresses of the electoral units that elected them, and may also attend, upon invitation and as nonvoting participants, meetings of the standing committees of the people's congresses of the electoral units that elected them.

Deputies to the people's congresses of counties, autonomous counties, cities not divided into districts and municipal districts may, as nonvoting participants, attend sessions of the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships and towns where the electoral districts electing them are located.

Article 35 Deputies to the people's congresses at or above the county level shall, according to decisions of the people's congresses at corresponding levels or of their standing committees, join the investigative committees on specific issues.

Article 36 Deputies shall have the right to put forward suggestions, criticisms and opinions on all aspects of the work to the standing committee of the people's congress at the corresponding level or the presidium of the people's congress of a township, ethnic township, or town, when the people's congress at the corresponding level is not in session. The suggestions, criticisms and opinions shall be clear and specific, with an emphasis on reflecting actual situations and issues.

Article 37 Deputies to the people's congresses at townships, ethnic townships, and towns shall, according to uniform arrangements, conduct activities such as investigation and research when the people's congresses are not in session; deputies may form deputy groups and apportion among themselves the task of contacting voters and convey the opinions and requests of the people.

Chapter IV Support for the Performance of Deputy Duties

Article 38 Deputies shall be immune from legal liability for their speeches or votes at all sorts of meetings of the people's congresses.

Article 39 No deputy to a people's congress at or above the county level may be arrested or placed on a criminal trial without the approval of the presidium of the people's congress at the corresponding level, or without the approval of its standing committee when the people's congress is not in session. If a deputy is caught in flagrante delicto and detained, the organ executing the detention shall immediately report the matter to the presidium or the standing committee of the people's congress at the corresponding level.

If any other measure restricting personal freedom as prescribed by the law is imposed on a deputy to a people's congress at or above the county level, it shall be subject to the approval of the presidium or the standing committee of the people's congress at the corresponding level.

The presidium or the standing committee of the people's congress, after receiving applications for approval put forward by relevant departments in accordance with the provisions of this Article, shall review whether such applications are intended for holding deputies legally liable for their speeches or voting at all sorts of meetings of the people's congress, or whether these are intended for retaliation against other deputy duties such as making suggestions, criticisms, and opinions, and shall make a decision based on the review.

If a deputy to the people's congress of a township, ethnic township, or town is arrested, placed on a criminal trial, or subjected to any other measure restricting personal freedom as prescribed by the law, the enforcement organ shall immediately report the matter to the people's congress of the township, ethnic township, or town.

Article 40 When deputies participate in uniformly organized activities for performing deputy duties when the people's congress is not in session, deputies' employers shall ensure them the necessary time for participating in such activities.

Article 41 Where a deputy performs his deputy duties in accordance with the law, his employer shall count such performance as normal attendance, and ensure that he enjoys the wage and other benefits.

Deputies without a regular salary shall, in light of the specific circumstances, be appropriately subsidized by the governmental finance at the corresponding level for their performance of deputy duties in accordance with the law.

The state shall provide a deputy who performs deputy duties in accordance with the law with round-trip travel expenses and necessary material conveniences or subsidies as needed.

Article 42 Funds for activities of deputies shall be listed under the financial budget of the government at the corresponding level and shall be guaranteed and earmarked for specific purposes.

Article 43 The standing committees of the people's congresses at and above the county level shall formulate annual deputy work plans, coordinate, organize and schedule deputy activities in accordance with the law, and improve the planning, organization, and standardization of such activities. 

Annual deputy work plans shall be adopted by the councils of chairpersons, notified to deputies of the people's congresses at corresponding levels and made public.

Article 44  The standing committees of people's congresses at and above the county level shall maintain contact with their deputies through various means, and shall establish and refine mechanisms for component members of the standing committees, special committees, offices, and working bodies of the standing committees to maintain contact with deputies, thereby enhancing deputies' involvement in legislative, oversight, and other work.

The chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, and towns shall be responsible for maintaining contact with their deputies when the people's congresses are not in session.

Article 45 The standing committees of the people's congresses at and above the county level shall strengthen contact with deputies within their respective administrative areas and provide necessary conditions for deputies to perform their duties in accordance with the law.

The standing committees of the people's congresses at or above the county level may apply modern information technology to establish and improve online platforms for the performance of deputy duties, thereby facilitating the lawful duty performance and enhancing learning and training for deputy duty performance.

Article 46 The standing committees of the people's congresses at or above the county level, people's governments at all levels and their departments, supervisory commissions, people's courts, and people's procuratorates shall inform deputies to the people's congresses at corresponding levels of their work progress in time, provide relevant information, and safeguard deputies' right to information. 

The people's governments at all levels and their departments, supervisory commissions, the people's courts, and the people's procuratorates shall, according to the overall arrangements of the standing committees of the people's congresses at corresponding levels, invite deputies to relevant tasks and activities and solicit their opinions and suggestions.

Article 47  The standing committees of the people's congresses at or above the county level shall organize training, exchanges, and learning activities related to deputy duty performance with plans to enhance their relevant capacities. 

Deputies shall study and implement the theories, lines, principles, and policies of the Communist Party of China, familiarize themselves with the Constitution and the system of people's congresses, and acquire legal knowledge and other professional knowledge necessary for the performance of deputy duties. 

Deputies to the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, and towns shall participate in duty performance training organized by the standing committees of the people's congresses at higher levels and the presidiums of their respective people's congresses.

Article 48 Offices and working bodies of standing committees of the people's congresses at and above the county level are service providers for deputies performing their duties and shall support deputies in their performance of deputy duties.

Article 49 For the convenience of deputies in performing deputy duties, the people's congresses at various levels shall make and issue deputy cards to their deputies.

Article 50 When special committees of the people's congresses at and above the county level deliberate deputy bills and proposals submitted by the presidiums of their respective people's congresses, they shall maintain communication with the deputies, fully solicit their opinions, and update them on the progress in time.

Article 51  Suggestions, criticisms, and opinions on all aspects of work submitted by deputies shall be referred by the offices or working bodies of the standing committees of the people's congresses at corresponding levels, or by the presidiums of the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, and towns to the relevant state organs or organizations for study and handling. 

Relevant state organs or organizations shall carefully study and handle deputies' suggestions, criticisms, and opinions, and communicate with deputies, fully solicit their opinions, and provide responses within three months from the date such suggestions, criticisms, and opinions are referred for handling. In the case of suggestions, criticisms and opinions that are multifaceted or hard to handle, responses shall be provided within six months from the referral date. 

The handling of deputies' suggestions, criticisms, and opinions shall be reported by the offices or working bodies of the standing committees, or by the relevant organs or organizations to the standing committees of the people's congresses at corresponding levels and printed and distributed at the next session of the people's congresses; or reported by the presidiums of the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, and towns, or by the relevant organs or organizations to the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, and towns. Reports on the handling of deputies' suggestions, criticisms, and opinions shall be made public.

Article 52 The special committees, offices and working bodies of the people's congresses at or above the county level, as well as the presidiums of the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, and towns, shall enhance the supervision of the handling of deputies' suggestions, criticisms, and opinions.

The council of chairpersons may designate key suggestions, criticisms, or opinions submitted by deputies for prioritized supervision, focusing on issues related to socio-economic development and issues that concern the immediate interests of the people and of broad social concern.

Article 53 When deputies of ethnic minorities perform their deputy duties, the departments concerned shall provide them with necessary help and give special consideration to aspects such as spoken and written languages, as well as customs.

Article 54 Where deputies with physical disabilities or other mobility limitations perform their duties, relevant departments shall provide necessary assistance and accommodations as needed.

Article 55 All organizations and individuals shall respect the rights of deputies and support them in their performance of deputy duties.

Whoever is obligated to assist deputies in their performance of duties as deputies but refuses to do so shall be admonished, criticized, or even subjected to a sanction by the entity concerned.

Whoever obstructs the performance of deputy duties in accordance with the law shall, according to the circumstances, be subjected to a sanction by the entity to which he belongs or by the relevant state organ, or shall be punished in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Penalties for Administration of Public Security. Whoever obstructs the performance of deputy duties according to the law by means of violence or threat shall be held criminally liable in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Criminal Law.

Whoever retaliates against the performance of deputy duties in accordance with the law shall be ordered to make rectification or given a sanction by the entity he works for or by the relevant organ. If a state functionary retaliates against a deputy and the act constitutes a crime, he shall be held criminally liable according to relevant provisions in the Criminal Law.

Article 56 The standing committees of the people's congresses at and above the county level and the presidiums of the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, and towns shall promote deputies' exemplary deeds in performing deputy duties and playing their roles through various means, demonstrating the deputies' vivid practices in advancing the whole-process people's democracy.

Chapter V Supervision of Deputies

Article 57 Deputies shall hold firm political stance, fulfill political responsibilities, improve thinking and conduct, subject themselves to oversight, and consciously uphold the image as deputies.

Article 58 Deputies shall employ a variety of methods to frequently heed opinions of the people as regards their performance of deputy duties, as well as respond to the questions of voters of the electoral districts or units that elected them as regards the work and activities of the deputies, and accept supervision.

Deputies shall report on their duty performance to voters of their electoral districts or electoral units through various means. The standing committees of the local people's congresses at and above the county level and the presidiums of the people's congresses of townships, ethnic townships, and towns shall maintain records of deputies' duty performance, regularly organize deputies to report on their duty performance to voters of their electoral districts or electoral units, and disclose deputies' profiles and activity logs related to duty performance.

Article 59 Deputies shall balance their professional work and the performance of their duties. They shall not use their position to interfere in specific law enforcement or judicial cases, intervene in bidding or other economic activities, or engage in disguised commercial activities for personal gain.

Article 60  Voters and electoral units shall have the right to remove from office the deputies they have elected. A deputy to be removed from office shall have the right to attend the meeting for the removal from office to present his oral defense or to submit a written defense.

Article 61 Where a deputy is involved in one of the following circumstances, he shall be suspended from performance of deputy duties, and a report shall be made by the credentials committee to the standing committee of the people's congress at the corresponding level or to the people's congress of the township, ethnic township, or town:

(1) where he is held in custody and is under investigation, prosecution or tried for criminal cases; or

(2) where he has been sentenced to non-custodial correction, short-term custody or fixed-term imprisonment, without the additional punishment of being deprived of the political rights, and is currently serving his sentence.

As soon as the circumstances specified in the preceding paragraph disappear during the term of the deputy in question, the deputy duties shall resume, except for those whose deputy qualification terminates.

Article 62 The qualification of a deputy involved in any of the following circumstances shall terminate:

(1) a deputy to a local people's congress at any level who has moved or is transferred away from the corresponding administrative area;

(2) one whose resignation or ordered resignation has been accepted;

(3) being absent from two sessions of the people's congress at the corresponding level without approval;

(4) being removed from the office;

(5) having forfeited the nationality of the People's Republic of China;

(6) being deprived of political rights in accordance with the law; or

(7) being incapacitated.

Upon a deputy's death, his deputy qualification automatically terminates.

Article 63 The termination of the qualification of a deputy to a people's congress at or above the county level shall be reported by the credentials committee of the standing committee of the people's congress at the corresponding level and the said standing committee shall make an announcement thereon.

The termination of the qualification of a deputy to the people's congress of a township, ethnic township, or town shall be reported by the credentials committee of the people's congress at the corresponding level and the said people's congress shall make an announcement thereon.

Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions

Article 64 The people's congresses of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government and their standing committees may, in accordance with this Law and in light of the actual conditions of their respective administrative areas, formulate measures for implementation of this Law.

Article 65 This Law shall go into effect on the date of promulgation.