Powers
The powers of the Council included making and interpreting law, deciding on administrative policies, correcting the decisions and orders of the
Government Administration Council, ratifying foreign treaties, handling issues concerning war and peace, approving the state budget, granting amnesty and pardon, giving honorary awards, appointing and removing senior officials, and preparing and convening the
National People's Congress. The Council effectively acted as China's collective head of state. As explained by
Dong Biwu during his report to the drafting process to the
first plenary session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, "The powers and functions of the Central People’s Government Council are often provided by other countries’ constitutions as those of the heads of state". == Membership ==
Membership
Member of the Central People's Government • Chen Yi, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission • He Long, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission • Li Lisan, concurrently member of the Executive Yuan • Lin Boqu • Ye Jianying, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission • He Xiangning (female, Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang), also a member of the Supreme People's Procuratorate • Lin Biao, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission and a member of the Standing Committee of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference • Peng Dehuai, Vice Chairman of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission • Liu Bocheng, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission • Wu Yuzhang • Xu Xiangqian, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission • Peng Zhen • Bo Yibo, also a member of the Political Affairs Committee • Nie Rongzhen, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission • Zhou Enlai, concurrently Premier of the State Council, Vice Chairman of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission, and Vice Chairman of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference • Dong Biwu, Vice Premier of the State Council • Saifuding • Rao Shushi, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission • Tan Kah Kee (non-partisan), member of the Standing Committee of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference • Luo Ronghuan, also Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme People's Procuratorate • Deng Zihui, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission • Ulanhu, member of the Standing Committee of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference • Xu Teli • Cai Chang (female) • Liu Geping • Ma Yinchu (non-partisan) • Chen Yun, Vice Premier of the State Council • Kang Sheng • Lin Feng • Ma Xulun (Democratic Progressive Party), concurrently a member of the Political Affairs Committee, and a member of the Standing Committee of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference • Guo Moruo (non-partisan), Vice Premier of the State Council, Vice Chairman of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference • Zhang Yunyi, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission • Deng Xiaoping, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission • Gao Chongmin (Democratic League) • Shen Junru (China Democratic League), concurrently President of the Supreme People's Court, Vice Chairman of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference • Shen Yanbing (non-partisan), member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference • Chen Shutong (non-partisan), Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference • Situ Meitang (China Zhi Gong Party) • Li Xijiu (Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang; died on March 10, 1952), also a member of the Supreme People's Procuratorate • Huang Yanpei (China Democratic National Construction Association), Vice Premier of the State Council, Standing Committee Member of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference • Cai Tingkai (Civil Promotion), also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission • Xi Zhongxun, also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission • Peng Zemin (Farmers and Workers Democratic Party) • Zhang Zhizhong (Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang), also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission • Fu Zuoyi (non-partisan), also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission • Li Zhuchen (China Democratic National Construction Association) • Li Zhangda (National Salvation Association; died on December 9, 1953) • Zhang Bojun (Peasants and Workers Democratic Party), concurrently a member of the Political Affairs Committee, and a member of the Standing Committee of the First National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference • Cheng Qian (Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang), Vice Chairman of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission • Zhang Xiruo (non-partisan), member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference • Tan Ming-shu (Democratic Alliance) • Tan Pingshan (Democratic Alliance), also Minister of State • Zhang Nanxian (non-partisan) • Liu Yazi (Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang) • Zhang Dongsun (China Democratic League) • Long Yun (Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang), also a member of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission Secretary General of the Central People's Government • Lin Boqu (elected by the Central People's Government Committee) == References ==