Supreme People's Court

The Supreme People's Court was established on 22 October 1949 and began operating in November 1950. At least four members of the first court leadership did not come from a legal background, and most of its first staff were assigned from the People's Liberation Army to the Court. During the Cultural Revolution, the 1975 constitution removed the provision that said courts were to decide cases independently and required them to report to revolutionary committees. A 2008 report stated that since the new review process, the court has rejected 15 percent of the death sentences decided by lower courts. As part of an effort to build judicial credibility through more effective enforcement of court orders, the SPC in 2013 promulgated a blacklist composed of Chinese citizens and companies that refuse to comply with court orders (typically court orders to pay a fine or to repay a loan) despite having the ability to do so. As of 2023, the SPC's blacklist is one of its most important enforcement tools and its use has resulted in the recovery of tens of trillions of RMB for fines and delinquent repayments. == Functions ==

According to the country's constitution, the Supreme People's Court is accountable to the National People's Congress. It is also subservient to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The court has about 400 judges and more than 600 administrative personnel. It also reviews appeals or protests against trial decisions or verdicts of high people's courts and special people's courts, as well as appeals against court judgments lodged by the Supreme People's Procuratorate according to trial supervision procedures. When the court has discovered errors in the rulings and verdicts of lower courts that are already enforced, it investigates or appoints a lower court to rehear the case. The court also approves death sentences and suspended death sentences handed down by lower courts. It also approves verdicts on crimes not specifically stipulated in the criminal law. Legal interpretation The court explains the application of laws in specific cases during a trial. Further details about this were described by Zhou Qiang as: While the Chinese constitution does not state that courts have the power to review laws for their constitutionality (see constitutional review), the Supreme People's Court can request the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to evaluate whether an administrative rule, local regulation, autonomous regulation or separate regulation contravenes the constitution or a national law. However, the Supreme People's Court has never made such request. Supervision of lower courts The Supreme People's Court is also responsible for supervising the adjudication of lower courts and specialized courts. == Organization ==

; Divisions within the Supreme People's Court • Case-Filing Division • Criminal Divisions (5) • Civil Divisions (4) • Environment and Resources Division • Administrative Division • Judicial Supervision Division ; Departments within the Supreme People's Court • State Compensation Division • Enforcement Department (Enforcement Command Center) • General Office • Political Department • Research office • Adjudication Management Office • Discipline and Supervision Department • International Cooperation Department • Judicial Administration and Equipment Management Department • Party-Related Affairs Department • Retirees' Affairs Department • Information Department ; Circuit and other courts of the Supreme People's Court • First Circuit (established in Shenzhen, December 2014) • Second Circuit (established in Shenyang, December 2014) • Third Circuit • Fourth Circuit • Fifth Circuit • Sixth Circuit • First International Commercial • Second International Commercial • Intellectual Property Court == President/Chief Justices and Vice Presidents of the Court ==

• 1949–1954: Supreme People's Court of the Central People's Government • President: Shen Junru • 1954–1959: Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China under the 1st National People's Congress • President: Dong Biwu • Vice Presidents: Gao Kelin, Ma Xiwu, Zhang Zhirang • 1959–1965: 2nd National People's Congress • President: Xie Juezai • Vice Presidents: Wu Defeng, Wang Weigang, Zhang Zhirang • 1965–1975: 3rd National People's Congress • President: Yang Xiufeng • Vice Presidents: Tan Guansan, Wang Weigang, Zeng Hanzhou, He Lanjie, Xing Yimin, Wang Demao, Zhang Zhirang • 1975–1978: 4th National People's Congress • President: Jiang Hua • Vice Presidents: Wang Weigang, Zeng Hanzhou, He Lanjie, Zheng Shaowen • 1978–1983: 5th National People's Congress • President: Jiang Hua • Vice Presidents: Zeng Hanzhou, He Lanjie, Zheng Shaowen, Song Guang, Wang Huaian, Wang Zhanping • 1983–1988: 6th National People's Congress • President: Zheng Tianxiang • Vice Presidents: Ren Jianxin, Song Guang, Wang Huaian, Wang Zhanping, Lin Huai, Zhu Mingshan, Ma Yuan • 1988–1993: 7th National People's Congress • President: Ren Jianxin • Vice Presidents: Hua Liankui, Lin Huai, Zhu Mingshan, Ma Yuan, Duan Muzheng • 1993–1998: 8th National People's Congress • President: Ren Jianxin • Vice Presidents: Zhu Mingshan, Xie Anshan, Gao Changli, Tang Dehua, Liu Jiachen, Luo Haocai, Li Guoguang, Lin Huai, Hua Liankui, Duan Muzheng, Wang Jingrong, Ma Yuan • 1998–2003: 9th National People's Congress • President: Xiao Yang • Vice Presidents: Zhu Mingshan, Li Guoguang, Jiang Xingchang, Shen Deyong, Wan Exiang, Cao Jianming, Zhang Jun, Huang Songyou, Jiang Bixin • 2003–2007: 10th National People's Congress • President: Xiao Yang • Vice Presidents: Cao Jianming, Jiang Xingchang, Shen Deyong, Wan Exiang, Huang Songyou, Su Zelin, Xi Xiaoming, Zhang Jun, Xiong Xuanguo • 2008–2013: 11th National People's Congress • President: Wang Shengjun • Vice Presidents: Shen Deyong (Executive), Zhang Jun, Wan Exiang, Jiang Bixin, Su Zelin, Xi Xiaoming, Nan Ying, Jing Hanchao, Huang Ermei • 2013–2018: 12th National People's Congress • President: Zhou Qiang • 2018—2023: 13th National People's Congress • President: Zhou Qiang • Vice Presidents: He Rong (Executive), Jiang Wei, Tao Kaiyuan, Gao Jinghong, Yang Wanming, Yang Linping, He Xiaorong, Shen Liang • 2023—present: 14th National People's Congress • President: Zhang Jun == See also ==