23
5.
Various improvements had been made to the election
system for delegates to the NPC and local people's
congress.
Whereas in the past all candidates were put up
by the Communist party and there were no real choice for
voters, the number of candidates were now larger than the
number of seats and the names of all candidates (regardless
of whether they were party members or not) would be
performance of delegates would be closely
published.
The
monitored and any delegates who failed to perform up to the
could be forced to step down by the
people's
expectations
masses.
Constitutional Reforms
6.
Various constitutional changes had taken place
since the establishment of the Commission in order to
improve the working of the central government.
Firstly,
the organisation of the NPC had undergone changes to
These included broadening the terms
increase efficiency.
of reference of the Standing Committee so that certain
law-making powers could be delegated from the NPC to the
Committee. While basic laws such as criminal law still had
to be approved by the NPC, the Standing Committee now had
general powers to revise most laws. It was also given the
power to adjust Five-year plans, which could only be
changed by the NPC in the past, as well as to appoint
members of the State Council and other high officials.