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Six decades after China's first National People's Congress (NPC) was convened, the world's largest legislature is more comfortable with critical lawmakers, negative ballots and shelved bills.

And its receptiveness to questioning voices is joined by its remit becoming more substantial.

The vigor of the system lies in its persistent willingness and capacity to improve itself.

Two reporters take pictures with smart phones on the morning of March 4, 2014. The press conference for the second session of the 12th National People's Congress was held in the Great Hall of the People on that day. [Chinanews/Jin Shuo]

Legislative bodies at national and local levels have been striving to shake off the perception of them being bureaucrats who do little more than "rubber stamp" decisions. And their efforts have been perceived.

Last year, the balloting on the new line-up of the top legislature's environment protection and resources conservation committee saw 850 opposition votes and 125 abstentions, around a third of the total votes.

Such a strong opposition reflected wide dissatisfaction with the environmental issues from the public.

What is happening in China's congresses would have been unimaginable decades ago, when lawmakers meekly chimed in with the government to show their loyalty.

Opposition and challenges now serve as checks and balances for almost every important legislative decision.

One NPC official observed that, after the legislature's approval of reports and law amendments, lawmakers now no longer applaud as frequently and as hard as they used to.

It reflects a change not only in the legislators' understanding of their relationship with the government, but also in their power consciousness.

It is such awakening of power consciousness that drives the people's congress system to improve itself.

As the NPC annual session is ongoing, China's 600 million netizens have poured in a large number of suggestions in the cyberspace, urging their deputies to have their voice better heard and considered in the parliament.

Zhao Zhengyong, secretary of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and also an NPC deputy for the northwestern province, told media that during the parliamentary session he browses the Internet every night to see netizens' suggestions and criticisms.

Zhao is not alone. More lawmakers are bringing the netizens' concerns and suggestions to the parliamentary halls, discussing them with their fellow deputies.

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