The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is an important institution of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC, and an important form of socialist democracy in China's political life.

Currently, the CPPCC is composed of the CPC, democratic parties, nonparty democrats, mass organizations, representatives of various ethnic minorities and from all walks of life, public personages from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, Taiwan compatriots, representatives of returned overseas Chinese and specially invited personages.

The main functions of the CPPCC are political consultation, democratic supervision, and participation in and discussion of State affairs.

The First Plenary Session of the CPPCC was held September 21-30, 1949, at Huairentang Hall of Zhongnanhai in Beijing (then Beiping), attended by 662 delegates. The session discussed and adopted the Common Program of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, which served as the country's provisional Constitution. At the session, Mao Zedong was elected chairman of the Central People's Government Committee and Zhu De, Liu Shaoqi, Soong Ching Ling, Li Jishen, Zhang Lan and Gao Gang vice chairpersons. It also elected 56 members of the Central People's Government Committee. The session drew up and adopted the Organic Law of the CPPCC, which consolidated the Chinese people's democratic united front. It also decided on the five-star design of the national flag and March of the Volunteers as the national anthem. Beiping was renamed Beijing and designated as the capital of the PRC. The session adopted the Gregorian calendar and October 1 as National Day. At the session, Mao Zedong declared that, until the generally elected NPC was convened, the CPPCC would exercise in an acting capacity the functions and powers of the NPC.

When the First NPC convened in September 1954, the CPPCC ceased exercising these functions and powers, but maintained its functions as an organization of the united front. Up till now, the CPPCC has convened nine national committee congresses.

The CPPCC is well organized. According to its current statute, it establishes a national committee, a standing committee and nine special committees at the central level, and local committees in various localities. The CPPCC is elected for a term of five years and holds a plenary session each year.

Most of the CPPCC members are well-experienced political activists, celebrities, and specialists or scholars from all circles. In addition to directly participating in discussions and consultations on major issues in relation to State and local affairs, they also take part in the CPPCC special committees covering such aspects as foreign affairs, education, science and technology, and law according to their respective specialties. Through investigations and surveys on special subjects, they submit to the government their proposals and opinions on major issues in various fields.