1st National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
The first national committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, which served as China's principal political advisory and transitional legislative body from 1949 to 1954.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The 1st National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference was the inaugural national committee of the CPPCC, established during the founding of the People's Republic of China. Its first meeting took place in Beijing on 9 October 1949, following the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in September 1949, and its term concluded with the opening of the 2nd National Committee on 21 December 1954. Although the CPPCC is generally known as a political advisory and united-front institution, this first national committee operated in a special constitutional setting. The National People's Congress had not yet been established, so the committee and the broader 1949 CPPCC system exercised legislative and constituent powers on its behalf. The committee participated in the institutional formation of the new state. Through the 1949 plenary process and subsequent national committee work, it adopted or approved foundational measures concerning the organization of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the Central People's Government, and helped establish the Central People's Government Council. It elected Mao Zedong as chairman of the CPPCC and selected vice chairpersons, a secretary-general, and standing committee members. It also endorsed the Common Program, which functioned as a provisional constitutional framework, and adopted decisions concerning the national capital, the calendar era, the national anthem, and the national flag. Other early institutional work included the adoption of procedural rules, the creation of working bodies, and the determination of their membership. The committee's agenda extended beyond constitutional arrangements. It reviewed and deliberated draft laws and regulations dealing with people's courts, marriage, trade unions, and peasant associations. Its sessions also addressed land reform, government administration, public finance, taxation, education, culture, judicial affairs, military matters, and the organization of local political institutions. In 1950, it approved the Land Reform Law and adopted the national emblem. It also discussed the organization of local CPPCC committees and resolutions connected with a national peace-signature campaign. During the Korean War period, the committee helped mobilize political support for the campaign officially described as resisting United States aggression and aiding Korea. The 1951 session adopted related resolutions and supported the production of commemorative medals for participants. The committee additionally endorsed resolutions concerning peace treaties and reports on the work of the Central People's Government. Its political role therefore combined state-building, legislative deliberation, united-front representation, and mass political mobilization. The committee's institutional position changed after the First Session of the 1st National People's Congress in September 1954. Once the National People's Congress was established, the CPPCC ceased to exercise the legislative powers that it had temporarily performed during the transitional period. The CPPCC continued as a united-front and consultative organization, but the transition marked the end of the 1st National Committee's exceptional constitutional role. The first session of the 2nd National Committee began on 21 December 1954, bringing the first committee's term to a close.
History
The 1st National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference was created during the political transition that accompanied the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Its members were elected by the First Plenary Session of the CPPCC in September 1949. The national committee's first session was held in Beijing on 9 October 1949, and the committee remained in operation until the opening of the 2nd National Committee on 21 December 1954. Its historical importance derives from the fact that the National People's Congress did not yet exist. The CPPCC therefore performed functions that later belonged to the formal national legislature, while also serving as a representative united-front forum. The committee adopted the Organic Law of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the Organic Law of the Central People's Government. Through the 1949 founding process, it helped elect the leadership of the Central People's Government Council and establish the governmental institutions of the new state. The committee approved the Common Program of the CPPCC, which served as a provisional constitutional document, and adopted resolutions on the capital, the calendar era, the national anthem, and the national flag. It also approved procedural rules, set up the national committee and its working bodies, and determined their membership. These measures provided the institutional framework for the CPPCC and contributed to the initial organization of the People's Republic. Its legislative and deliberative work continued in subsequent sessions. The committee considered draft measures concerning the organization of people's courts, marriage, trade unions, and peasant associations. It received reports covering land reform, political administration, economic and fiscal policy, taxation, culture, education, military affairs, and judicial work. In June 1950, the second session approved the Land Reform Law and adopted the national emblem. It also addressed the organization of local CPPCC committees and a national peace-signature initiative. The third session, held in late 1951, took place during the Korean War. It adopted resolutions concerning the campaign officially described as resisting United States aggression and aiding Korea, considered reports on central government work, and supported peace-related resolutions. The meeting also approved the production of commemorative medals for participants in that campaign. The fourth session, held in February 1953, adopted resolutions based on reports from senior state and CPPCC officials and added 23 members to the Standing Committee. The committee also participated in the political mobilization associated with land reform, suppression of counterrevolutionaries, and the Three-anti and Five-anti campaigns. These activities reflected the broad political role of the early CPPCC, which extended beyond consultation into public mobilization and support for central government policy. The institutional arrangement changed in September 1954, when the First Session of the 1st National People's Congress convened. The NPC became the formal national legislative institution, ending the CPPCC's temporary exercise of legislative authority. The CPPCC itself survived as a united-front and consultative organization. The first national committee therefore represents a distinct transitional phase: it was both the first national committee of a continuing political organization and a temporary component of the constitutional structure of the newly established People's Republic of China.
- 1954
Legislative powers transferred to the National People's Congress
[1]Following the establishment of the National People's Congress, the CPPCC ceased exercising the temporary legislative powers associated with the founding period.
- 1954
Term concludes
[1]The committee's term ended with the opening of the First Session of the 2nd National Committee on 21 December.
- 1953
Standing Committee expanded
[1]The fourth session elected 23 additional Standing Committee members.
- 1951
Korean War mobilization resolutions
[1]The third session adopted resolutions supporting the Resist America, Aid Korea campaign and related peace initiatives.
- 1950
Land reform and national emblem decisions
[1]The second session approved the Land Reform Law and adopted the national emblem.
- 1949
First national committee elected
[1]Members were elected by the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference during the founding transition of the People's Republic of China.
- 1949
First session convenes in Beijing
[1]The first session began on 9 October and elected Mao Zedong as chairman, along with vice chairpersons and the secretary-general.
Products and positioning
A transitional national political institution combining political consultation, united-front representation, foundational state-building, and temporary legislative authority before the establishment of the National People's Congress.
Marketing campaigns
- 1951Resist America, Aid Korea
China
The third session adopted resolutions supporting the Korean War effort and encouraged public backing for the campaign.
Outcome. The committee approved commemorative medals for participants; more than 2.5 million medals were reported as awarded.
- 1951Three-anti and Five-anti Campaigns
China
The committee supported political mobilization associated with the Three-anti and Five-anti campaigns.
- 1950Land Reform Movement
China
The committee deliberated and approved foundational land-reform legislation and supported political mobilization connected with land redistribution.
Outcome. The Land Reform Law was approved at the committee's second session.
- 1950Peace Signature Movement
China
The committee designated 1–7 July as a peace-signature movement week and adopted a related decision.
Outcome. The initiative was incorporated into the committee's resolutions during the second session.
- 1950Campaign to Suppress Counterrevolutionaries
China
The committee participated in political mobilization supporting the campaign to suppress counterrevolutionaries.
Brand decisions
1954
Transition to a consultative and united-front roleStrategyBackground
The First Session of the 1st National People's Congress established the country's formal national legislative institution.
Action taken
The CPPCC relinquished the temporary legislative powers it had exercised during the transitional period.
Aftermath
The CPPCC continued as a united-front and political consultative organization, while the first national committee was succeeded by the second.
1951
Support for the Resist America, Aid Korea campaignStrategyBackground
The third session took place during the Korean War and addressed the government's call for domestic support.
Action taken
The committee adopted resolutions supporting the campaign and related peace initiatives.
Aftermath
The committee also approved commemorative medals for campaign participants.
1950
Approval of the Land Reform LawOtherBackground
Land reform was a central political and social priority of the early People's Republic.
Action taken
The second session approved the Land Reform Law of the People's Republic of China.
Aftermath
The decision provided legislative support for the national land-reform program.
1949
Adoption of the Common ProgramStrategyBackground
The new state required a provisional constitutional and political framework before the National People's Congress was established.
Action taken
The committee adopted the Common Program of the CPPCC as a foundational governing document.
Aftermath
The document served as a provisional constitutional basis during the early years of the People's Republic.
Recent events
- 1954
National People's Congress assumes legislative role[1]
Other
After the First Session of the 1st National People's Congress, the CPPCC ceased exercising the temporary legislative powers it had held during the transitional period.
- 1953
Fourth session expands the Standing Committee[1]
Leadership change
The fourth session adopted resolutions based on leadership reports and elected 23 additional members to the Standing Committee.
- 1951
Third session supports the Resist America, Aid Korea campaign[1]
Campaign · Other
The third session adopted resolutions supporting the Korean War effort, considered peace-related matters, and approved commemorative medals for campaign participants.
- 1950
Second session approves land reform legislation and the national emblem[1]
Other
The second session approved the Land Reform Law, adopted the national emblem, and addressed local CPPCC organization and a peace-signature campaign.
- 1949
First session establishes the committee's leadership and foundational state resolutions[1]
Other
The first session elected the committee's principal officers and adopted decisions concerning National Day, state institutions, and other foundational matters.
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