Originally posted on June 23, 2006

1. How many delegates take part in the National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC)?

As the highest leading authority of the CPC, the National Congress of the CPC is usually held every five years. The 16th CPC National Congress is scheduled to convene in November. The number of delegates attending each National Congress fluctuates.

There were 12 delegates who attended the 1st CPC National Congress which was held between July 23 and 31, 1921. Together they represented more than 50 Party members.

Twelve delegates attended the 2nd CPC National Congress which was held from July 16-23, 1922. They represented 195 Party members.

The 3rd CPC National Congress was convened on June 12-20, 1923. It was comprised of more than 30 delegates representing 420 Party members.

The 4th CPC National Congress was convened on January 11-22, 1925. Twenty delegates attended the meeting representing 994 Party members.

The 5th CPC National Congress was convened from April 27 to May 9, 1927. Attending the meeting were more than 80 delegates who represented 57,967 Party members.

The 6th CPC National Congress was convened on June 18-July 11, 1928. Present at the meeting were 84 full delegates and 34 alternate delegates. Together they represented 40,000 Party members.

The 7th CPC National Congress was held from April 23 to June 11, 1945. Present at the meeting were 547 full delegates and 208 alternate delegates. They represented 1.21 million Party members.

The 8th CPC National Congress was held from September 15-27, 1956. Present at the meeting were 1,026 full delegates and 107 alternate delegates. They represented 10.73 million Party members.

The 9th CPC National Congress was held on April 1-24, 1969. A total of 1,512 delegates attended the meeting representing 22 million Party members.

The 10th CPC National Congress was held on August 24-28, 1973. The delegates attending the meeting totaled 1,249, representing 28 million Party members.

The 11th CPC National Congress was held from August 12-18, 1977. The delegates attending the meeting totaled 1,510, representing 35 million Party members.

The 12th CPC National Congress was held on September 1-11, 1982. Present at the meeting were 1,600 full delegates and 149 alternate delegates. They represented 39.65 million Party members.

The 13th CPC National Congress was held on October 25-November 1, 1987. A total of 1,936 delegates attended the meeting representing 46 million Party members.

The 14th CPC National Congress was held on October 12-18, 1992. A total of 2,000 delegates attended the meeting representing 51 million Party members.

The 15th CPC National Congress was held on September 12-18, 1997. A total of 2,048 delegates attended the meeting representing 59 million Party members.

The 16th CPC National Congress will be held on November 8, 2002. A total 2,120 delegates will participate in the meeting. They will represent over 66 million Party members.

2. Are delegates selected according to predetermined quotas of ethnicity and gender?

The delegates attending the impending 16th CPC National Congress represent a broad spectrum of Party members. They include leading officials at various levels, and rank and file Party members working at the front line of production. Of the 2,120 delegates to attend the approaching 16th National Congress of the CPC, we find not only Party members and officials from the various levels, but also rank and file member representatives from more regular walks of life. A large proportion of the delegates are model Party members who have made outstanding contributions to economics, science and technology, national defense, politics and law, education, public relations, public health, culture, and sports.

The number of leading officials from above the county level will make up no more than 75 percent of the total number of delegates elected from the various provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government, while rank and file Party member representatives will constitute no less than 25 percent. The proportions of female and ethnic minority delegates will also be higher than the proportions of female and ethnic minority Party members across the country.

Of the delegates elected from the offices directly under the CPC Central Committee, China's state organs, the financial sector, the People's Liberation Army, and the armed forces, the number of leaders at various levels shall be no more than 85 percent. In addition, there will be an assured number of woman Party members and Party members from different ethnic minorities representing these groups within the Party. Of the delegates elected from businesses directly under the central government, leading officials shall make up no more than 75 percent, while rank and file Party member representatives will constitute no less than 25 percent. These roles should also include a certain number of woman Party members. At least 50 percent of the Party delegates selected by the electoral units are under the age of 55.

The 2,120 delegates represent more than 66 million CPC members in the country. Of the total, officials at various levels account for 75.7 percent, while the remaining 24.3 percent are grassroots representatives from the fields of industry, agriculture, finance and trade, science and technology, national defense, politics and law, education, culture, public health and sports. Among them, 88.5 percent have been awarded honorary titles given by ministries and provincial governments or higher authorities. Women account for 18 percent, and those from ethnic minorities account for 10.8 percent. Meanwhile, 91.7 percent of the delegates have college degrees or above and 63.1 percent are 55 years of age or younger. In addition, those joining the Party since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 make up the lion's share of delegates, some 97.5 percent, of which 31.9 percent joined the Party after the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee. Those members who joined the Party during the First Revolutionary Civil War (1924-1927), the Second Revolutionary Civil War (1927-1937), the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945), and the War of Liberation (1946-1949) account for only 2.5 percent of the total.