Skip to content
Next Hong Kong: Election Committee subsector elections in 18 days Preview →
Xuanjuquan China
How voting works

✶ Chinese Communist Party · founded 1921

The party
chooses first.

Article 1 of the PRC constitution names leadership by the Communist Party as "the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics". Before the National People's Congress votes on a president or premier, the party has already chosen its candidates through its own chain of indirect elections: members → congress delegates → Central Committee → Politburo → Standing Committee.

Each body elects the next

From 101.3 million
to one.

  1. 101,286,000 Members As of 31 Dec 2025, in 5.4 million grassroots organisations.
  2. 2,296 Congress delegates Elected by 38 electoral units for the 20th Congress (2022).
  3. 205 Central Committee Full members elected by the Congress, plus 171 alternates.
  4. 22 Politburo Elected by the Central Committee: 24 in 2022.
  5. 7 Standing Committee The Politburo's inner council, in rank order.
  6. 1 General Secretary Xi Jinping, since 2012.

Bar widths are logarithmic. The Politburo figure applies the expulsions and promotion recorded below; no official source states the current total (derived).

The 20th Politburo Standing Committee · elected 23 Oct 2022

Seven men,
in rank order.

  1. No. 1 · born 1953 Xi Jinping President of the PRC; Chairman of the (Party & State) Central Military Commission; General Secretary
  2. No. 2 · born 1959 Li Qiang Premier of the State Council (since 2023-03-11)
  3. No. 3 · born 1957 Zhao Leji Chairman, NPC Standing Committee
  4. No. 4 · born 1955 Wang Huning Chairman, CPPCC National Committee
  5. No. 5 · born 1955 Cai Qi First-ranked Secretary of the Secretariat; Director of CCP General Office (party posts)
  6. No. 6 · born 1961 Ding Xuexiang First-ranked Vice Premier
  7. No. 7 · born 1956 Li Xi Secretary, CCDI (party post)

The 20th Politburo · changes to 4 Nov 2026

24 elected,
22 now.

Photos: Li Qiang — European Union, Attribution · Zhao Leji — Palácio do Planalto from Brasilia, Brasil, CC BY 2.0 · Wang Huning — China News Service, CC BY 4.0 · Cai Qi — China News Service, CC BY 4.0 · Ding Xuexiang — Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, CC BY 2.0 · Li Xi — The President's Office, Maldives, CC BY 4.0 · Ma Xingrui — IAEA Imagebank, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Shi Taifeng — 中国新闻社, CC BY 4.0 · Li Ganjie — Nuclear Regulatory Commission from US, CC BY 2.0 · Li Hongzhong — Houses of the Oireachtas from Ireland, CC BY 2.0 · He Lifeng — European Commission (Andrea Verdelli), CC BY 4.0 · Zhang Youxia — Пресс-служба Президента России, CC BY 4.0 · Zhang Guoqing — Gravesv38, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Chen Wenqing — Tatarstan.ru, CC BY 4.0 · Chen Jining — WIPO | OMPI, CC BY 2.0 · Chen Min'er — 中国新闻网, CC BY 3.0 · Yuan Jiajun — 中国新闻社, CC BY 4.0 · Huang Kunming — Agencia de Noticias ANDES, CC BY-SA 2.0 . Others public domain. Via Wikimedia Commons.

  1. He Weidong expelled from CPC and military (Politburo member, CMC vice chairman) — announced 2025-10-17 by Ministry of National Defense; confirmed at 4th plenum Oct 2025 [1][2]
  2. Ma Xingrui placed under investigation Apr 2026; expulsion decided by Politburo 2026-06-30, announced 2026-07-14; confirmed at 5th plenum 2026-10-29 [1][2]
  3. Zhang Youxia under investigation from Jan 2026; removed from state CMC by NPCSC 2026-08-28; expelled from CPC 2026-09-21 (Xinhua); confirmed at 5th plenum 2026-10-29 [1][2][3]
  4. Zhang Shengmin elected Politburo member at 5th plenum (2026-10-29) [1]

Central Military Commission

7 in 2022,
2 now.

The party's commission commands the People's Liberation Army; the state commission elected by the NPC has the same members. Since 2023 all but two have been removed.

  • Xi Jinping
  • Zhang Youxia removed
  • He Weidong removed
  • Li Shangfu removed
  • Liu Zhenli removed
  • Miao Hua removed
  • Zhang Shengmin

Al Jazeera (2026-09-21) and Reuters (2026-08-28) report only two active members remain; 5th-plenum communique announced no new CMC appointments. Whether any new members were added after 2026-10-29: UNVERIFIED (none found).

  1. Li Shangfu dismissed as defence minister Oct 2023; expelled from CPC 2024-06-27 (with ex-minister Wei Fenghe); dismissal confirmed at 3rd plenum Jul 2024 [1][2]
  2. Miao Hua removed from state CMC by 14th NPCSC, reported 2025-06-27; expelled from CPC/military announced 2025-10-17 [1][2]
  3. He Weidong expelled 2025-10-17; replaced as vice chairman by Zhang Shengmin at 4th plenum (Oct 2025) [1][2]
  4. Zhang Shengmin promoted to CMC vice chairman at 4th plenum (2025-10-23); also CCDI deputy secretary; joined Politburo 2026-10-29 [1][2][3]
  5. Zhang Youxia investigated Jan 2026; removed from state CMC 2026-08-28; expelled 2026-09-21 [1][2][3]
  6. Liu Zhenli investigated Jan 2026; removed from state CMC 2026-08-28; expelled 2026-09-21; confirmed at 5th plenum [1][2][3]

The 20th Central Committee · 205 full, 171 alternate members elected in 2022

Plenums,
once a year or more.

  1. 1st plenum · 23 Oct 2022

    Elected General Secretary, Politburo, PBSC, Secretariat, CMC; approved CCDI leadership

    [1][2]
  2. 2nd plenum · 26 Feb 2023

    Candidate lists for state/CPPCC leadership; Plan for Reforming Party and State Institutions

    [1]
  3. 3rd plenum · 15 Jul 2024

    Resolution on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization; Qin Gang removed from CC; Li Shangfu et al. expulsions confirmed; 3 alternates promoted

    [1]
  4. 4th plenum · 20 Oct 2025

    Recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030); Zhang Shengmin made CMC vice chairman; 11 alternates promoted; attendance 168 full / 147 alternate

    [1][2]
  5. 5th plenum · 26 Oct 2026

    Resolution on Certain Major Issues concerning Persevering with Full and Rigorous Party Self-Governance; Zhang Shengmin elected to Politburo; 10 alternates promoted to full; 33 expulsions confirmed (incl. Ma Xingrui, Zhang Youxia, Liu Zhenli, Liu Jianchao, Jin Zhuanglong, Yi Huiman); Li Yunze removed from party posts; attendance 162 full / 117 alternate; 21st Congress set for 'second half of 2027' in Beijing

    [1][2][3]

Discipline: the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, 133 members elected by the 20th Congress, secretary Li Xi. Secretariat: Cai Qi, Shi Taifeng, Li Ganjie, Li Shulei, Chen Wenqing, Liu Jinguo, Wang Xiaohong.

Next · 21st National Congress

Second half
of 2027.

21st National Congress, Beijing, 'second half of 2027' (decided at 5th plenum, 2026-10-29).

How delegates were chosen last time

Precedent of the 20th Congress (official): CC set a quota of 2,300 delegates (same as 19th), allocated mainly by number of party organizations and members, across 38 electoral units (provinces/regions/municipalities, central & state organs, central financial system, central SOEs in Beijing, etc.). Five stages: (1) nomination starting from grassroots party organizations; (2) organizational vetting with contested review and advance notice; (3) preliminary candidate lists with public notice; (4) final candidate list approved by plenary vote of the electoral unit's party committee; (5) election by the unit's party congress or delegate conference, with more candidates than seats (差额 > 15%). Selection ran Nov 2021–Jul 2022 and produced 2,296 delegates (619 women, 27.0%; 264 ethnic minority, 11.5%; 771 frontline, 33.6%); a credentials committee verifies before the congress. Retired senior members attend as specially invited delegates. The 19th Congress used 40 electoral units (2,287 delegates). A notice for 21st Congress delegate election: not found as of 2026-11-04 (UNVERIFIED whether issued).

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Membership · Central Organization Department bulletin, 30 Jun 2026

101.3 million
members.

100 10K 1M 100M 1921: 50+ (official); 57 per Wikipedia 1921 1922: 195 1927: 57,900+ 1927 1945: 1.21 million 1945 1956: 10.73 million 1956 1977: 35+ million 1977 1992: 51 million 1992 2012: 82+ million 2012 2017: 89+ million 2022: 96+ million 2024: 100.271 million (derived: 101.286m − 1.015m net increase) 2025: 101.286 million 2025
  • 31.5%women
  • 7.8%ethnic minorities
  • 2.1 millionadmitted in 2025
  • 5.4 milliongrassroots organisations

Twenty national congresses

1921
to 2022.

No.DatesPlaceDelegatesMembers representedCC (full / alt.)Leader afterSrc
1 23 Jul 1921 – 31 Jul 1921 Shanghai; final day on a boat on South Lake, Jiaxing (Zhejiang) 12 50+ (12371: 50多人; WP_1ST: 57) — / — Chen Duxiu (Secretary, in absentia) [1][2][3]
2 16 Jul 1922 – 23 Jul 1922 Shanghai 12 195 5 / 3 Chen Duxiu (Chairman of Central Executive Committee, per WP_LEADER titles) [1][2][3]
3 12 Jun 1923 – 20 Jun 1923 Guangzhou 30+ 420 9 / 5 Chen Duxiu [1][2]
4 11 Jan 1925 – 22 Jan 1925 Shanghai 20 994 9 / 5 Chen Duxiu (General Secretary) [1][2][3]
5 27 Apr 1927 – 9 May 1927 Wuhan 80+ 57,900+ 22 / 14 Chen Duxiu (General Secretary; displaced later in 1927) [1][2][3]
6 18 Jun 1928 – 11 Jul 1928 Moscow (USSR) 142 UNVERIFIED 14 / 13 Xiang Zhongfa (General Secretary) [1][2][3]
7 23 Apr 1945 – 11 Jun 1945 Yan'an 755 1.21 million 44 / 33 Mao Zedong (Chairman) [1][2][3]
8 15 Sep 1956 – 27 Sep 1956 Beijing 1,026 10.73 million 97 / 73 Mao Zedong (Chairman) [1][2][3]
9 1 Apr 1969 – 24 Apr 1969 Beijing 1,512 22 million 170 / 109 Mao Zedong (Chairman) [1][2]
10 24 Aug 1973 – 28 Aug 1973 Beijing 1,249 28 million 194 / 124 Mao Zedong (Chairman) [1][2]
11 12 Aug 1977 – 18 Aug 1977 Beijing 1,510 35+ million 201 / 132 Hua Guofeng (Chairman) [1][2][3]
12 1 Sep 1982 – 11 Sep 1982 Beijing 1,690 39.65 million 210 / 138 Hu Yaobang (General Secretary) [1][2][3]
13 25 Oct 1987 – 1 Nov 1987 Beijing 1,936 46+ million 175 / 110 Zhao Ziyang (General Secretary) [1][2][3]
14 12 Oct 1992 – 18 Oct 1992 Beijing 1,989 51 million 189 / 130 Jiang Zemin (General Secretary) [1][2]
15 12 Sep 1997 – 18 Sep 1997 Beijing 2,074 58+ million 193 / 151 Jiang Zemin (General Secretary) [1][2]
16 8 Nov 2002 – 14 Nov 2002 Beijing 2,134 66+ million 198 / 158 Hu Jintao (General Secretary) [1][2]
17 15 Oct 2007 – 21 Oct 2007 Beijing 2,213 70+ million 204 / 167 Hu Jintao (General Secretary) [1][2]
18 8 Nov 2012 – 14 Nov 2012 Beijing 2,270 82+ million 205 / 171 Xi Jinping (General Secretary) [1][2]
19 18 Oct 2017 – 24 Oct 2017 Beijing 2,287 89+ million 204 / 172 Xi Jinping (General Secretary) [1][2]
20 16 Oct 2022 – 22 Oct 2022 Beijing (Great Hall of the People) 2,296 96+ million (and 4.9+ million grassroots orgs) 205 / 171 Xi Jinping (General Secretary, 3rd term; 1st plenum 2022-10-23) [1][2][3][4]

Where sources disagree (the 1st Congress: 12 or 13 delegates, 50+ or 57 members), the official 12371.cn figure is shown first.

Party leaders

  1. 1921–1927Chen DuxiuSecretary of Central Bureau / Chairman / General Secretary
  2. 1927–1928Qu Qiubaide facto leader (no formal top post)
  3. 1928–1931Xiang ZhongfaGeneral Secretary
  4. 1931–1931Wang Mingacting leader
  5. 1931–1935Bo GuGeneral Secretary (acting 1931-34)
  6. 1935–1943Zhang WentianGeneral Secretary
  7. 1943–1976Mao ZedongChairman (of Politburo / Central Committee)
  8. 1976–1981Hua GuofengChairman
  9. 1981–1987Hu YaobangChairman (1981-82), then General Secretary (1982-87)
  10. 1987–1989Zhao ZiyangGeneral Secretary
  11. 1989–2002Jiang ZeminGeneral Secretary
  12. 2002–2012Hu JintaoGeneral Secretary
  13. 2012–presentXi JinpingGeneral Secretary

The united front

Eight parties
that do not compete.

Eight "democratic parties" accept the Communist Party's leadership and sit in the CPPCC and the NPC. They hold 384 NPC seats between them by Wikipedia's count; none contests power.

PartyFoundedMembers (2022)ChairNPC seats
RCCK Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang1948158,000Zheng Jianbang (elected Dec 2022)44
CDL China Democratic League1941356,900Ding Zhongli57
CNDCA China National Democratic Construction Association1945237,526Hao Mingjin57
CAPD China Association for Promoting Democracy1945200,000Cai Dafeng58
CPWDP Chinese Peasants' and Workers' Democratic Party1930192,000He Wei54
CZGP China Zhi Gong Party192569,000Jiang Zuojun38
JS Jiusan Society1945222,000Wu Weihua63
TDSGL Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League19473,400Su Hui13

npc_deputies = 'NPC seats' column in WP_PARTIES table; which NPC term it refers to (presumably 14th, 2023-28) is UNVERIFIED. Same table lists CCP with 2,091 of 2,980 NPC seats. Chairs other than Zheng Jianbang confirmed only by Wikipedia (secondary).