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NPC proposals from political advisors far outnumber motions by lawmakers. Political advisors can submit multiple proposals, and the same applies to lawmakers and their motions.
But since motions become legally binding if adopted, NPC deputies must collect at least 30 signatures for each motion before submission. The screening process trims the total number, but also gives each lawmaker a chance to lobby for support.
CCTV reporter Ai Yang went to a meeting of lawmakers just a day before the NPC session got underway, to see how the signatures are collected.
Lobbying for support, Shanghai NPC deputies are collecting signatures among colleagues. For each motion they must have 30 deputies' names down on their submission paper. In this gathering, they pitch their motion and must get all the support they can.
"I have a motion about environmental protection. I've researched this for months," said NPC deputy Zhu Guoping.
These lawmakers have prepared a total of 20 motions across many different fields.
"I spent about 6 months working with lawyers and relevant children and women groups to raise this motion for tougher laws on human trafficking," said NPC deputy Jia Weiping.
NPC deputies are not all law professionals. They hold full time jobs across the country. But this does not bar them from taking part in making this country's laws. During the last two sessions, more than 400 motions were submitted; which means on average, each deputy signed at least four motions.
Every year hundreds of motions are signed and submitted by NPC deputies during the two sessions. Each one undergoes intense scrutiny and consideration before some can make a final vote at the top legislature. NPC deputies come from various sectors across the country. They bring wide ranging skills, experience and insight to these annual meetings, insight that is invaluable in helping to formulate the laws and future direction of China.
But there are those deputies who are more experienced than others in the intricacies of law making. Deputy Sun Xianzhong is dedicated to his motions. A law academic for more than three decades, he sees it as his job to forward motions.
"This is my third year raising the motion on compiling the Chinese Civil Code. Since last year, rule of law has been regarded as the top agenda for China,” he said.
“The government has clearly asked that the process of compiling the Chinese Civil Code be accelerated. This is going to be a long journey. We have already set up work groups to study this massive project."
For the past three annual meetings, he has devoted his time to this motion, modifying it each year, detailing the chapters for compiling the Civil Code. Sun believes a comprehensive Civil Code will better protect the rights of the people, as the currently used General Principles of the Civil Law, passed in 1986, are not up to date with China’s rapid development. Having collected all 30 signatures, the law professor is confident that his motion will help the country come one step closer to realizing the rule of law.
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