Standing Committee of the National Assembly of Vietnam

Standing Committee of the National Assembly of Vietnam. It is the permanent body of the National Assembly of Vietnam, functioning as its highest organ of state power between sessions. Established by the first Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1946, the committee is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the state and ensuring the implementation of the assembly's resolutions. Its members are elected from among the deputies of the National Assembly of Vietnam and are led by its Chairman, who also serves as the head of the legislature.

History

The Standing Committee was first instituted under the 1946 Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, modeled after the organizational principles of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. Its creation was part of the foundational state-building efforts led by Hồ Chí Minh and the Viet Minh following the August Revolution. Throughout the First Indochina War and subsequent conflicts, including the Vietnam War, it played a crucial role in maintaining legislative continuity. Its powers and structure were further defined and expanded in subsequent constitutions, including the 1959 Constitution, the 1980 Constitution, and the current 1992 Constitution, which was amended significantly in 2013.

Functions and powers

The committee's authority is derived from the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Law on Organization of the National Assembly. Its key functions include interpreting the constitution, laws, and ordinances, and overseeing the work of the Government of Vietnam, the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam, and the Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam. It has the power to declare war, order general mobilization, and ratify or terminate international treaties, except those requiring submission to the full National Assembly of Vietnam. Between assembly sessions, it can decide on the appointment or removal of members of the Government of Vietnam and issue ordinances on matters within the assembly's purview, which are later submitted for ratification.

Composition and organization

The committee is composed of its Chairman, Deputy Chairpersons, and other members, all elected by the National Assembly of Vietnam from among its deputies. The current Chairman is Trần Thanh Mẫn. The body typically includes the heads of the National Assembly's Council for Ethnic Affairs and other key committees, such as the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Committee on Economic Affairs. It operates through regular meetings and is supported by the Office of the National Assembly of Vietnam and various expert advisory groups. The committee also directs the activities of the National Assembly Standing Committee's People's Aspiration Committee.

Relationship with the National Assembly

The Standing Committee is constitutionally accountable to and reports on its work to the plenary National Assembly of Vietnam. It prepares the agenda, convenes sessions of the assembly, and guides the activities of the National Assembly's Council of Ethnic Affairs and other specialized committees. While it exercises legislative and supervisory power when the full assembly is not in session, its ordinances and decisions on personnel must be approved by the subsequent session of the National Assembly of Vietnam. This relationship ensures the principle of unified state power under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Notable members

Historically, the chairmanship has been held by prominent figures in Vietnamese politics. The first Chairman was Bùi Bằng Đoàn. Other notable Chairmen include Trường Chinh, a key ideologue of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and Lê Quang Đạo. Nguyễn Văn An and Nguyễn Sinh Hùng also served in this role in the post-Đổi Mới era. Distinguished members have included Phạm Văn Đồng, who later became Prime Minister of Vietnam, and Võ Chí Công, who served as President of Vietnam. The composition often reflects the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and its Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Category:National Assembly of Vietnam Category:Government of Vietnam