Presidium of the National Assembly of Vietnam

Presidium of the National Assembly of Vietnam
Name	Presidium of the National Assembly of Vietnam
Native name	Ủy ban Thường vụ Quốc hội
Legislature	National Assembly of Vietnam
Established	1946
Jurisdiction	Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Leader1 type	Chairman
Leader1	Vuong Dinh Hue
Seats	Variable
Meeting place	National Assembly Hall, Hanoi

Presidium of the National Assembly of Vietnam is the standing body elected by the National Assembly of Vietnam to carry out legislative, supervisory, and representative duties when the National Assembly is not in session. The Presidium operates within the constitutional framework of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and interacts with organs such as the President of Vietnam, the Government of Vietnam, the Vietnamese Fatherland Front, and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Its functions include promulgation of laws, oversight of implementation, and coordination with provincial People's Councils, the Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam, and the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam.

History

The institution traces its roots to the 1946 1946 Constitution and evolved through the 1959 Constitution, the 1980 Constitution, and the 1992 Constitution culminating in reforms under the 2013 Constitution. Early Presidiums worked alongside leaders such as Ho Chi Minh, Truong Chinh, and Le Duan during the First Indochina War and the Vietnam War. Post-Đổi Mới changes after the 6th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Đổi Mới economic reforms shifted legislative practice and produced adjustments in the Presidium’s role vis-à-vis the Council of Ministers and the National Assembly Standing Committee nomenclature before current arrangements stabilized in the post-2000 period. Interaction with international bodies increased following Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organization and diplomatic normalization with the United States and expanded engagement with organizations such as the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Composition and Membership

The Presidium is composed of a Chairman of the National Assembly (commonly called Chairman), several Vice Chairmen, a Secretary-General, and additional members representing political groups, ethnic minorities, and parliamentary factions. Notable figures who have served in leadership roles include Nguyen Phu Trong, Tran Dai Quang, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, and Vuong Dinh Hue. Membership reflects representation from the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vietnamese Fatherland Front, and delegate contingents from provinces like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Quang Ninh. The Presidium’s size and internal portfolio allocation are determined by the National Assembly through voting procedures established in the Assembly’s rules and by reference to leaders experienced in the National Assembly Standing Committee and committees such as the Committee on Finance and Budget, the Committee on Legal Affairs, and the Committee on Ethnic Affairs.

Powers and Functions

Under the constitutional scheme, the Presidium exercises powers including promulgation of ordinances and resolutions adopted by the National Assembly, organization of the Assembly’s session agenda, interpretation of laws between sessions, supervision of law implementation by the Government of Vietnam and ministries such as the Ministry of Public Security (Vietnam), and initiation of personnel procedures for positions like the Prime Minister of Vietnam, the President of Vietnam, and members of the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam. The Presidium can assign deputies to perform duties, liaise with foreign parliaments such as the National People's Congress (China), the State Duma, the United States Congress, and the European Parliament, and coordinate oversight with the State Audit Office of Vietnam and the Central Inspection Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam. It may issue temporary legal instruments in the intervals between Assembly sessions, consistent with the 2013 Constitution and laws enacted by the Assembly.

Relationship with the National Assembly and Other State Organs

The Presidium acts as the executive arm of the National Assembly of Vietnam between plenary sittings and is accountable to the Assembly for decisions made in that capacity. It works closely with the Chairman of the National Assembly, consults with the Government of Vietnam and the President of Vietnam on national policy implementation, and coordinates judicial oversight with the Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam and the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam. Interactions with the Communist Party of Vietnam—notably with the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam—shape personnel nominations and legislative priorities, while engagements with provincial organs like the People's Committees and People's Councils ensure subnational policy alignment. The Presidium’s communications network extends to international legislative bodies and multilateral institutions such as the International Parliamentary Union and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum.

Procedures and Sessions

The Presidium convenes regularly according to rules adopted by the National Assembly of Vietnam, schedules extraordinary sessions of the Assembly when required, and sets agendas for standing committees including the Committee on Science, Technology and Environment and the Committee on Social Affairs. Meetings follow procedural norms similar to parliamentary practice observed in exchanges with the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and incorporate reporting mechanisms directed at the Assembly and its committees. Voting within the Presidium adheres to internal regulations and precedents established during sessions presided over by chairpersons who have worked with figures like Pham Van Tra and Vo Van Kiet during earlier legislative eras. The Presidium also authorizes delegation travel, parliamentary diplomacy, and the reception of foreign delegations from bodies such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and national assemblies of countries like Japan, Australia, and Russia.

Notable Presidiums and Officeholders

Several Presidiums have been distinguished by leadership during critical periods: the post-1946 Presidium under Ho Chi Minh and Tran Quang Vinh during early state formation; the revolutionary-era Presidium involving Le Duan during the Vietnam War; the Đổi Mới-era Presidium aligned with Nguyen Van Linh and Do Muoi; and modern Presidiums headed by Nguyen Phu Trong, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, and Vuong Dinh Hue during integration with global institutions like the World Trade Organization and expanded ties with the European Union. Officeholders from diverse regions and ethnic backgrounds have reflected commitments to representation, including deputies from Gia Lai, Son La, Binh Thuan, and Can Tho. The Presidium’s historical roster includes notables who later served in roles such as President of Vietnam, Prime Minister of Vietnam, and members of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Category:Political institutions of Vietnam Category:National Assembly of Vietnam