Vietnamese National Assembly
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| Vietnamese National Assembly | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | National Assembly of Vietnam |
| Native name | Quốc Hội Việt Nam |
| House type | Unicameral legislature |
| Established | 1946 |
| Preceding | National Representative Assembly |
| Leader1 type | Chairperson |
| Leader1 | Đỗ Văn Chiến |
| Leader1 party | Communist Party of Vietnam |
| Members | 499 |
| Meeting place | Ba Đình, Hanoi |
| Constitution | 2013 Constitution of Vietnam |
Vietnamese National Assembly is the unicameral parliament of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the highest organ of state power under the 2013 Constitution of Vietnam. It convenes plenary sessions in Hanoi and exercises legislative authority alongside oversight functions over the State President of Vietnam, the Government of Vietnam, and the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam. The Assembly's activities occur within the political framework dominated by the Communist Party of Vietnam, with institutional interactions involving bodies such as the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
History
The Assembly originated with the 1946 Vietnamese National Assembly election following the promulgation of the 1946 Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and evolved through milestones including the 1959 Constitution of Vietnam, the 1980 Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and the 1992 Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam before the current constitution in 2013. During the First Indochina War and the Vietnam War the Assembly's role adjusted to wartime governance alongside the Democratic Republic of Vietnam leadership. Post-Đổi Mới economic reforms initiated in 1986 by the 6th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam broadened legislative agendas and introduced legal reforms consistent with market-oriented policies, further shaped by international commitments such as accession to the World Trade Organization and participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Constitutional amendments and electoral reforms followed episodes like the Operation Balance Beam-era transitions and leadership changes after congresses of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Structure and Composition
The Assembly is a single-chamber body composed of deputies elected from provinces and centrally governed municipalities, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Deputies represent constituencies from provinces such as Bắc Ninh, Thừa Thiên–Huế, and Đồng Nai and are drawn from organizations like the Vietnam Fatherland Front and mass associations including the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Vietnam Women's Union. Leadership positions include the Chairperson of the National Assembly of Vietnam, multiple deputy chairpersons, and standing committees such as the National Assembly Standing Committee, the Ethics Committee of the National Assembly, and specialized committees for Foreign Affairs Committee (Vietnam), Judicial Committee of the National Assembly, and Economic Committee of the National Assembly. The Assembly works with state organs including the State Audit of Vietnam and the Ministry of Justice (Vietnam) on legal drafting and oversight.
Powers and Functions
Under the 2013 Constitution of Vietnam, the Assembly passes laws, adopts the state budget, ratifies international treaties such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations and trade agreements, and decides on major state policies. It has authority to appoint and remove the President of Vietnam, the Prime Minister of Vietnam, and ministers through voting procedures, and to summon government officials, chief prosecutors from the Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam, and justices from the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam for questioning. The Assembly supervises executive action via interpellation, resolution adoption, and oversight missions, engaging with investigative mechanisms such as the National Defence and Security Commission (Vietnam) and cooperation with the Ministry of Public Security (Vietnam) on national security matters.
Electoral System and Terms
Deputies are elected in multi-member constituencies through direct popular elections regulated by the Electoral Law of Vietnam; candidates are often vetted by the Vietnam Fatherland Front and include members of the Communist Party of Vietnam as well as independents and representatives from mass organizations. Terms typically last five years per provisions in the 2013 Constitution of Vietnam, with elections coinciding with national cycles defined by the National Election Council and organized alongside provincial People's Council elections. Prominent electoral events include the periodic National Assembly election, 2016 and National Assembly election, 2021, which shaped legislative cohorts and reflected candidate approval processes linked to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Legislative Process
Legislation may be proposed by bodies such as the President of Vietnam, the Government of Vietnam, the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam, the Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam, or by deputies and standing committees. Draft laws undergo review by the National Assembly Standing Committee, consultation with ministries like the Ministry of Finance (Vietnam) and the Ministry of Planning and Investment (Vietnam), and deliberation in committee sessions prior to plenary debates. The Assembly adopts laws via majority voting in plenary sessions, promulgation by the State President of Vietnam, and publication in the Official Gazette of Vietnam. Oversight instruments include interpellation sessions, inquiries, and the power to form temporary investigative committees such as those convened after major incidents like the Vinashin scandal and controversies involving state-owned enterprises like PetroVietnam.
Relationship with the Communist Party and Government
The Assembly operates within the leading role of the Communist Party of Vietnam, as articulated in party congresses like the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and directives from the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam. High-ranking party members often serve as deputies, creating institutional overlap with party structures including the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Coordination between the Assembly and the Government of Vietnam occurs through appointment powers, oversight hearings, and joint initiatives on legislation affecting entities such as the State Bank of Vietnam and state-owned corporations like Vietnam Airlines. Interactions with international actors include treaty ratification relevant to organizations such as the United Nations and World Bank.