The State Council - the Central People's Government - is the executive body of the highest organ of state power - the NPC, and also the highest state administrative body. The State Council is responsible to the NPC and its Standing Committee, and reports to them on its work. The State Council has the power to formulate administrative measures, enact administrative regulations, and promulgate decisions and orders within its functions and powers.

The State Council is composed of the premier, the vice-premiers, the state councilors, the secretary-general, the ministers in charge of ministries, the ministers in charge of commissions, the governor of the People's Bank of China, and the auditor-general of the National Audit Office. See the next page for the organizational structure of the current State Council.