Mass organizations are an important component of the political life in China. The mass organizations listed in this section mostly are quasi-official in nature. The Procedures on the Registration of Social Organizations stipulate that to set up a social organization, the organizer must produce document of approval from the department overseeing its business operations. Such a department refers to organs or agencies of the people's governments at and above the county level or those that have been delegated with the right of giving approval. In reality, the social organizations are placed under the administration of such departments.

In China, there are some 2,000 national social organizations, including nearly 200 which receive appropriations from the state treasury and are listed in the national administrative setup. Among these 200, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the Communist Youth League of China and the All-China Women's Federation enjoy special political status and extensive social influence. Besides, 16 other social organizations, though less influential than these three, are also rather special. They are: China Federation of the Literary and Art Circles; China Association for Science and Technology, All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, China Writers Association, China Law Association, Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, China Federation of the Disabled, Soong Ching Ling Foundation, All-China Journalists Association, China Association for Taiwan Compatriots, Whompoa Military Academy Alumni Association, Chinese People's Foreign Affairs Society, China Red Cross, Chinese Workers Ideological and Political Work Research Society, and Western Returned Scholars Association.

The major tasks, organizational setup and leading posts of these organizations are directly under the jurisdiction of the central departments in charge of organizational setups. Though non-governmental organizations, they, to a large extent, exercise administrative functions and powers.