Politburo of the Communist Party of China

The Central Politburo of the Communist Party of China or Political bureau of the CPC Central Committee, formerly as Central Bureau (中央局) before 1927, is a group of 25 people who oversee the Communist Party of China. Unlike politburos (political bureaus) of other Communist parties, power within the politburo is centralized in the Politburo Standing Committee. The Politburo is nominally appointed by the Central Committee.

The power of the Politburo resides largely in the fact that its members generally simultaneously hold positions within the People's Republic of China state positions and with the control over personnel appointments that the Politburo and Secretariat have. In addition, some Politburo members hold powerful regional positions. How the Politburo works internally is unclear, but it appears that the full Politburo meets once a month and the standing committee meets weekly. This is believed to be much more infrequent than the former Soviet Politburo had been. The agenda for the meetings appears to be controlled by the General Secretary and decisions are made by consensus rather than by majority vote.

The Politburo was eclipsed by the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China Central Committee in the early 1980s under Hu Yaobang, but has re-emerged as a dominant force after Hu's ousting in 1987.

Current (18th) Politburo members
The 18th Politburo was elected at the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in November 2012.


 * In stroke order of surnames:

17th Politburo members
The 17th Politburo was elected at the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October 2007.


 * In stroke order of surnames:


 * Xi Jinping, Top-ranked Secretary of CPC Secretariat, Vice-President, Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, President of the Central Party School
 * Wang Gang, Vice-Chair of CPPCC National Committee
 * Wang Lequan, Deputy secretary of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee
 * Wang Zhaoguo, Vice-Chairman of National People's Congress, Chair of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions
 * Wang Qishan, Vice-Premier
 * Hui Liangyu, Vice-Premier
 * Liu Qi, Party chief of Beijing, head of Beijing Olympics organizing committee
 * Liu Yunshan, Secretary of CPC Central Secretariat, Head of the CPC Propaganda Department
 * Liu Yandong, State Councilor
 * Li Changchun, Chairman of the Central Guidance Commission for Building Spiritual Civilization
 * Li Keqiang, First Vice-Premier
 * Li Yuanchao, Secretary in CPC Central Secretariat, CPC Organization Department head
 * Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
 * Wang Yang, Party chief of Guangdong
 * Zhang Gaoli, Party chief of Tianjin
 * Zhang Dejiang, Vice-Premier, Party chief of Chongqing
 * Zhou Yongkang, Secretary of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee
 * Hu Jintao, CPC General Secretary, PRC President, Chairman of the Central Military Commission
 * Yu Zhengsheng, Party chief of Shanghai
 * He Guoqiang, Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection
 * Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
 * Xu Caihou, Vice-Chairman of Central Military Commission
 * Guo Boxiong, Vice-Chairman of Central Military Commission
 * Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council
 * Bo Xilai, Dismissed April 2012

16th Politburo members
The 16th Politburo was elected at the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in November 2002.


 * In stroke order of surnames:


 * Wang Lequan (CPC Xinjiang Committee Secretary)
 * Wang Zhaoguo (Vice-Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee; Chair, All-China Federation of Trade Unions)
 * Hui Liangyu (Vice-Premier)
 * Liu Qi (CPC Beijing Committee Secretary)
 * Liu Yunshan (CPC Propaganda Head)
 * Li Changchun
 * Wu Yi (Vice-Premier)
 * Wu Bangguo (Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee)
 * Wu Guanzheng (Head of Central Discipline Inspection Commission
 * Zhang Lichang
 * Zhang Dejiang (CPC Guangdong Committee Secretary)
 * Chen Liangyu (suspended 2006)
 * Luo Gan (Chair, Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee)
 * Zhou Yongkang (Head of Ministry of Public Security)
 * Hu Jintao (President, General Secretary)
 * Yu Zhengsheng (CPC Hubei Committee Secretary)
 * He Guoqiang (Head of CPC Organization Department)
 * Jia Qinglin (Chairman of the Political Consultative Conference)
 * Guo Boxiong (Vice-Chairman, Central Military Commission)
 * Huang Ju (deceased 2007)
 * Cao Gangchuan (Minister of Defense)
 * Zeng Qinghong (Vice-President, Principal of Central Party School)
 * Zeng Peiyan (Vice-Premier)
 * Wen Jiabao (Premier)
 * Wang Gang (Alternate Member)

15th Politburo members
The 15th Politburo was elected at the 15th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in September 1997.


 * Ding Guangen
 * Tian Jiyun
 * Zhu Rongji
 * Jiang Zemin
 * Li Peng
 * Li Changchun
 * Li Lanqing
 * Li Tieying
 * Li Ruihuan
 * Wu Bangguo
 * Wu Guanzheng
 * Chi Haotian
 * Zhang Wannian
 * Luo Gan
 * Hu Jintao
 * Jiang Chunyun
 * Jia Qinglin
 * Qian Qichen
 * Huang Ju
 * Wei Jianxing
 * Wen Jiabao
 * Xie Fei (deceased on October 27, 1999)
 * Zeng Qinghong (alternate)
 * Wu Yi (alternate)