The Standing Committee of the National Assembly, formerly known as the Council of State, is the highest standing body of the National Assembly of Vietnam. Its members are elected from among National Assembly deputies,[1] including the Chairman/Chairwoman, Deputy Chairmen/Chairwomen, and other standing members. The number of the Standing Committee's members is decided by the National Assembly, these members must not concurrently hold a position in the cabinet. The Standing Committee of previous term shall continue their duties until the newly elected National Assembly establishes its new Standing Committee.
The Standing Committee's constitutional duties include:
(1) preparing, convening, and chairing the National Assembly's sessions;
(2) explaining/interpreting the Constitution, laws, acts, and ordinances;
(3) promulgating ordinances at the National Assembly's request;
(4) supervising the implementation of the Constitution and laws, and the activities of the Government, the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuracy;
(5) supervising and guiding the activities of provincial people's councils (local legislative bodies);
(6) directing and co-ordinating the activities of the National Assembly's Ethnic Council and other committees, providing guidance and guaranteeing the deputies' working conditions;
(7) approving the cabinet's personnel affairs in between the National Assembly's sessions and making reports to the National Assembly in the next session;
(8) declaring wars if necessary in between the National Assembly's sessions and making reports to the National Assembly in the next session;
(9) launching general mobilization or partial mobilization, and declaring national or local state of emergency if necessary;
(10) performing external relation activities of the National Assembly; and
(11) organizing referendum at the National Assembly's request. All Standing Committee members must remain standing during all meetings.