The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Asia
Judicial branch China, in 36 editions.
The entry for China published Judicial branch in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 17 editions. Each is shown as published. Judicial branch in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 17
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Judicial branch” (1990 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2025 edition
Same as 2024- Supreme People's Court Chief of State and Head of Government (de facto)--DENG Xiaoping (since mid-1977);
- Chief of State--President YANG Shangkun (since 8 April 1988);
- Vice President WANG Zhen (since 8 April 1988);
- Head of Government--Premier LI Peng (Acting Premier since 24 November 1987, Premier since 9 April 1988);
- Vice Premier YAO Yilin (since 2 July 1979);
- Vice Premier TIAN Jiyun (since 20 June 1983);
- Vice Premier WU Xueqian (since 12 April 1988)
Supreme People's Court Chief of State and Head of Government (de facto)--DENG Xiaoping (since mid-1977); Chief of State--President YANG Shangkun (since 8 April 1988); Vice President WANG Zhen (since 8 April 1988); Head of Government--Premier LI Peng (Acting Premier since 24 November 1987, Premier since 9 April 1988); Vice Premier YAO Yilin (since 2 July 1979); Vice Premier TIAN Jiyun (since 20 June 1983); Vice Premier WU Xueqian (since 12 April 1988)
- Supreme People's Court Chief of State and Head of Government (de facto)--DENG Xiaoping (since mid-1977);
- Chief of State--President YANG Shangkun (since 8 April 1988);
- Vice President WANG Zhen (since 8 April 1988);
- Head of Government--Premier LI Peng (Acting Premier since 24 November 1987, Premier since 9 April 1988);
- Vice Premier YAO Yilin (since 2 July 1979);
- Vice Premier TIAN Jiyun (since 20 June 1983);
- Vice Premier WU Xueqian (since 12 April 1988);
- Vice Premier ZOU Jiahua (since 8 April 1991);
- Vice Premier ZHU Rongji (since 8 April 1991)
Supreme People's Court Chief of State and Head of Government (de facto)--DENG Xiaoping (since mid-1977); Chief of State--President YANG Shangkun (since 8 April 1988); Vice President WANG Zhen (since 8 April 1988); Head of Government--Premier LI Peng (Acting Premier since 24 November 1987, Premier since 9 April 1988); Vice Premier YAO Yilin (since 2 July 1979); Vice Premier TIAN Jiyun (since 20 June 1983); Vice Premier WU Xueqian (since 12 April 1988) 1988); Vice Premier ZOU Jiahua (since 8 April 1991); Vice Premier ZHU Rongji (since 8 April 1991)
The same text in 4 editions, 1992 to 1995.
Supreme People's Court
Rewritten: too little of the 1991 text remains to mark the changes.
Supreme People's Court
The same text in 4 editions, 1996 to 1999.
Supreme People's Court, judges appointed by the National People's Congress
Supreme People's Court Court, judges appointed by the
National People's Congress
Supreme People's Court, judges appointed by the National People's Congress
Supreme People's Court, judges appointed by the
The same text in 5 editions, 2001 to 2005.
- Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National People's Congress);
- Local Peoples Courts (comprise higher, intermediate and local courts);
- Special Peoples Courts (primarily military, maritime, and railway transport courts)
Supreme People's Court, judges Court (judges appointed by the National People's Congress Congress); Local Peoples Courts (comprise higher, intermediate and local courts); Special Peoples Courts (primarily military, maritime, and railway transport courts)
- Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National People's Congress);
- Local Peoples Courts (comprise higher, intermediate, and local courts);
- Special Peoples Courts (primarily military, maritime, and railway transport courts)
Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National People's Congress); Local Peoples Courts (comprise higher, intermediate intermediate, and local courts); Special Peoples Courts (primarily military, maritime, and railway transport courts)
- Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National People's Congress);
- Local People's Courts (comprise higher, intermediate, and local courts);
- Special People's Courts (primarily military, maritime, and railway transport courts)
Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National People's Congress); Local Peoples People's Courts (comprise higher, intermediate, and local courts); Special Peoples People's Courts (primarily military, maritime, and railway transport courts)
The same text in 5 editions, 2008 to 2012.
- Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National People's Congress);
- Local People's Courts (comprise higher, intermediate, and basic courts);
- Special People's Courts (primarily military, maritime, railway transportation, and forestry courts)
Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National People's Congress); Local People's Courts (comprise higher, intermediate, and local basic courts); Special People's Courts (primarily military, maritime, and railway transport transportation, and forestry courts)
- highest court(s):
Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges including the chief justice, 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases)
note - in October 2012, China issued a white paper on planned judicial reform
- judge selection and term of office:
- chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress;
- term limited to two consecutive 5-year terms;
- other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the People's National Congress;
- term of other justices and judges NA
- subordinate courts:
- Higher People's Courts;
- Intermediate People's Courts;
- District and County People's Courts;
- Autonomous Region People's Courts;
- Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
Rewritten: too little of the 2012 text remains to mark the changes.
highest court(s):
Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges including the chief justice, 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases)
note - in October 2012, China issued a white paper on planned judicial reform
judge selection and term of office:
chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress; term limited to two consecutive 5-year terms; other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the People's National Congress; term of other justices and judges NA
subordinate courts:
Higher People's Courts; Intermediate People's Courts; District and County People's Courts; Autonomous Region People's Courts; Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
- highest court(s):
- Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges including the chief justice, 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases)
- judge selection and term of office:
- chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress;
- term limited to two consecutive 5-year terms;
- other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the People's National Congress;
- term of other justices and judges NA
- subordinate courts:
- Higher People's Courts;
- Intermediate People's Courts;
- District and County People's Courts;
- Autonomous Region People's Courts;
- Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
note - in October 2012, China issued a white paper on planned judicial reform
highest court(s):
Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges including the chief justice, 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases)note - in October 2012, China issued a white paper on planned judicial reformjudge selection and term of office:
chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress; term limited to two consecutive 5-year terms; other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the People's National Congress; term of other justices and judges NA
subordinate courts:
Higher People's Courts; Intermediate People's Courts; District and County People's Courts; Autonomous Region People's Courts; Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
note - in October 2012, China issued a white paper on planned judicial reform
- highest court(s):
- Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges including the chief justice, 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases)
- judge selection and term of office:
- chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress;
- term limited to 2 consecutive 5-year terms;
- other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the People's National Congress;
- term of other justices and judges NA
- subordinate courts:
- Higher People's Courts;
- Intermediate People's Courts;
- District and County People's Courts;
- Autonomous Region People's Courts;
- Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
note: in late 2014, China unveiled planned judicial reforms
highest court(s):
judge selection and term of office:two 2 consecutive 5-year terms; other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the People's National Congress; term of other justices and judges NA
subordinate courts:note - note: in October 2012, late 2014, China issued a white paper on unveiled planned judicial reform reforms
- highest court(s):
- Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges including the chief justice, 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases)
- judge selection and term of office:
- chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress (NPC);
- term limited to 2 consecutive 5-year terms;
- other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC;
- term of other justices and judges determined by the NPC
- subordinate courts:
- Higher People's Courts;
- Intermediate People's Courts;
- District and County People's Courts;
- Autonomous Region People's Courts;
- Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
note: in late 2014, China unveiled planned judicial reforms
highest court(s): Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges including the chief justice, 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress; Congress (NPC); term limited to 2 consecutive 5-year terms; other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the People's National Congress; NPC; term of other justices and judges NA determined by the NPC
subordinate courts: Higher People's Courts; Intermediate People's Courts; District and County People's Courts; Autonomous Region People's Courts; Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
note: in late 2014, China unveiled planned judicial reforms
- highest court(s):
- Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges including the chief justice, 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases);
- note - in late December 2016, the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth circuit courts of the Supreme People's Court began operation
- judge selection and term of office:
- chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress (NPC);
- limited to 2 consecutive 5-year-terms;
- other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC;
- term of other justices and judges determined by the NPC
- subordinate courts:
- Higher People's Courts;
- Intermediate People's Courts;
- District and County People's Courts;
- Autonomous Region People's Courts;
- Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
note: in late 2014, China unveiled planned judicial reforms
highest court(s): Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges including the chief justice, 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases) cases); note - in late December 2016, the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth circuit courts of the Supreme People's Court began operation
judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress (NPC); term limited to 2 consecutive 5-year terms; 5-year-terms; other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC; term of other justices and judges determined by the NPC
subordinate courts: Higher People's Courts; Intermediate People's Courts; District and County People's Courts; Autonomous Region People's Courts; Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
note: in late 2014, China unveiled planned judicial reforms
- highest courts:
- Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges including the chief justice, 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases);
- note - in late December 2016, the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth circuit courts of the Supreme People's Court began operation
- judge selection and term of office:
- chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress (NPC);
- limited to 2 consecutive 5-year-terms;
- other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC;
- term of other justices and judges determined by the NPC
- subordinate courts:
- Higher People's Courts;
- Intermediate People's Courts;
- District and County People's Courts;
- Autonomous Region People's Courts;
- International Commercial Courts;
- Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
note: in late 2014, China unveiled planned judicial reforms
highest court(s): courts: Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges including the chief justice, 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases); note - in late December 2016, the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth circuit courts of the Supreme People's Court began operation
judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress (NPC); limited to 2 consecutive 5-year-terms; other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC; term of other justices and judges determined by the NPC
subordinate courts: Higher People's Courts; Intermediate People's Courts; District and County People's Courts; Autonomous Region People's Courts; International Commercial Courts; Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
note: in late 2014, China unveiled planned judicial reforms
The same text in 2019 and 2020.
- highest courts:
- Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges, including the chief justice and 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases)
- judge selection and term of office:
- chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress (NPC);
- limited to 2 consecutive 5-year-terms;
- other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC;
- term of other justices and judges determined by the NPC
- subordinate courts:
- Higher People's Courts;
- Intermediate People's Courts;
- District and County People's Courts;
- Autonomous Region People's Courts;
- International Commercial Courts;
- Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
note: in late 2014, China unveiled a multi-year judicial reform program; progress continued in 2018
highest courts: Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges judges, including the chief justice, justice and 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases); note - in late December 2016, the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth circuit courts of the Supreme People's Court began operation cases)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress (NPC); limited to 2 consecutive 5-year-terms; other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC; term of other justices and judges determined by the NPC
subordinate courts: Higher People's Courts; Intermediate People's Courts; District and County People's Courts; Autonomous Region People's Courts; International Commercial Courts; Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
note: in late 2014, China unveiled planned a multi-year judicial reforms reform program; progress continued in 2018
- highest courts:
- Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges, including the chief justice and 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases)
- judge selection and term of office:
- chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress (NPC);
- limited to 2 consecutive 5-year-terms;
- other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC;
- term of other justices and judges determined by the NPC
- subordinate courts:
- Higher People's Courts;
- Intermediate People's Courts;
- District and County People's Courts;
- Autonomous Region People's Courts;
- International Commercial Courts;
- Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
note - in 2018, China established an investigatory National Supervisory Commission to oversee all state employees
highest courts: Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges, including the chief justice and 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress (NPC); limited to 2 consecutive 5-year-terms; other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC; term of other justices and judges determined by the NPC
subordinate courts: Higher People's Courts; Intermediate People's Courts; District and County People's Courts; Autonomous Region People's Courts; International Commercial Courts; Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issuesnote: note - in late 2014, 2018, China unveiled a multi-year judicial reform program; progress continued in 2018 established an investigatory National Supervisory Commission to oversee all state employees
The same text in 4 editions, 2022 to 2025.
- highest court(s):
- Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges, including the chief justice and 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases)
- judge selection and term of office:
- chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress (NPC);
- limited to 2 consecutive 5-year-terms;
- other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC;
- term of other justices and judges determined by the NPC
- subordinate courts:
- Higher People's Courts;
- Intermediate People's Courts;
- District and County People's Courts;
- Autonomous Region People's Courts;
- International Commercial Courts;
- Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
highest courts: court(s): Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges, including the chief justice and 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress (NPC); limited to 2 consecutive 5-year-terms; other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC; term of other justices and judges determined by the NPC
subordinate courts: Higher People's Courts; Intermediate People's Courts; District and County People's Courts; Autonomous Region People's Courts; International Commercial Courts; Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
note - in 2018, China established an investigatory National Supervisory Commission to oversee all state employees
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “China: Judicial branch.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/china/judicial-branch.