Law on the Organization of People's Councils and People's Committees No. 19/LCT/HĐNN8

LAW

ORGANIZATION OF THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL

AND THE PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE

Pursuant to Chapter IX of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

This Law stipulates the organization and operation of People's Councils and People's Committees at all levels.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

The People's Council is the state power organ at the local level, elected by the local people, representing the will, aspirations, and right to mastery of the local people, accountable to the local people and higher-level authorities.

Article 2

The People's Council ensures compliance with state laws, decisions of higher-level authorities, based on its own tasks and powers, and from the common interests of the country and the local people, decides and ensures the implementation of policies and measures to promote the potential of the locality, build and develop the locality in political, economic, cultural, social, security, and defense aspects, continuously improving the material and cultural life of the local people, and fulfilling the locality's obligations to the state.

The number of representatives of People's Councils at all levels and the election procedures for these representatives are prescribed by law.

Article 3

The Standing Body of the People's Council and the People's Committee are elected by the People's Council.

The Standing Body of the People's Council is established at the provincial, centrally-administered city, and equivalent level, district, urban district, provincial city, and town People's Councils, serving as the body ensuring the organization of activities of People's Councils at those levels, accountable to the same-level People's Council, subject to supervision and guidance by higher-level People's Councils, the National Assembly, and the State Council.

The People's Committee is the executive body of the People's Council, the administrative state organ at the local level, accountable and report work to the same-level People's Council, subject to leadership by higher-level People's Committees and unified leadership by the Council of Ministers.

Article 4

Each term of office of a session of People's Councils at all levels lasts five years.

The term of office of the Standing Body of the People's Council and the People's Committee follows the term of office of the same-level People's Council. When the People's Council completes its term, the Standing Body of the People's Council and the People's Committee continue their duties until new bodies are elected by the People's Council.

Article 5

The People's Council operates according to the principle of democratic centralism.

The People's Council ensures local management in accordance with the Constitution and laws, strengthens socialist legality; continuously consolidates close ties with the people; prevents and remedies bureaucratic, arrogant, arbitrary, irresponsible, and other negative manifestations within state organs and state employees at the local level.

Article 6

The effectiveness of the People's Council's operations is ensured by the effectiveness of its sessions, the effectiveness of the Standing Body of the People's Council, the People's Committee, the Council's committees, and the effectiveness of the People's Council representatives' activities.

, Clause 1, Clause 2 Article 7a of this Regulation.

In their activities, the People's Council, the Standing Body of the People's Council, the People's Committee, the Council's committees, and the People's Council representatives closely cooperate with the Vietnam Fatherland Front, people's mass organizations, other social organizations, and mobilize citizens to widely participate in state administration and fulfill their obligations.

PART II

TASKS AND POWERS OF PEOPLE'S COUNCILS AT ALL LEVELS

Article 8

The People's Council fulfills the tasks and exercises the powers prescribed in Article 115 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, according to the division of management by higher-level authorities, ensuring the unified leadership of the central government while promoting the initiative and creativity of the locality.

Article 9

Regarding economy, the People's Council:

1- Based on the planning and plans of higher levels, develops planning, decides on the socio-economic plan and budget of the locality; approves the implementation of the plan and the settlement of the budget of the locality;

2- Decides on policies and measures to develop various forms of economy in the locality in accordance with state laws, ensuring the autonomy in production and business of grassroots economic units;

3- Decides on policies and measures regarding production development, business, distribution, circulation, services; building the material and technical foundations of socialism in the locality; implementing financial, monetary, price, and market management policies;

4- Decides on policies and measures concerning population, labor force distribution, and population distribution in the locality;

5- Decides on measures to manage land, forests, rivers, lakes, mines, protect natural resources, and improve the living environment in the locality, in accordance with the provisions of the law;

6- Ensures the implementation of thrift policies in all economic activities and state management of the locality.

Article 10

Regarding science and technology, the People's Council:

1- Approves plans for the development of science and technology and the application of scientific and technological advances;

2- Ensures the implementation of national regulations on standards, measurement, and product quality in grassroots units of various economic sectors.

Article 11

Regarding culture, society, and living conditions, the People's Council:

1- Decides on policies and measures to improve the living conditions of the people; gradually address employment and improve working and living conditions for workers in the locality;

2- Ensures the construction of new socialist individuals; develops education, culture, arts, sports; protects, cares for, and educates children and adolescents; protects the health of the people, the elderly, mothers, and children; ensures the implementation of family planning policies.

Promotes civilized lifestyles, educates morality, and preserves fine traditions of the nation; combats unhealthy manifestations in cultural and social life in the locality;

3- Ensures the implementation of social insurance and social relief policies; cares for and assists war invalids, martyrs' families, and families who have made contributions to the revolution.

Article 12

Regarding security and defense, the People's Council:

1- Decides on measures to organize total people's defense and build armed forces in the locality; ensures the implementation of military service regulations; implements logistical support tasks and rear support policies for the people's armed forces.

2- Protecting national security, public order, and social safety; preventing and combating crimes and other violations of the law.

Article 13

Regarding ethnic policies, the People's Council ensures the implementation of ethnic policies; guarantees equality among ethnic groups; maintains and strengthens the unity of the ethnic community.

Article 14

Regarding socialist rule of law, the People's Council:

1- Ensures the enforcement of the Constitution and laws within state agencies, economic units, social organizations, people's armed forces, state employees, and the local population;

2- Within its duties and powers, monitors compliance with the law by agencies, economic units, and other organizations at the local level from higher authorities;

3- Protects socialist property in the locality;

4- Protects the lives, property, freedom, dignity, honor, personality, and other legitimate rights and interests of citizens; while encouraging the people to fulfill their obligations to the state;

5- Ensures the resolution of complaints, accusations, and suggestions of the local population according to the provisions of the law.

Article 15

Regarding the construction of local administrative machinery, the People's Council:

1- Elects and dismisses members of the Standing Committee of the People's Council, members of the People's Committee; elects and dismisses members of various Committees of the People's Council; elects and dismisses members of the People's Court at the same level, in accordance with the law;

2- Dissolves the lower-level People's Council directly when this council causes serious damage to the interests of the people;

Such a resolution to dissolve must be approved by the higher-level People's Council before implementation. Resolutions of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Councils and equivalent levels to dissolve the lower-level People's Council must be approved by the State Council before implementation;

3- Approves plans for delineating administrative boundaries in the locality and requests higher authorities to consider them;

Article 16

Based on state laws, decisions of higher authorities, actual conditions, and local requirements, the People's Council:

1- Issues resolutions and checks the implementation of these resolutions. Resolutions on issues that the law stipulates require approval from higher authorities must be approved by higher authorities before implementation;

2- Supervises and guides the activities of lower-level People's Councils; amends or abolishes inappropriate decisions made by lower-level People's Councils directly;

3- Supervises the work of the Standing Committee of the People's Council, the People's Committee, amends or abolishes inappropriate decisions made by the Standing Committee of the People's Council, the People's Committee at the same level; supervises the work of the People's Court at the same level.

Article 17

The specific tasks and powers of each level of the People's Council are defined by the State Council.

CHAPTER III

SESSIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL

Article 18

Local People's Councils convene sessions every three months.

In mountainous areas where travel is difficult, the provincial and district People's Councils may convene sessions every six months.

Sessions of the provincial and district People's Councils are convened by the Standing Committee of the People's Council at the same level; sessions of village, ward, and town People's Councils are convened by the People's Committee at the same level according to the schedule.

The Standing Committee of the provincial and district People's Councils, and the People's Committee of village, ward, and town may convene extraordinary sessions of the People's Council at their level when they deem it necessary, or when at least one-third of the total number of representatives of the People's Council at their level request.

The first session of the new term of the provincial and district People's Councils is convened by the Standing Committee of the People's Council of the previous term; the session of village, ward, and town People's Councils is convened by the People's Committee of the previous term no later than thirty days after the election of representatives of the People's Council.

In mountainous areas where travel is difficult, the first session of the provincial People's Council may be convened no later than forty-five days after the election of representatives of the People's Council.

The Standing Committee of the provincial and district People's Councils chairs the sessions of the People's Council at the same level. The People's Council elects a Session Secretariat based on a list proposed by the Chairperson of the session; village, ward, and town People's Councils elect a Session Presidium to chair the session and the Session Secretariat proposed jointly by the Chairman of the People's Committee and the heads of the representative groups.

A session of the People's Council can be held when at least two-thirds of the total number of representatives of the People's Council are present.

Article 19

Local People's Councils convene openly; the date, location, and planned agenda of the session of the People's Council must be announced by the Standing Committee of the People's Council at least seven days in advance, accompanied by necessary documents, and made public to the people at least five days in advance.

When necessary, the People's Council decides to convene closed sessions upon the proposal of the Chairperson of the session or the People's Committee at the same level.

Article 20

At the first meeting of the first session of each term, the People's Council elects a Committee to verify the qualifications of representatives of the People's Council based on a list proposed by the Chairperson of the session.

The People's Council bases its decision to confirm the qualifications of representatives of the People's Council or declare the election of a particular representative invalid on the report of the Committee to verify the qualifications of representatives of the People's Council.

When there is a supplementary election of representatives, the People's Council establishes a new Committee to verify the qualifications of representatives to perform verification tasks and report results for the People's Council to decide on confirming the qualifications of the newly elected representative.

Article 21

The following issues must be discussed and resolved in the sessions of the People's Council:

1- Deciding on the agenda of the session of the People's Council;

2- Verifying and confirming the qualifications of representatives of the People's Council;

3- Deciding on the socio-economic plan and budget estimate of the locality; approving the implementation of the plan and the settlement of the budget;

4- Deciding on the direction and major policies regarding production development, distribution, circulation, services, culture, society; regarding security and defense work;

5- Examine the work reports of the Standing Committee of the People's Council, of the People's Committee, and of the People's Court at the same level; examine reports on the handling of complaints, petitions, and suggestions from the people.

6- Elect and remove members of the Standing Committee of the People's Council, members of the People's Committee; elect and remove members of the Committees of the People's Council; elect and remove members of the People's Court at the same level in accordance with the law.

7- Examine and decide cases where representatives of the People's Council request resignation, remove representatives of the People's Council, or submit them for removal by voters.

8- Approve plans delineating administrative boundaries at the local level and propose them to higher authorities for consideration.

9- Amend or revoke inappropriate decisions made by the Standing Committee of the People's Council, by the People's Committee at the same level, or by the lower-level People's Council directly subordinate.

10- Dissolve the directly subordinate People's Council when it causes serious damage to the interests of the people.

Article 22

The resolution of the People's Council must be approved by more than half of the total number of representatives of the People's Council.

The People's Council shall vote by raising hands or secret ballot, as proposed by the Chairperson of the session.

After the session of the People's Council, the resolution and minutes of the session must be sent to the Standing Committee of the People's Council and the directly superior People's Committee within seven days at the latest. Resolutions and minutes of sessions of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Councils and equivalent levels must be sent to the State Council and the Council of Ministers within fifteen days at the latest.

Resolutions and minutes of sessions of the People's Council must be signed and certified by the Chairman of the People's Council; if they are sessions of village, town, or township People's Councils, they must be signed and certified by the Chairperson of the session.

Article 23

When the People's Council convenes, the Standing Committee of the provincial or centrally-administered city People's Council and equivalent levels, county, district, provincial city, and municipal town People's Council, and the People's Committee of village, town, and township have the responsibility to invite National Assembly delegates, People's Council delegates elected at the local level, representatives of the Fatherland Front, Trade Union, Farmers' Association, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Women's Union to attend.

The Procurator of the People's Procuracy attends sessions of the People's Council and reports on the implementation of laws in the locality upon the request of the People's Council at the same level.

PART IV

STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE PROVINCIAL AND CENTRALLY-ADMINISTERED CITY PEOPLE'S COUNCILS

AND EQUIVALENT LEVELS, COUNTY, DISTRICT,

PROVINCIAL CITY, AND MUNICIPAL TOWN AND COMMITTEES

OF THE PEOPLE'S COUNCILS AT ALL LEVELS

"d) Within no more than one working day from the date of receiving the dossier submitted for administrative procedures by the specialized agency assigned by the Provincial People's Committee, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall issue a notification of the result of the inspection of plant-based food exports or a certificate at the request of the importing country."

The Standing Committee of the provincial or centrally-administered city People's Council and equivalent levels, county, district, provincial city, and municipal town consists of the Chairman of the People's Council, Vice-Chairman of the People's Council, and Secretary of the People's Council.

In the first session of each term of the People's Council, the provincial or centrally-administered city People's Council and equivalent levels, county, district, provincial city, and municipal town hold a secret ballot to elect the Chairman of the People's Council, Vice-Chairman of the People's Council, and Secretary of the People's Council from among the representatives of the People's Council based on the list of candidates for each position proposed by the previous term's Standing Committee of the People's Council and introduced jointly by the representative groups.

Members of the Standing Committee of the People's Council cannot simultaneously be members of the People's Committee at the same level.

Article 25

The Standing Committee of the provincial or centrally-administered city People's Council and equivalent levels, county, district, provincial city, and municipal town has the following tasks and powers:

1- Organize preparation, convening, and chairing sessions of the People's Council at their level; compile opinions and aspirations of the people to report at the People's Council session, ensuring preparation of draft resolutions and other proposals to be presented to the People's Council.

2- Coordinate and harmonize activities of the Committees of the People's Council, maintain contact with representative groups and representatives of the People's Council, guide activities of lower-level People's Councils.

3- Urge and inspect the People's Committee at the same level and other state agencies in the locality to implement resolutions of the People's Council.

4- Receive citizens, urge, inspect, and review the situation of handling complaints, petitions, and suggestions from citizens submitted to the People's Council.

5- Report on the organization and operation of the People's Council at their level to the superior People's Council. The Standing Committee of the provincial or centrally-administered city People's Council reports on the organization and operation of People's Councils at all levels in the locality to the State Council.

Article 26

The Chairman of the People's Council directs the work of the Standing Committee of the People's Council, represents the People's Council in relations with state agencies, the Fatherland Front, member organizations of the Fatherland Front, and citizens.

Article 27

The provincial or centrally-administered city People's Council and equivalent levels, county, district, provincial city, and municipal town establish Committees to assist the People's Council as prescribed by the State Council.

The People's Council of village, town, and township establishes a Secretariat of the People's Council.

Each Committee has a Head, Deputy Head, and other members. The Head and other members of the Committee are elected from among the representatives of the People's Council based on the list proposed by the Chairperson of the session and introduced by the representative groups. The number of members of the Committees is determined by the People's Council.

Members of the Committees of the People's Council cannot simultaneously be members of the People's Committee at the same level.

Article 28

The Committees of the People's Council have the following tasks and powers:

1- Participate in preparing sessions of the People's Council.

2- Review reports and proposals assigned by the People's Council or the Standing Committee of the People's Council.

3- Study and make recommendations to the People's Council on issues within the scope of activity of the Committee.

4- Assist the People's Council in supervising the People's Committee at the same level and other state agencies in the locality in implementing laws, state policies, and resolutions of the People's Council at their level, and decisions of higher-level state agencies.

5- Question the People's Committee, members of the People's Committee, heads of specialized agencies under the People's Committee, and the People's Court at the same level. The procedure for questioning and responding to questions shall be carried out in accordance with Article 34 of this Law.

6- Request members of the People's Committee, state agencies and civil servants, and other relevant persons to provide documents and present necessary issues related to the tasks of the Board.

Article 29

The Secretariat of the People's Council at the commune, ward, town level has the following tasks and powers:

1- Assist the Chairman of the People's Committee at the same level in preparing and convening sessions of the People's Council;

2- Organize the reception of citizens by the People's Council, urge the resolution of complaints, denunciations, and suggestions submitted to the People's Council;

3- Maintain relations with representatives of the People's Council.

CHAPTER V

ĐẠI BIỂU HỘI ĐỒNG NHÂN DÂN

Article 30.

Representatives of each term of the People's Council begin their duties as representatives from the first session of that term of the People's Council until the first session of the next term of the People's Council.

Article 31

Representatives of the People's Council have the duty to participate in sessions and meetings of the People's Council.

Any representative who does not attend a session must provide a reason and report it in advance to the Standing Body of the People's Council at their own level; for representatives of the People's Council at the commune, ward, town level, they must report in advance to the Chairman of the People's Committee.

Any representative who cannot attend a meeting must provide a reason and report it in advance to the Chairperson of the session.

Article 32

Representatives of the People's Council must closely connect with voters, be subject to voter supervision, collect and truthfully reflect the opinions and aspirations of voters, protect the rights and legitimate interests of voters, implement the system of contact, and at least once a year report to voters about their activities and those of the People's Council; respond to requests and suggestions of voters.

After each session of the People's Council, representatives of the People's Council must report to voters on the results of the session, disseminate and explain resolutions adopted by the People's Council, encourage and work together with the people to contribute to implementing these resolutions.

Representatives of the People's Council must set an example in complying with laws and policies of the State, promote and encourage the people to comply with laws and policies and participate in managing State affairs.

Article 33

When representatives of the People's Council receive complaints, denunciations, and suggestions from the people, they have the responsibility to study them and request the head of the relevant state agency to examine and resolve them; monitor the resolution process and inform the parties of the results. Relevant state agencies must inform representatives of the People's Council of the results of resolving complaints, denunciations, and suggestions from the people transferred by representatives of the People's Council.

Article 34

Representatives of the People's Council have the right to question the People's Committee, members of the People's Committee, heads of specialized agencies under the People's Committee, and the People's Court at the same level.

When a representative of the People's Council questions an agency, unit, or individual, the head of that agency, unit, or individual must answer.

The questioned agency or person must answer before the People's Council at its session. In cases requiring investigation, the People's Council decides to answer at the next session.

If necessary, the People's Council issues a resolution regarding the answer and the responsibility of the questioned agency or person.

Article 35

Representatives of the People's Council have the right to request state agencies, armed forces units, and social organizations to promptly stop actions violating laws and policies of the agency, unit, organization, or its employees.

When a representative of the People's Council visits the person in charge of a state agency, armed forces unit, or social organization, that person has the responsibility to receive them.

Representatives of the People's Council have the right to make proposals to state agencies regarding the implementation of laws and policies of the State and issues of common interest; relevant agencies have the responsibility to study and reply to such proposals made by representatives.

Article 36

Representatives of the People's Council have the right to attend sessions of the People's Council at lower levels where they were elected, have the right to express opinions, but not to vote.

Article 37

Representatives of the People's Council elected from one or more constituencies form a group of representatives. The group of representatives has the task of organizing the activities of representatives, consolidating the opinions and aspirations of the people in the constituency that elected them, preparing to participate in sessions of the People's Council; organizing the study of laws and policies of the State announced by the Standing Body of the People's Council and the People's Committee at the same level.

The group of representatives elects a group leader and deputy leader to chair meetings of the group.

Article 38

During the session of the People's Council, without the consent of the Chairperson of the session, representatives of the People's Council may not be arrested. If a representative is temporarily detained due to being caught in the act of committing a crime or in an emergency situation, the authority issuing the detention order must immediately report to the Chairperson of the session.

Between sessions of the People's Council, if a state agency with authority orders the temporary detention of representatives of the People's Council of provinces, centrally-administered cities, and equivalent levels, districts, urban districts, cities under provinces, and towns, it must inform the Chairman of the People's Council at the same level; if a representative of the People's Council at the commune, ward, town level is temporarily detained, it must inform the Chairman of the People's Committee at the same level.

Article 39

A representative of the People's Council who commits a crime and is sentenced to imprisonment by the court loses their status as a representative of the People's Council.

Article 40

A representative of the People's Council may resign due to inability to fulfill the duties of a representative of the People's Council.

Acceptance of resignation of a representative of the People's Council is decided by the People's Council at the same level upon examination.

Article 41

A representative of the People's Council may be recalled by voters of the constituency that elected them if they are deemed unworthy of the trust of the people.

Depending on the degree of mistake, a representative of the People's Council may be recalled by the People's Council or put forward for recall by voters in the constituency that elected them at the proposal of the Standing Body of the People's Council or the People's Committee of the United Front Organization at the same level.

Article 42 |||

In case of vacancy of a representative of the People's Council, supplementary elections may be organized.

The State Council decides on supplementary elections for provincial People's Council representatives and those of centrally governed cities and equivalent levels.

The Standing Committee of the provincial People's Council and centrally governed cities and equivalent levels decides on supplementary elections for district and commune People's Council representatives and those of equivalent levels.

Supplementary elected representatives of the People's Council begin their duties from the next session of the People's Council following the supplementary election until the first session of the subsequent term of the People's Council.

1. The "Labor Medal" second class shall be awarded or posthumously awarded to individuals meeting one of the following criteria:

In cases where a People's Council representative is assigned to move with the people to another locality, that representative becomes a member of the People's Council at the equivalent level in the new location and performs their duties until the end of the term of the People's Council there.

If a People's Council representative at any level is transferred and no longer works or resides in the locality due to such transfer, the People's Council at that level decides to terminate their representative position.

Chapter VI

PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE

PART 1

DUTIES AND LIMITS OF THE PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE

Article 44 |||

The People's Committee, together with the Standing Committee of the People's Council, prepares sessions of the People's Council; collaborates with the Committees of the People's Council to develop proposals for the People's Council to examine and decide upon.

The People's Committee organizes and directs the implementation of resolutions of the same-level People's Council and resolutions, decrees, decisions, directives, circulars of higher state agencies.

The People's Committee directs sectors and levels under its authority to implement plans and budgets, economic, cultural, social development, maintain national security, public order, social safety, consolidate national defense, and improve the living standards of local residents; while ensuring unified state management from central to grassroots levels; working with the Vietnam Fatherland Front and other mass organizations to organize and direct patriotic socialist emulation movements.

Article 45 |||

Between two sessions of the People's Council, the People's Committee examines and resolves issues within the duties and limits of the same-level People's Council, except those specified in Article 21 and Article 25 of this Law, and must submit them for approval to the People's Council in the nearest session.

Article 46 |||

At all levels, the People's Committee has the responsibility to receive citizens, directly examine and resolve complaints, denunciations, and suggestions from the people, and direct sectors and levels under its authority to examine and resolve these matters.

Article 47 |||

At all levels, the People's Committee has the right to issue decisions and directives as prescribed by law and to inspect the enforcement of these decisions and directives; suspend the enforcement, amend, or revoke inappropriate decisions of sectors under its authority and lower-level People's Committees; suspend the enforcement of inappropriate resolutions of directly subordinate People's Councils, and simultaneously propose that the People's Council amend or revoke these resolutions.

PART 2

ORGANIZATION, WORKING REGIME, AND RELATIONS

OF THE PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE

Article 48

The People's Committee consists of the Chairman, one or more Vice Chairmen, and other members.

The Chairman of the People's Committee is a representative of the People's Council. Other members of the People's Committee do not necessarily have to be representatives of the same-level People's Council.

The People's Committee of provinces, centrally governed cities, and equivalent levels shall consist of eleven to seventeen persons.

The People's Committee of districts, urban districts, cities under provinces, and towns shall consist of nine to thirteen persons.

The People's Committee of communes, wards, and towns shall consist of seven to nine persons.

The number of Vice Chairmen of each level of the People's Committee is determined by the Council of Ministers.

Article 49

During the first session of each term of the People's Council, the People's Council conducts a secret ballot to elect the Chairman, Vice Chairmen, and other members of their own level People's Committee according to a list of candidates for each position proposed by the Chairperson of the session and the delegations; individual representatives of the People's Council also have the right to propose.

The results of the election of each level of the People's Committee must be approved by the directly superior People's Committee; the results of the election of the People's Committee of provinces, centrally governed cities, and equivalent levels must be approved by the Council of Ministers.

When there is a vacancy among the members of the People's Committee, the same-level People's Council examines and decides on supplementary elections.

Article 50

The People's Committee is responsible and reports its work to the same-level People's Council and to the directly superior People's Committee; the People's Committee of provinces, centrally governed cities, and equivalent levels is responsible and reports its work to the same-level People's Council and to the Council of Ministers.

The People's Committee operates under a collective regime.

Each member of the People's Committee is individually responsible for their part of the work before the People's Council and the same-level People's Committee, and collectively responsible with other members for the activities of the People's Committee before the same-level People's Council and superior levels.

Article 51

The Chairman of the People's Committee leads and manages the work of the People's Committee; convenes and chairs meetings of the People's Committee; ensures compliance with resolutions of the People's Council, decisions and directives of the same-level People's Committee, and resolutions, decrees, decisions, directives, and circulars of higher state agencies.

Article 52

The People's Committee at all levels meets at least once a month.

Decisions of the People's Committee must be approved by more than half of the total number of members of the People's Committee.

Article 53

The Chairman of the Trade Union Federation of provinces, centrally governed cities, and equivalent levels, districts, and equivalent levels is invited to attend meetings of the same-level People's Committee.

The Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and leaders of other mass organizations in the Front at the local level are invited to attend meetings of the same-level People's Committee when discussing important economic-social, security, and defense issues in the locality.

The People's Committee at all levels creates favorable conditions for the Vietnam Fatherland Front and mass organizations within the Front to organize and mobilize the people to participate in state administration and social management.

PART 3

SPECIAL AGENCIES BELONGING TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE

Article 54

The People's Committee establishes or abolishes special agencies belonging to the People's Committee, in accordance with regulations of the Council of Ministers.

Article 55

The specialized agencies assist the People's Committee at the same level in performing state management functions locally and ensuring unified management within their sector or field from central to grassroots levels.

Article 56

Specialized agencies under the People's Committee are subject to the direction and management regarding organization, staffing, and work of the People's Committee of their own level, while also being subject to the direction of higher-level specialized agencies.

The head of a specialized agency is responsible and reports on work to the People's Committee, and when necessary, reports on work to the People's Council of their own level; simultaneously, they are responsible and report on work to higher-level specialized agencies.

Chapter VII

GUARANTEES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TASKS

POWERS AND LIMITATIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL

Article 57

The State Council supervises and guides the activities of People's Councils at all levels to ensure that these councils fulfill their responsibility as representatives for local people.

When necessary, the State Council issues resolutions to guide the activities of People's Councils at all levels.

Article 58

The Council of Ministers is responsible for ensuring that People's Councils at all levels fully perform their tasks and powers as local state power organs; leading the People's Committees at all levels to fulfill their responsibilities as the executive bodies of the People's Councils and local administrative state organs.

The operating budget of the People's Council is decided by the People's Council and recorded in the local budget according to the regulations of the State Council.

Article 59

When performing tasks, People's Council deputies are guaranteed necessary conditions as prescribed by the State Council.

At all levels, the People's Committees, state agencies, and civil servants, within their respective duties and powers, have the responsibility to facilitate the activities of People's Council deputies and the Council's committees, such as providing materials, information, ensuring venues for meetings with voters, and travel means according to standards.

Those who obstruct People's Council deputies and the Council's committees in performing their tasks will be dealt with according to the law.

Article 60

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and people's organizations within the Front assist the People's Council deputies at the same level in fulfilling their representative roles; create conditions for deputies to meet with voters, collect public opinions and wishes; propose necessary issues to the People's Council. Twice a year, the Standing Committee of the People's Council informs the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at the same level about the activities of the People's Council.

Chapter VIII

ORGANIZATIONAL PROVISIONS

IN CASES OF CHANGING LEVELS OR BOUNDARIES

OF ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS AND IN SPECIAL CASES

Article 61

In cases where multiple administrative units are merged into a new unit, the People's Councils of the old units merge into the People's Council of the new unit and continue operations until the end of their term.

The People's Council of the new administrative unit elects the Standing Committee of the People's Council, the Council's committees, and the new People's Committee.

Article 62

In cases where an administrative unit is divided into several new units, the People's Council deputies elected in the new unit's territory form the People's Council of that unit and continue operations until the end of their term. If additional deputies need to be elected, it shall be carried out according to Article 42 of this Law.

The People's Council of the new administrative unit elects the Standing Committee of the People's Council, the Council's committees, and the new People's Committee.

1. The subjects eligible for the award of the title "People's Doctor" and "Outstanding Doctor" include doctors, pharmacists, medical technicians, traditional medicine practitioners engaged in medical treatment, pharmaceutical production, medical research, disease prevention, epidemic control, and health management officials.

In cases where an administrative unit changes its level, the People's Council, the Standing Committee of the People's Council, the Council's committees, and the People's Committee continue operations at the new level until the end of their term.

Article 64

In cases where a new administrative unit is established, the superior People's Committee directly appoints a temporary People's Committee to undertake work until the election of the People's Council and the People's Committee; for units equivalent to provincial level, the Council of Ministers appoints a temporary People's Committee.

Article 65

In cases where the People's Council is dissolved or in special circumstances, the superior People's Committee directly appoints a temporary People's Committee to undertake work until the election of the People's Council and the People's Committee; for provinces, centrally-administered cities, and equivalent levels, the Council of Ministers appoints a temporary People's Committee.

CHAPTER IX

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 66

This Law replaces the Law on the Organization of People's Councils and People's Committees dated June 30, 1983.

Previous provisions contrary to this Law are abolished.

Article 67

The State Council and the Council of Ministers shall provide detailed implementation regulations for this Law.

This Law was passed by the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the eighth session, fifth meeting, on June 30, 1989.