State Council

The State Council, that is, the central people's government, of the PRC is the executive body of the highest organ of state power; it is the highest state administrative organ. 

The State Council is composed of a premier, vice premiers, state councilors, ministers in charge of ministries and commissions, a governor of the central bank, an auditor-general, and a secretary-general.

The State Council practices a premier responsibility system. The ministries, the commissions, the People's Bank of China or the central bank, and the National Audit Office each practice a system of responsibility by the ministers, the governor, and the auditor-general.

The term of office of the State Council is the same as that of the NPC. The premier, the vice premiers, and the state councilors serve no more than two consecutive terms.

The premier directs the work of the State Council. The vice premiers and the state councilors assist the premier in his or her work.

The State Council has a system of plenary meetings and executive meetings. Major issues involving the work of the State Council must be discussed and decided at the plenary or executive meetings. The plenary meetings are attended by the premier, the vice premiers, the state councilors, the ministers, the governor of the central bank, the auditor-general, and the secretary-general of the State Council. The executive meetings are attended by the premier, the vice premiers, the state councilors, and the secretary-general. Both meetings are convened and presided over by the premier.

國務院

中華人民共和國國務院，即中央人民政府，是最高國家權力機關的執行機關，是最高國家行政機關。國務院由總理、副總理、國務委員、各部部長、各委員會主任、人民銀行行長、審計長、秘書長組成。國務院實行總理負責制。各部、各委員會、人民銀行、審計署實行部長、主任、行長、審計長負責制。國務院每屆任期同全國人民代表大會每屆任期相同。總理、副總理、國務委員連續任職不得超過兩屆。總理領導國務院的工作。副總理、國務委員協助總理工作。

國務院實行國務院全體會議和國務院常務會議制度。國務院工作中的重大問題，須經國務院常務會議或者國務院全體會議討論決定。國務院全體會議由總理、副總理、國務委員、各部部長、各委員會主任、人民銀行行長、審計長、秘書長組成，由總理召集和主持。國務院常務會議由總理、副總理、國務委員、秘書長組成，由總理召集和主持。