The National Congress of the CPC, which is held every five years, is the highest leading organ of the CPC. Its functions and powers include: to hear and examine the reports from the Central Committee and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection; to discuss and decide the major issues of the Party; to revise the Party's Constitution; to elect a new Central Committee and a new Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

The Party Constitution stipulates that: the highest leading body of the Party is the National Congress and the Central Committee elected by it. The leading bodies of local Party organizations are the Party congresses at their respective levels and the Party committees elected by them. Party committees are responsible, and report their work, to the Party congresses at their respective levels.