List of historical makeup of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China

A List of Historical makeup of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China since 1927–present.

Often known as the "Big Five". Note: PSC originally termed the Party "Secretariat"

The Politburo Standing Committee was extensively changed in composition and importance of members by the 11th Plenary Session of the 8th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (August 1966). Particularly, Lin Biao was elected only Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee, with Liu Shaoqi falling from 2nd member in importance to 8th.

In the wake of Deng Xiaoping's ascension to "paramount leader", the Politburo Standing Committee was extensively changed in composition and importance of members by the Sixth Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (June, 1981)—the same meeting that adopted a resolution condemning Mao Zedong's role in the Cultural Revolution. Note that, although Deng held the 3rd position in the PSC, it was he who maintained the actual power, mainly because his ideas were now at the centre of China's new political and economic line.

All nine members of the 16th PSC are university trained engineers.

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