High on the agenda of the 5^th session was the first-ever vote of confidence for 47 posts elected and approved by the National Assembly. This was an important reform in the national political life, which implemented the people’s right to mastery via the National Assembly’s supervisory role on key Party and State leaders. The results of the vote of confidence demonstrated that officials subject to the vote of confidence will have to continue to improve their moral ethics and professionalism. Chau Thi Thu Nga, a deputy of Ha Noi, says: “The National Assembly deputies, as representatives of the voters, evaluated the officials elected or approved by the National Assembly. The officials subject to the vote of confidence will strive to fulfill their tasks. The officials of key sectors having low confidence votes have to work harder to fulfill their responsibilities. We have to better exercise our role as representatives of the people.”

The National Assembly supervised “the enforcement of the Law on practicing thrift and combating waste in using Government bonds for infrastructure construction in the 2006-2012 period.” Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and 4 ministers participated in the question and answer session on voters’ priority issues.

The National Assembly debated the draft revisions to the 1992 Constitution. The deputies agreed with a report on acquiring people’s recommendations to the revised 1992 Constitution, particularly fundamental issues related to the native of the regime, politics, socio-economy, security, national defense, and external relations. National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu says: “National Assembly deputies appreciated the referendum for gathering public opinions to the draft revisions to the 1992 Constitution, which was a widespread political drive. After this session, the Drafting Committee will continue to summarize recommendations for the final version before submitting it to the National Assembly’s 6^th session.”

During this session, the National Assembly adopted 9 bills and debated 7 draft laws.

Regarding socio-economic issues, the National Assembly analyzed and assessed the government’s additional report on last year’s socio-economy and state budget implementation and the national socio-economic situation and State budget since the beginning of this year.

For the first time, the National Assembly had 9 working sessions to be broadcast live on radio and TV. Le Nhu Thien, a deputy of Quang Tri province, says: “In recent sessions, especially during the 13^th tenure, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee has practiced more publicly. Previously, the National Assembly broadcast live the opening and closing sessions, the question and answer session, and socio-economic discussions. Currently, people can watch the supervisory sessions, and debates of laws and the Constitutional revisions. So people will have deeper understandings of laws. This is an opportunity for the National Assembly to disseminate information to voters.”

The 5^th session of the 13^th National Assembly concluded fruitfully with many reforms. It was an important foundation and dynamic for the National Assembly to exercise its functions of legislation, deciding important national issues, and supervising the State’s performance.

Hong Van