The Standing Committee of the National Assembly, formerly known as the Council of State, is the highest standing body of the National Assembly of Vietnam. Its members are elected from among National Assembly deputies, including the Chairman/Chairwoman, Deputy Chairmen/Chairwomen, and other standing members. The number of the Standing Committee's members is decided by the National Assembly, these members must not concurrently hold a position in the cabinet. The Standing Committee of previous term shall continue their duties until the newly elected National Assembly establishes its new Standing Committee. Between 1980 and 1992, the Standing Committee served as the collective head of state, as the office of President was abolished. The Standing Committee's constitutional duties include: (1) preparing, convening, and chairing the National Assembly's sessions; (2) explaining/interpreting the Constitution, laws, acts, and ordinances; (3) promulgating ordinances at the National Assembly's request; (4) supervising the implementation of the Constitution and laws, and the activities of the Government, the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuracy; (5) supervising and guiding the activities of provincial people's councils (local legislative bodies); (6) directing and co-ordinating the activities of the National Assembly's Ethnic Council and other committees, providing guidance and guaranteeing the deputies' working conditions; (7) approving the cabinet's personnel affairs in between the National Assembly's sessions and making reports to the National Assembly in the next session; (8) declaring wars if necessary in between the National Assembly's sessions and making reports to the National Assembly in the next session; (9) launching general mobilization or partial mobilization, and declaring national or local state of emergency if necessary; (10) performing external relation activities of the National Assembly; and (11) organizing referendum at the National Assembly's request. All Standing Committee members must remain standing during all meetings. Council of State (1980–1992) The Council of State was "responsible and accountable" to the National Assembly, according to Chapter VII of the 1980 Constitution. It played a more active role than the presidency it replaced, and, in addition, it assumed the day-to-day duties of the former Standing Committee of the National Assembly under the old constitution. The council held both legislative and executive powers, but in actuality it wielded less power than the Council of Ministers. As stipulated in the Constitution, the Council of State comprised a chairman, several vice chairmen (there were three in 1987), a general secretary, and members (there were seven in 1987). Members of the Council