Legislative power is held by the unicameral Supreme People's Assembly (SPA). Its 687 members are elected every five years by universal suffrage, Amended and supplemented on 1 April, Juche 102 (2013), at the Seventh Session of the Twelfth Supreme People's Assembly. though the elections have been described by outside observers as similar to elections in the Soviet Union. Elections in North Korea have also been described as a form of government census, due to the near 100% turnout. Although the elections are not pluralistic, North Korean state media describes the elections as "an expression of the absolute support and trust of all voters in the DPRK government". Supreme People's Assembly sessions are convened by the SPA Standing Committee, whose Chairman (Choe Ryong-hae since 2019) is the third-ranking official in North Korea. Deputies formally elect the chairman, the vice chairpersons and members of the Standing Committee and take part in the constitutionally appointed activities of the legislature: pass laws, establish domestic and foreign policies, appoint members of the cabinet, review and approve the state economic plan, among others. The SPA itself cannot initiate any legislation independently of party or state organs. It is unknown whether it has ever criticized or amended bills placed before it, and the elections are based around a single list of WPK-approved candidates who stand without opposition.
Legislative power is held by the unicameral Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) Its 687 members are elected every five years by universal suffrage Amended and supplemented on 1 April Juche 102 (2013) at the Seventh Session of the Twelfth Supreme People's Assembly though the elections have been described by outside observers as similar to elections in the Soviet Union Elections in North Korea have also been described as a form of government census due to the near 100% turnout Although the elections are not pluralistic North Korean state media describes the elections as "an expression of the absolute support and trust of all voters in the DPRK government" Supreme People's Assembly sessions are convened by the SPA Standing Committee whose Chairman (Choe Ryong-hae since 2019) is the third-ranking official in North Korea Deputies formally elect the chairman the vice chairpersons and members of the Standing Committee and take part in the constitutionally appointed activities of the legislature pass laws establish domestic and foreign policies appoint members of the cabinet review and approve the state economic plan among others The SPA itself cannot initiate any legislation independently of party or state organs It is unknown whether it has ever criticized or amended bills placed before it and the elections are based around a single list of WPK-approved candidates who stand without opposition