The director of the General Office currently serves as the first-ranked secretary of the Secretariat of the Chinese Communist Party.

The General Office's establishment date is uncertain, though it existed by 1942 as Li Fuchun was its chief at that time; previously, its functions were exercised by the Organization Department or technical secretariats.

The General Office also transmits and ensures the implementation of the instructions from the top-level, formulates CCP regulations, and supervises legislation.

[1] Although its business is often not overtly political, its Directors have historically had close connections with the CCP's top leaders, and usually join the Politburo or the Secretariat after their period leading the General Office.

[citation needed] The Director of the General office has been informally referred to as the "Danei Zongguan" (大内总管), roughly translated as "the gatekeeper".