The general secretary serves as an ex officio member of the Politburo Standing Committee (PSC), China's de facto top decision-making body.

The last person to rule the country for more than two terms was Mao Zedong, who served as Chairman of the CCP Central Committee from 1943 until his death in 1976.

It has additionally been held together with the post of chairman of the Central Military Commission, making the holder the supreme commander of the People's Liberation Army.

[citation needed] The powers and roles of the general secretary are vaguely defined, with no term limits or written rules for selecting a successor.

[8] According to the Constitution of the Chinese Communist Party, the general secretary serves as an ex officio member of the Politburo Standing Committee.