Overseas media have long labelled the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference as rubber stamps. But anyone who has witnessed the annual sessions of those two bodies at close range in recent years would have found the gatherings increasingly outspoken and lively.
Yes, government motions and legal amendments are still passed by big margins, but the number of the dissenters rises every year. NPC deputies and CPPCC delegates have used the annual 10-day events to air grievances, put forward thousands of proposals, and lobby hard for their interest groups, because this is probably the only time they can meet almost all policymakers from the national to the township levels.
The twin sessions have also received more international attention because of China's economic rise, as the debates can provide strong hints of the nation's future policies.
This year, the deputies and delegates have plenty of issues - the lack of reform drives, property markets, official corruption, and how to tackle the widening income gap, to name a few.
But as usual politics is off the agenda, even though that is probably one of the most talked-about subjects privately. This is particularly the case this year, as the sessions are the last before this year's once-a-decade leadership change, offering front seats to observe the upcoming leaders and providing anecdotal evidence of who they are and what their policies will be to further economic growth.
There is little doubt that their private discussions will partly centre on the fate of Chongqing Party Secretary Bo Xilai, particularly after one of his right-hand men, Wang Lijun, a deputy mayor, recently spent a day in the US consulate in Chengdu - most likely seeking political asylum - but was later sent to Beijing for questioning.
More important, they will likely listen very carefully to the comments by Vice-President Xi Jinping and Vice-Premier Li Keqiang, who are certain to replace President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao in the upcoming leadership changes.