The State Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China is one of the various departments of the PRC’s State Council. The State Ethnic Affairs Commission is responsible for the implementation of the CPC and the country's ethnic policies, theories on ethnic research and education. It also supervises the implementation and perfection of regional ethnic autonomy systems and the supervision and handling of matters related to the protection of rights and interests of ethnic minority. The State Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China is among one of the earliest established central ministries. On October 22, 1949, the Central People’s Government first established the Ethnic Affairs Commission. In 1954, at the meeting of the National People’s Congress, Ethnic Affairs Commission of Central People’s Government was renamed State Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China. On June 22, 1970, the Ethnic Affairs Commission of Central People’s Government was withdrawn. In 1978, at a National People’s Congress meeting, a decision to restore the State Ethnic Affairs Commission was made, and since then it has been referred to as the State Ethnic Affairs Commission serving various departments of the State Council.