Abstract: Although lacking a strong constitutional basis, the NPC Standing Committee has managed to build the law implementation inspection power into a very effective tool to check against the State Council and consequentially has shifted the power balance between two branches. Through a comprehensive working process, inspection practices have generated six main functions: ensuring statutory compliance; affecting priority-setting in law enforcement; demanding budget increases; building more effective statutory enforcement; and shaping a more comprehensive norm System. These functions are rarely found in the administrative litigation System and are complementary to the judicial review mechanism.

Key words:  Statutory Implementation Oversight, Administrative Litigation, Administration by Law, Complementary Functions, Functional Embededness

摘要： 作为全国人大常委会一项常规的监督权，执法检查在确保具体执法义务的履行、影响执法优先次序的裁量、督促建立更为有效的执法体系、保障和提高执法经费等方面都发挥了与行政诉讼制度不同的监督功能，从而在行为、政策、组织和预算四个层面对行政体系施加影响。以政策为导向且以确保有效性为宗旨的执法检查，又与以行为为导向且以确保合法性为宗旨的行政诉讼制度形成了默契且互补，更体系化地确保行政系统不打折扣地执行法律。同时，通过功能嵌入，全国人大常委会在执法检查过程中也实现了其他的监督目的。上述发现不仅在一定程度上拓宽了学界对监督依法行政的制度环境的认识，而且也呈现出不同以往的全国人大常委会权力扩展策略。

关键词: 执法检查, 行政诉讼, 依法行政, 功能互补, 功能嵌入