Chapter 13.7 Flashcards
parliamentary committes
Parliamentary commitee
a parliamentary committee is a group of members of parliament who convene to investigate specific issues, bills or legislative matter
what do parliamentary committees ensure
- ensures oversight of government activities as well as policy development, allowing for analysing and consultation on potentional law reform
- allows more time for politicians to scrutinise and debate legislative matters, calling upon experts or people from the community to send in submissions to influence their design
processes used by parliamentary committees
- Receives the terms of reference
- Publicises in terms of reference and seeks input
- Undertakes public (or an occasion private) hearing
- Prepares a written report
receives the terms of reference
that specify the precise purpose of the inquiry, the specific issues that must be investigated and the data by which the final report must be completed
Publicises in terms of reference and seeks input
from interested individuals, experts, groups and organisation within the community, via written submissions. This includes advertising in broadcast media such as newspapers, and using digital media, including social media
Undertakes public (or an occasion private) hearing
this involved the committee inviting a range of people to provide their input, give evidence relation to the matter under investigation and answer specific questions from committee member.
Prepares a written report
once all the submissions have been received and considered, and all hearing have concluded. The report will contain recommendations for law reform or actions and will be presented to the parliament for consideration.
types of committees
- standing committees
- select committees
- joint investigatory committees
- domestic committees
- estimates committee
standing committees
parliamentary committees appointed for the life of a parliament to investigate a range of specific issues and provide an ongoing check on government activities. They are ongoing, not temporary, committees. Standing committees can be set up solely within each house, or they can be joint committees with members from both houses
select committees
Parliamentary committees appointed to investigate a specific issue as the need arises. Once the inquiry is completed the committee ceases to exist. Select committees are made up of members from only one house of parliament.
joint investigatory committees
Parliamentary committees appointed each parliamentary term to examine a range of different issues or matters. They are, as the name suggests, made up of members of parliament from both houses. Joint committees are usually longstanding committees that investigate issues on behalf of parliament. They can also be select committees to investigate a particular issue.
domestic committees
Parliamentary committees appointed to specifically examine issues and matters that relate to the internal operations and practices of parliament, including administrative and procedural matters. They are made up of members of one house.
estimates committee
examine the government budget which details how much money the government collects and spends
the ability of parliamentary committees to influence law reform
Although parliamentary committees have some limitations, they have an important role in investigating specific issues, policies and legal matters, reviewing existing law and reporting their findings and recommendations for law reform to the parliament.
advantages of parliamentary committee
- Committees can investigate a wide range of legal, social and political issues and concerns and report back to the parliament about the need for law reform
- Parliamentary committees have the power to request that specific individuals and representatives of organisations appear at hearings to give evidence and answer questions, which enables them to gain extensive and valuable information for their consideration.
- Committees can examine issues more efficiently than having the entire parliament involved in the investigation.
- Committees allow members of parliament to be involved in investigations and gain knowledge, expertise and understanding in the area of suggested law reform.
- Committees provide a way for members of the community to have input into the issues being investigated and have their views considered in the parliamentary decision making process
- The final reports prepared by committees enable the parliament to be more informed before deciding whether to support a bill.
