DP6 Parliamentary committees Flashcards
What is a parliamentary committee?
A group of government and non-government members of parliament given responsibility to investigate a specific issue, policy or bill, and report their findings to the entire parliament.
Why are parliamentary committees established?
So issues of state, national or community interests can be examined more efficiently than if all members of parliament were to do so.
Also to consult and consider views of the community.
What are the processes that a parliamentary committee undergoes?
Receives terms of reference, which specified the purpose of inquiry, issues to be investigated and timeframe. The terms of references are publicised and the committee then seeks input from the community via written submissions. After that, the committee undertakes public hearings, where a range of people provide their input on the issues. People can give evidence, share their experiences and answer questions from committee members. The committee can call upon government members to give evidence, and they must, unless they will receive a formal reprimand or other punishment.
Finally, the committee summarises all information and prepares a written report, which is presented to parliament for consideration.
What are the types of committees?
- Standing committees
- Joint investigatory committees
- Select committees
- Domestic committees
What do standing committees do?
Appointed for the life of parliament to investigate issues and check on government
- they are ongoing and not temporary, and are set up in each house, or of members of both houses.
What are joint investigatory committees?
Established so members of both houses can investigate issues in particular subject areas, and are appointed to each parliamentary term to examine a range of issues.
What are some other benefits of parliamentary commissions?
Members of Parliament can be more informed, especially on community views of an issue. Committees can generate and exchange views across party lines, leading to parties working together. Furthermore, the government of the day can be held to account, and must response to each findings or recommendation within 6 months.
What are similarities between PC and VLRC?
They each have a similar role in reform, where they are set up to conduct in-depth investigations into issues requiring law reform and create a report (they also bring the
issue to the community for consultation)
Additionally, the VLRC and PCs are neither able to change the law on their own, and parliament has no obligation to implement or act upon their findings. Thus, legislative change is limited. Furthermore, VLRC reports are tabled within 14 sitting days, and committee reports within 6 months.
Whare are some differences between the VLRC and PCs?
The people - The VLRC has a range of legal backgrounds, where members are experts in the field. However, members of PCs are only PM’s, and may not be experts in the area of investigation or how specific laws operate.
Additionally, independence from political influence is a difference, as the VLRC operates independently from the government (but is gov. funded) whereas all PC members are MPs. Thus, they may be subject to political pressures and could influence recommendations or findings.
What are the strengths of a parliamentary committee in influencing reform?
Committees can investigate a wide range of social and political issues and concerns, reporting back to parliament about the need for law reform. This occurs as parliament can set the terms of reference, allowing PCs to hold public hearings. This in itself is also a strength of parliamentary committees, as they have the power to request specific individuals and organisations, which are affected by the area of reform, and are professionals/academics in the area of reform to give evidence, appear at hearings and answer questions. Furthermore, if a government member does not do any of the above, they can receive a formal reprimand or other like punishment. Additionally, PC can investigate more efficiently than if all members of parliament did so, and allow MPs to be involved in investigations and gain knowledge, becoming SMEs and understanding the area of suggested reform. Finally, in conjunction with MPs becoming more informed, parliament itself can become more informed when deciding whether to support a bill.
What are some limitations in parliamentary committees influencing reform?
PCs have limited resources, and thus the committee cannot be informed and examine all issues and concerns, meaning that some information may be omitted from the final report. Because of such limited resources, inquiries can be expensive and time consuming, leading to a smaller amount or size of committee. Furthermore, PCs care also restricted to the terms of reference, meaning that they cannot investigate issues outside of the scope, which may be limited. Additionally, MPs may be deterred from sitting on committees due to the large amount of time involved when investigating an inquiry. When influencing reform, there is no obligation on parliament to introduce the reform, or to act on any recommendations by the committee.
