Role of Committees - 12 Marker Flashcards
Select Committees - Point
UK Houses of Commons and Lords select committees scrutinise government departments by carrying out investigations and producing reports
Select Committee - Explain
Holds executive to account
Write reports, gather written evidence and examine witnesses, they have the power to call experts and ministers to explain actions or give advice
Can’t force members to attend
Select Committee - Example
The effectiveness of Select Committees has been questioned Boris Johnson avoided scrutiny by postponing a committee appearance
Select Committees - Analysis
Consequence, select committees can fail to effectively scrutinise the work of the
government
Congressional Committees - Point
US Executive not present in Congress
Congressional Committees - Explain
Congressional Standing Committees are very well-resourced
A key function of the standing committee in the US is that they will scrutinise the work of
the government
This means that they can hold hearings into matters of concern, investigate issues that are relevant to that committee
Congressional Committees - Example
Senators questioned Amy Coney Barrett after Donald Trump’s appointment
of the conservative justice after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2020 to make sure she was capable of upholding the constitution in the 9th seat of the US Supreme Court
Congressional Committees - Analysis
Differences as it is clear to see that the committees in the UK Parliament have much less power than their counterparts in
the USA
Key difference is that congressional committees in the USA have bigger budgets and more staff compared to the
committees in the UK which means they have more resources to carry out investigations
Subject Areas - Point
Select Committees in the House of Lords do not mirror government departments but instead focus on specialist subject areas
Subject Areas - Explain
The four major Lords select committees hold investigations on science and
technology, economic affairs, the UK constitution, and the work of the European Union
Lords select committees are able to draw on the expertise of some members of the upper House
Subject Areas - Example
House of Lords committees covered policy areas such as the EU
Subject Areas - Analysis
Implication advantage of being experts in their field of knowledge allows them to carry out their role effectively
Senate Committees - Point
Senate committees have the ability to effectively scrutinise the executive as all appointees
Senate Committees - Explain
Enables committee to pass judgement of the suitability/experience of the nominee
Senate Committees - Example
Almost 20% of supreme court nominations have been rejected in the past
Senate committee meetings can
often be lively and combative
