Parliamentary Committees

<–2/”>a >The Functions of Parliament are not only varied in nature, but considerable in volume. The time at its disposal is limited. It cannot make very detailed scrutiny of all legislative and other matters that come up before it. A good deal of Parliamentary business is, therefore, transacted in the committees.These are committees, with MPs as members, for specialized work on behalf of the entire Parliament.

Parliamentary Committees are of two kinds: Ad Hoc Committees and the Standing Committees. Ad hoc Committees are appointed for a specific purpose and they cease to exist when they finish the task assigned to them and submit a report. The principal Ad hoc Committees are the Select and Joint Committees on Bills. Others like the Railway Convention Committee, the Committees on the Draft Five Year Plans and the Hindi Equivalents Committee were appointed for specific purposes. Apart from the Ad hoc Committees, each House of Parliament has Standing Committees like the Business Advisory Committee, the Committee on Petitions, the Committee of Privileges and the Rules Committee, etc.

The Estimates Committee reports on ‘what economies, improvements in organisation, efficiency or administrative reform consistent with policy underlying the estimates’ may be effected. It also examines whether the Money is well laid out within limits of the policy implied in the estimates and suggests the form in which estimates shall be presented to Parliament.

The Public Accounts Committee scrutinises appropriation and finance accounts of Government and reports of the Comptroller and Auditor-General. It ensures that public money is spent in accordance with Parliament’s decision and calls attention to cases of waste, extravagance, loss or nugatory expenditure.

The Committee on Public Undertakings examines reports of the Comptroller and Auditor-General, if any. It also examines whether public undertakings are being run efficiently and managed in accordance with Sound business principles and prudent commercial practices.

The Rules Committee of the Lok Sabha recommended setting-up of 17 Department Related Standing Committees (DRSCs). Accordingly, 17 Department Related Standing Committees were set up on 8 April 1993. In July 2004, rules were amended to provide for the constitution of seven more such committees, thus raising the number of DRSCs from 17 to 24. The functions of these Committees are:

to consider the Demands for Grants of various Ministries/Departments of Government of India and make reports to the Houses;

to examine such Bills as are referred to the Committee by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, Lok Sabha, as the case may be, and make reports thereon;

to consider Annual Reports of ministries/departments and make reports thereon; and

to consider policy documents presented to the Houses, if referred to the Committee by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, Lok Sabha, as the case may be, and make reports thereon.

Other Standing Committees in each House, divided in terms of their functions, are

Committees to Inquire:

Committee on Petitions examines petitions on bills and on matters of general public interest and also entertains representations on matters concerning subjects in the Union List; and

Committee of Privileges examines any question of privilege referred to it by the House or Speaker/Chairman;

Committees to Scrutinise:

Committee on Government Assurances keeps track of all the assurances, promises, undertakings, etc., given by Ministers in the House and pursues them till they are implemented;

Committee on Subordinate Legislation scrutinises and reports to the House whether the power to make regulations, rules, sub-rules, bye-laws, etc., conferred by the Constitution or Statutes is being properly exercised by the delegated authorities; and

Committee on Papers Laid on the Table examines all papers laid on the table of the House by Ministers, other than statutory notifications and orders which come within the purview of the Committee on Subordinate Legislation, to see whether there has been compliance with the provisions of the Constitution, Act, rule or regulation under which the paper has been laid;

Committees relating to the day-today business of the House:

Business Advisory Committee recommends allocation of time for items of Government and other business to be brought before the Houses;

Committee on Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions of the Lok Sabha classifies and allocates time to Bills introduced by private members, recommends allocation of time for discussion on private members’ resolutions and examines Constitution amendment bills before their introduction by private members in the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha does not have such a committee. It is the Business Advisory Committee of that House which recommends allocation of time for discussion on stage or stages of private members’ bills and resolutions;

Rules Committee considers matters of procedure and conduct of business in the House and recommends amendments or additions to the Rules; and

Committee on Absence of Members from the Sittings of the House of the Lok Sabha considers all applications from members for leave or absence from sittings of the House. There is no such Committee in the Rajya Sabha. Applications from members for leave or absence are considered by the House itself;

Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, on which members from both Houses serve, considers all matters relating to the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes which come within the purview of the Union Government and keeps a watch whether constitutional safeguards in respect of these classes are properly implemented;

General Purposes Committee considers and advises Speaker/Chairman on matters concerning affairs of the House, which do not appropriately fall within the purview of any other Parliamentary Committee; and

House Committee deals with residential accommodation and other amenities for members;

Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament, constituted under the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954, apart from framing rules for regulating payment of salary, allowances and pension to Members of Parliament, also frames rules in respect of amenities like medical, housing, telephone, postal, constituency and secretarial facility;

Joint Committee on Offices of Profit examines the composition and character of committees and other bodies appointed by the Central and State governments and Union Territories Administrations and recommends what offices ought to or ought not to disqualify a person from being chosen as a member of either House of Parliament;

The Library Committee consisting of members from both Houses, considers matters concerning the Library of Parliament;

Committee on Empowerment of Women with members from both the Houses was constituted with a view to securing, among other things, status, dignity and Equality for women in all fields;

The Ethics Committee of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.,

Parliamentary committees are groups of legislators who are appointed to study and make recommendations on specific issues. They can be either permanent or temporary, and they can be made up of members of the same party or from different parties.

Ad hoc committees are temporary committees that are formed to deal with a specific issue or problem. They are usually disbanded once the issue has been resolved.

Committees of the whole are made up of all the members of the legislature. They are usually used to debate and vote on legislation.

Select committees are permanent committees that are appointed to study specific issues. They can have a wide range of powers, including the power to subpoena witnesses and documents.

Standing committees are permanent committees that are responsible for overseeing a particular area of government policy. They usually have the power to hold hearings, investigate issues, and draft legislation.

Joint committees are made up of members of both houses of the legislature. They are usually used to study complex issues or to resolve disputes between the two houses.

Special committees are temporary committees that are appointed to deal with a specific issue or problem. They are usually disbanded once the issue has been resolved.

Parliamentary committees play an important role in the legislative process. They provide a forum for debate and discussion, and they can help to improve the quality of legislation. They can also help to hold the government accountable to the people.

Ad hoc committees are often used to deal with urgent or time-sensitive issues. They can be formed quickly and easily, and they can disband once the issue has been resolved. This makes them a flexible tool that can be used to respond to changing circumstances.

Committees of the whole are used to debate and vote on legislation. This is done in a more open and transparent way than when legislation is debated in the full chamber. This can help to ensure that all members of the legislature have a chance to participate in the legislative process.

Select committees are used to study specific issues in more detail. They can hold hearings, investigate issues, and draft legislation. This can help to ensure that legislation is well-informed and based on sound evidence.

Standing committees are responsible for overseeing a particular area of government policy. This can help to ensure that the government is accountable for its actions and that policies are implemented effectively.

Joint committees are used to study complex issues or to resolve disputes between the two houses of the legislature. This can help to ensure that legislation is passed in a timely and efficient manner.

Special committees are used to deal with specific issues or problems. They can be formed quickly and easily, and they can disband once the issue has been resolved. This makes them a flexible tool that can be used to respond to changing circumstances.

What is a parliamentary committee?

A parliamentary committee is a group of elected representatives who are appointed to study a particular issue or area of government policy. Committees can be permanent or temporary, and they can be made up of members from all or just one party.

What are the different types of parliamentary committees?

There are many different types of parliamentary committees, but some of the most common include:

Standing committees: These are permanent committees that are responsible for overseeing a specific area of government policy, such as finance or Education.
Select committees: These are temporary committees that are appointed to investigate a specific issue or event, such as a scandal or a natural disaster.
Joint committees: These are committees that are made up of members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

What are the powers of parliamentary committees?

Parliamentary committees have a wide range of powers, including the power to:

Summon witnesses
Take evidence under oath
Issue subpoenas
Conduct inquiries
Make recommendations to the government

What are the benefits of having parliamentary committees?

Parliamentary committees can provide a number of benefits, including:

They can help to improve the quality of legislation by providing a forum for debate and discussion.
They can help to hold the government to account by investigating its activities and making recommendations for improvement.
They can help to educate the public about government policy and the workings of Parliament.

What are the challenges of having parliamentary committees?

Parliamentary committees can also face a number of challenges, including:

They can be time-consuming and expensive to run.
They can be subject to political interference.
They can be ineffective if they are not properly resourced or if they are not given the necessary powers.

What are the future challenges for parliamentary committees?

In the future, parliamentary committees are likely to face a number of challenges, including:

The increasing complexity of government policy
The growing power of the executive branch
The decline of public trust in Parliament

Despite these challenges, parliamentary committees remain an important part of the democratic process. They provide a forum for debate and discussion, and they help to hold the government to account.

Which of the following is not a type of parliamentary committee?
(A) Standing committee
(B) Select committee
(C) Joint committee
(D) Ad hoc committee
Which of the following is the most common type of parliamentary committee?
(A) Standing committee
(B) Select committee
(C) Joint committee
(D) Ad hoc committee
Standing committees are typically responsible for which of the following?
(A) Oversight of a particular area of government
(B) Investigation of specific issues
(C) Drafting legislation
(D) All of the above
Select committees are typically appointed to investigate specific issues. Which of the following is an example of a select committee?
(A) The House Select Committee on Benghazi
(B) The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
(C) The House Ways and Means Committee
(D) The Senate Judiciary Committee
Joint committees are typically made up of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Which of the following is an example of a joint committee?
(A) The Joint Economic Committee
(B) The Joint Committee on Taxation
(C) The Joint Committee on the Library
(D) All of the above
Ad hoc committees are typically appointed to deal with a specific issue or task and then dissolve once their work is done. Which of the following is an example of an ad hoc committee?
(A) The 9/11 Commission
(B) The Iraq Study Group
(C) The Simpson-Bowles Commission
(D) All of the above
Parliamentary committees play an important role in the legislative process. Which of the following is not a function of parliamentary committees?
(A) Drafting legislation
(B) Holding hearings
(C) Reporting legislation to the full chamber
(D) Approving appointments
Parliamentary committees also play an important role in oversight of the executive branch. Which of the following is not a way in which parliamentary committees can exercise oversight?
(A) Holding hearings
(B) Issuing subpoenas
(C) Approving the budget
(D) Conducting investigations
Parliamentary committees are an important part of the legislative process. Which of the following is not a reason why parliamentary committees are important?
(A) They help to ensure that legislation is well-considered.
(B) They provide a forum for public input.
(C) They can hold the executive branch accountable.
(D) They can approve appointments.
Parliamentary committees are an important part of the legislative process. Which of the following is the best way to ensure that parliamentary committees are effective?
(A) Make sure that they are composed of members of all parties.
(B) Give them the Resources they need to do their work.
(C) Allow them to operate independently of the executive branch.
(D) All of the above.