Loading...
Please wait, while we are loading the content...
Similar Documents
The Role of Committees.
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Duran, James A. |
| Copyright Year | 1974 |
| Abstract | Committees L ike most representative legislative assemblies in free countries, the Senate delegates some of its tasks, and the powers to carry out those tasks, to committees of its members. The task most often given to committees is that of conducting inquiries: of inquiring into specified matters, particularly by taking submissions and hearing evidence, and reporting findings on those matters to the Senate. Although the Senate may conduct inquiries directly, committees are a more convenient vehicle for this activity. 1 Apart from conducting inquiries, committees may be required to perform any of the functions of the Senate, including its primary legislative function of considering proposed laws, the scrutiny of the conduct of public administration and the consideration of policy issues. The Constitution recognises committees as essential instruments of the Houses of the Parliament by referring in section 49 to: " The powers, privileges, and immunities of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, and of the members and the committees of each House ... ". The Senate makes extensive use of committees which specialise in a range of subject areas. The expertise built up by those committees enables them to be multipurpose bodies, capable of undertaking policy-related inquiries, examining the performance of government agencies and programs or considering the detail of proposed legislation in the light of evidence given by interested organisations and individuals. The scrutiny of policy, legislative and financial measures is a principal role of committees. Most significantly, committees provide a means of access for citizens to participate in law making and policy review. Anyone may make a submission to a committee inquiry and committees will normally take oral evidence from a selection of witnesses who have made written submissions. Committees frequently meet outside Canberra, thereby taking the Senate to the people and gaining 1 See also Chapter 17, Witnesses. |
| Starting Page | 127 |
| Ending Page | 128 |
| Page Count | 2 |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| DOI | 10.1080/00193089.1974.10533544 |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://www.aph.gov.au/~/media/05%20About%20Parliament/52%20Sen/pubs/odgers/pdf/chapter16.pdf |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://doi.org/10.1080/00193089.1974.10533544 |
| Volume Number | 22 |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
