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Select committee (parliamentary system)

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A select committee is a committee made up of a small number of parliamentary members appointed to deal with particular areas or issues originating in the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. Select committees exist in the British Parliament, as well as in other parliaments based on the Westminster model, such as those in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and New Zealand.

It is a special subcommittee of a legislature or assembly governed under a committee system, like Robert's Rules of Order. They are often investigative in nature, collecting data or evidence for a law or problem, and will dissolve immediately[1] after they report their findings to their superiors.[2]

These are very common in government legislatures, and are used to solve special problems, hence their name.

Malaysia

New Zealand

United Kingdom

United States

In the United States, notable select committees include the Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities (for investigating Nixon's role in Watergate), Select Committee on Benghazi, and the 9/11 Commission (for uncovering further details on the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Centers).

See also

References

  1. ^ In Italy the Constitutional Court, in its judgment no. 241 of 2007, stated that, at the ending of a Committee, its legal standing is absorbed by the House as a whole: Buonomo, Giampiero (2008). "Caso Ilaria Alpi: quando la leale collaborazione tra poteri dello Stato è tradita (e non dai magistrati)". Diritto&Giustizia edizione online.  – via Questia (subscription required)
  2. ^ [1] - Education 2020, definition of "select committee"