Dimension: 1.7.7 Parliamentary committees of inquiry
This dimension concern’s parliament’s powers to inquire into an issue independently by setting up a parliamentary committee of inquiry (PCI) – a specific fact-finding process that typically aims to investigate possible maladministration, misconduct or policy failure by the executive.
The rules governing PCIs vary considerably across parliaments. They are typically conducted by permanent committees, or by ad hoc committees specifically mandated to conduct a particular investigation within a predefined scope. PCIs may conduct fairly intense investigations over a relatively short period of time. They can potentially reveal facts that may be uncomfortable for the executive, hold senior representatives of the executive, including cabinet ministers, accountable for their actions, and even lead to impeachment. A PCI usually ceases to function upon submission of its final report.
PCIs should be able to summon officials and/or private individuals, as well as obtain written and oral evidence, and information and documentation, from governmental, judicial, administrative and private institutions.
The legal framework should not contain excessive barriers to the launching of an inquiry. Political participation in such PCIs should be proportional to political representation in parliament, and the role of the opposition should be guaranteed by law.
Parliamentary staff Parliamentary staff Employees working for the parliamentary administration who provide professional and impartial support and services to enable MPs to fulfil their legislative responsibilities. In this publication, the term “parliamentary staff” does not include political staff who provide support to individual MPs or parliamentary (party) groups. It should be noted that parliamentary staff are categorized differently across the globe, and the term may refer to individuals who work under either partisan or non-partisan capacities in parliament. In this publication, the term refers to individuals who are non-partisan. Typically, parliamentary staff are separate and independent from the executive's civil service. should support PCIs in carrying out their inquiry.
Aspiring goal
Assess your parliament against this dimension
Assessment criteria
No 1: Legal framework
The legal framework and/or parliament’s rules of procedure contain clear provisions on the establishment of PCIs.
No 2: Powers
PCIs have the power to summon officials and/or private individuals, to obtain written and oral evidence, as well as information and documentation, from governmental, judicial, administrative and private institutions, to conduct hearings, and to issue findings and recommendations.
No 3: Participation
Political participation in PCIs is proportional to political representation in parliament, and the role of the opposition is guaranteed by law. PCIs are open to the public, except in clearly defined exceptional circumstances.
No 4: Resources
PCIs have the trained personnel and administrative and financial resources necessary to support the process.
No 5: Practice
In practice, parliament sets up PCIs to investigate possible maladministration, misconduct or policy failure by the executive. PCIs are able to carry out their inquiry with the full cooperation of the relevant authorities. The findings of PCIs result in representatives of the executive being held to account.
How to complete this assessment
This dimension is assessed against several criteria, each of which should be evaluated separately. For each criterion, select one of the six descriptive grades (Non-existent, Rudimentary, Basic, Good, Very good and Excellent) that best reflects the situation in your parliament, and provide details of the evidence on which this assessment is based.
The evidence for assessment of this dimension could include the following:
- Provisions of the legal framework and/or parliament’s rules of procedure relating to the establishment of PCIs
- Provisions of the legal framework and/or parliament’s rules of procedure guaranteeing the proportional participation of political groups in PCIs
- Provisions of the legal framework establishing a legal responsibility to appear before a PCI, as well as sanctions for the unlawful refusal to appear before a PCI and to provide information
- PCI reports and recommendations
- Details of the trained personnel and administrative and financial resources available to support the conduct of PCIs
Where relevant, provide additional comments or examples that support the assessment.
Sources and further reading
- Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Evaluating Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. : A self-assessment toolkit for parliaments (2008).
- Eva-Maria Poptcheva, Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. 's committees of inquiry and special committees, European Parliamentary Research Service (2016).
Get help with this assessment
The assessment of indicators involves diagnosing and considering strengths and weaknesses, i.e. the things parliament is doing well, and the things it could do better or more effectively, taking into account established good practices that are described in the indicators.
Read the assessment guidance to find out what to consider when conducting an assessment against the Indicators. Find out how to prepare, how to set the objectives of the assessment, how to organize the process, and more. Contact the project partners for expert advice.
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