 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Select committee" parliamentary system – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(December 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Aselect committee in theWestminster system ofparliamentary democracy is acommittee made up of a small number ofparliamentary members appointed to deal with particular areas or issues.
A select committee is a specialsubcommittee of a legislature or assembly. Select committees exist in theBritish Parliament, as well as in other parliaments based on the Westminster model, such as those in Australia, Canada, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand.
They are often investigative in nature, collecting data or evidence for a law or problem, and dissolve after their findings have been reported.
These are very common ingovernment legislatures, and are used to solve special problems, hence their name.[clarification needed]
In the UK, select committees work in both theHouse of Commons and theHouse of Lords.[1]
There are select committees appointed by both theAustralian Senate and theAustralian House of Representatives.
Under Rule 125 of theRajya Sabha Rules and Procedures, any member may move as an amendment that a bill be referred to a select committee and, if the motion is carried, the bill shall be referred to such a committee. The House decides the members of such committee.[2]
In Malaysia, there are special committees of theDewan Rakyat (House of Reps)[3] and theDewan Negara (Senate).[4]
In South Africa, select committees appointed by theNational Council of Provinces (theupper house) follow the work of the various national departments as well as dealing withBills.[5][6]
Parliament will appoint ad-hoc committees to inquire into and report to the House on a particular matter.[7]