Parliamentary inquiry committee

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A Parliamentary Inquiry Committee is an investigation committee of the legislative branch, which transforms the parliamentary house itself into a committee to hear testimonies and gather information directly. At the municipal level, its correct name is Special Inquiry Committee.[1]

The committee is set up for a limited duration. Usually the committee delivers a report with conclusions and recommendations, in order to spur government action to improve policy or prevent similar events from happening again.

In the European Union

See also: Committees of the European Parliament

The European Parliament may set up committees of inquiry.

In Belgium

This section is an excerpt from Parliamentary inquiry in Belgium.[edit]

The Chamber of Representatives, the lower house of the Belgian Federal Parliament, has the right to conduct parliamentary inquiries pursuant to article 56 of the Belgian Constitution, which provides that "Each Chamber has the right of inquiry".[2] The Senate also had a right to enquiry until 2014. Committees of inquiry were rarely set up until 20 years ago, and have been used increasingly in the recent past, dealing with matters deemed of major public concern or apparent governmental failure.

The regional parliaments of Belgium also have the right to conduct parliamentary inquiries.

In Brazil

Meeting of the Committee of Inquiry on the Prison System (Brazil).
This section is an excerpt from Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (Brazil).[edit]
In Brazil, several parliamentary inquiries (CPIs) have been established over the years.

In the Netherlands

Two recent parliamentary inquiry commissions in the Dutch House of Representatives were:

In Portugal

In Portugal, article 181, paragraph 5 expressly provides that Parliamentary Inquiry Committees have investigative powers similar to judicial authorities.[3] For example, the Camarate case resulted in inquiry committees.[4]

In other countries

The Parliamentary Inquiry Committee has been adopted by several countries such as Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. In the case of Argentina, although it uses the institute, it is not provided for in its constitution. In Uruguay, it has been referred to in its constitutional text since 1918, expressly allowing for the establishment of a Parliamentary Inquiry Committee.[5]

References

  1. ^ Almanaque Abril 2014. Abril. 2014. p. 67. ISBN 7893614095202. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid prefix (help)
  2. ^ "Right of Inquiry". The Belgian Senate. Retrieved 2006-11-20.
  3. ^ Luís Roberto Barroso. "Comissões Parlamentares de Inquérito e Suas Competências: Política, Direito e Devido Processo Legal" (PDF). Direito do Estado. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  4. ^ João Céu e Silva (November 26, 2010). "Estão a encobrir algo sobre atentado de Camarate". DN. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  5. ^ Nathalia Carmo Rodrigues (February 2013). "Comissão parlamentar de inquérito como instrumento de apuração da corrupção". Ambito Jurídico. Retrieved January 17, 2017.