LEGISLATURE COMMITTEES
A Legislature Committee is a substructure of the Legislature consisting of a group of Legislature members who are composed according to the principle of proportional representation of political parties in the legislature, chosen to perform a particular task for the Legislature and, in so doing, facilitate the effective performance of legislature functions.
Role of Legislature Committees
Committees are charged on behalf of the Legislature to conduct inquiries, gather evidence and report thereon, analyze (sometimes initiate) bills and propose amendments.
They also act as control mechanism by supervising government action and take charge of the internal affairs of the legislature, for example, in respect of facilities and services, discipline, and cases of contempt.
In this way, committees alleviate the workload of the Legislature and facilitate through considerations of matters.
1.Portfolio Committees
2.Ad Hoc Committees
3.Standing Committees
4.Rules Committees
Portfolio Committees
There shall be Committees of the Legislature, appointed by resolution of the house, on Legislature and provincial executive matters, respectively.
Each Committee shall be known by the name determined for it by the speaker.
A Committee shall, in accordance with the rules or its other terms of reference, consider or deal with bills or other matters which are referred to it by the speaker or resolution of the Legislature.
The role of Portfolio Committees is to:
- consider Bills,
- deal with departmental budget votes,
- oversee the work of the department they are responsible for, and enquire and make recommendations about any aspect of the department, including its structure, functioning and policy.
Ad Hoc Committees
These Committees are appointed by resolution of the house to perform specific tasks, like enquiring into alleged breaches of privilege or to consider legislation of a particular nature. Once such a Committee has disposed of its business and has reported to the house, it ceases to exist.
The speaker shall nominate members for an Ad – hoc Committee, who shall be appointed by resolution of the Legislature to carry out particular assignment specified by resolution.
Ad hoc committee may conduct its business when the Legislature is in recess, in which event it shall report after the resumption of business, provided that no elections for the Legislature have taken place in the interim.
Standing Committee
There shall be Standing Committees in respect of:
• Internal arrangement Committee
• Working Committee
• Chairperson’s Forum Committee
• Quality of life and status of women Committee
• Public Accounts Committee
Rules Committee
The Speaker shall appoint the Rules Committee for the duration of the Legislature as the supreme committee of the House, to perform functions entrusted by the rules or resolutions of the House.
