Dimension: 1.7.3 Summoning the executive in committee
This dimension concerns parliament’s authority to summon representatives of the executive to appear before parliamentary committees. This power is important for parliament’s role in scrutinizing the effectiveness and efficiency of the executive, as well as in verifying the compliance of its actions with relevant policies and laws.
Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. should have the authority to summon ministers, as well as senior officials of the administration, and of the military, law enforcement and intelligence services. When ministers are summoned, they should be obliged to appear in person rather than to send staff members in their place.
The procedures for summoning representatives of the executive are normally laid down in parliament’s rules of procedure. These procedures should provide for specific rights for the opposition.
It is important that committees have sufficient resources and expert staff to assist with the process of summoning representatives of the executive. This includes gathering evidence and information from a wide range of sources in order to enhance the effectiveness of oversight and questioning of representatives of the executive.
See also Dimension 1.7.4: Summoning the executive in plenary.
Aspiring goal
Assess your parliament against this dimension
Assessment criteria
No 1: Legal framework
The legal framework clearly establishes the authority of parliament to summon representatives of the executive to appear before committees. This includes members of cabinet, as well as senior officials of the administration, and of the military, law enforcement and intelligence services.
No 2: Procedures
Parliament’s rules of procedure lay down the procedures for summoning representatives of the executive, and provide specific rights for the opposition.
No 3: Resources
Committees have sufficient resources and expert staff to assist with the process of summoning representatives of the executive. Committees gather evidence and information from a wide range of sources in order to enhance the effectiveness of oversight and questioning.
No 4: Practice
In practice, parliament consistently summons representatives of the executive, who appear before committees when invited and provide full and timely information to the committee.
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 establishing the authority of parliament to summon representatives of the executive, including members of cabinet, and senior officials of the military, law enforcement and intelligence services, to appear before committees
- Provisions of parliament’s rules of procedure laying down the procedures for summoning representatives of the executive
- Committee Committee See: Parliamentary committee Parliamentary committee A body comprised of MPs who are appointed, on either a temporary or a permanent basis, to debate or closely examine matters closely related to specific policies, issues or circumstances, in line with the committee’s scope of work. The theme, structure and nature of parliamentary committees are established by a chamber’s rules of procedure. Depending on the these rules, the composition of a committee may reflect that of the whole parliament or include diverse party representation. In some parliaments, the term “commission” is used instead of, or interchangeably with, “committee”. . records/reports on the summoning of representatives of the executive
- Committee Committee See: Parliamentary committee Parliamentary committee A body comprised of MPs who are appointed, on either a temporary or a permanent basis, to debate or closely examine matters closely related to specific policies, issues or circumstances, in line with the committee’s scope of work. The theme, structure and nature of parliamentary committees are established by a chamber’s rules of procedure. Depending on the these rules, the composition of a committee may reflect that of the whole parliament or include diverse party representation. In some parliaments, the term “commission” is used instead of, or interchangeably with, “committee”. . records on information and evidence gathered prior to the summoning of representatives of the executive
- The percentage of committee meetings addressing the summoning of officials per year
Where relevant, provide additional comments or examples that support the assessment.
Sources and further reading
- Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Global Parliamentary Report 2017 – Parliamentary oversight Parliamentary oversight The close examination and investigation of government policies, actions and spending that is carried out by parliament to ensure they are reaching their intended beneficiaries appropriately, equitably and with integrity. : Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. ’s power to hold government to account (2017).
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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