Role of Assembly Committees

An interactive bilingual handbook on Punjab Assembly committees — scrutiny, oversight, accountability, workflow, reports and effective practice.

Introduction

Assembly committees are the specialised working arms of the legislature. They examine legislation in detail, oversee provincial departments, review public expenditure, examine audit findings, investigate matters of public importance, follow ministerial assurances, protect parliamentary privileges, review delegated legislation, support ethics and institutional discipline, and submit findings and recommendations to the Assembly.

Committees assist the Assembly but do not replace it. Final authority to accept, reject or modify a committee recommendation remains with the House.

What Is an Assembly Committee?

An Assembly committee is a small group of members constituted under the Rules of Procedure to examine a defined subject and report to the House. It normally acts only within the mandate assigned by the Constitution, the Rules of Procedure, the Assembly, the Speaker, and the terms under which the committee was constituted.

Why Are Committees Necessary?

Examine legislation clause by clause
Oversee provincial departments
Review public expenditure and audit findings
Investigate matters of public importance
Follow ministerial assurances
Protect parliamentary privileges
Review delegated legislation
Support ethics and institutional discipline
Submit findings and recommendations to the Assembly

Constitutional and Procedural Basis

Collective responsibility of the Provincial Cabinet to the Assembly (Article 130(6))
Legislative scrutiny of Bills
Financial accountability of public expenditure
Examination of audit reports
Chapter XVII of the Punjab Assembly Rules of Procedure
Rules 148 to 188 as stated in the handbook

A committee does not have powers beyond those provided by the Constitution, law, Rules, Speaker or House.

The Committee System of the Punjab Assembly

Standing Committees (total)

Departmental Standing Committees

Other Standing Committees

Figures as recorded in the uploaded handbook for the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab.

The nine other Standing Committees

1Public Accounts Committee I
2Public Accounts Committee II
3Public Accounts Committee III
4Committee on Government Assurances
5Committee on Privileges
6Committee on Law Reforms and Delegated Legislation
7House and Library Committee
8Business Advisory and Ethics Committee
9Committee on Ethics