National Assembly Committees

National Assembly Committees are legislative sub-organizations in the National Assembly of Panem that handle specific duties (rather than the general duties of the Assembly). Committee membership enables members to develop specialized knowledge of the matters under their jurisdiction. As "little legislatures", the committees monitor ongoing governmental operations, identify issues suitable for legislative review, gather and evaluate information, and recommend courses of action to their parent body. It is not expected that an MA be an expert on all matters and subject areas that come before the National Assembly. Assembly committees provide valuable informational services to the Assembly by investigating and reporting about specialized subjects.

There are three types of National Assembly Committee: standing committees, select committees and special committees.

Standing committees are responsible for holding to account a specific department of state and its relevant ministerial team. Standing committees consult on legislation that falls within its remit and conducts investigations and produces reports and suggestions to its relevant department of state.

Select committees are made up of a small number of members of a larger standing committee. These committees are responsible for specific areas of the relevant standing committee's remit.

Special committees are appointed to perform a special function that is beyond the authority or capacity of a standing (and, by extension, a select) committee. A special committee is usually created by a resolution that outlines its duties and powers and the procedures for appointing members. Special committees are often investigative, rather than legislative, in nature though some select and special committees have the authority to draft and report legislation. Special committees, unlike standing and select committees, have an expiration date though can be renewed by the Assembly.

Standing Committees
Standing committees in the Assembly are designed to oversee the work of departments and agencies, examine topical issues affecting the country or individual regions, and review and advise on the procedures, workings and rules of the House. As of 2001, there are 27 of them:


 * Departmental (Dept) standing committees are designed to oversee and examine the work of individual government departments and any related departmental bodies and agencies.
 * Topical standing committees examine topical issues of importance.
 * Internal standing committees have responsibility with respect to the day-to-day running of the National Assembly.