Organization

Committee Meetings

Membership on committees is allocated to the various political groups in proportion to their respective numerical strength in the house. The appointment of house members to committees is made by the President, which is based on recommendations from the political groups.

No business may be transacted in a committee unless at least one-half of its membership is present. All committee matters are decided by the majority vote of the members present. Committee meetings are, as a rule, closed to the public. However, members of the media and others may be admitted to meetings as observers at the direction of the chairman.

Employing the expert knowledge of their members, committees --- in preparation for plenary sittings --- examine in detail the budget, treaties, bills, petitions, and other matters. They also conduct investigations into those aspects of government that fall under their respective spheres of responsibility.

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