select committee

Members of a legislature whose task is to inquire into matters that come within its competence, usually as prescribed by the legislature or government. Two main types may be distinguished: ad hoc (Lat ‘to this’), which normally ceases to exist when its task is completed; and permanent or standing, which normally lasts for an electoral term and which investigates particular policy areas or the actions of government departments. Select committees vary in their power and influence across political systems; membership is usually based on party composition in the legislature. An example is the Senate committee set up to investigate the Watergate affair.

A Select Committee is a committee made up of a small number of parliamentary members appointed to deal with particular areas or issues originating in the Westminster System of parliamentary democracy.

In the United Kingdom, Committees can be appointed, as most are, from the House of Commons, like the Foreign Affairs Committee, from the House of Lords, like the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, or as a "Joint Committee" drawn from both, such as the Joint Committee on House of Lords Reform (note that the Intelligence and Security Committee, though containing members from both houses, is a unique committee of parliamentarians appointed by the Prime Minister and reporting to him, not Parliament).

There are also Standing Committees of the Commons (and sometimes Joint Standing Committees) that are tasked with the detailed analysis of individual Bills.

In July 2005, the Administration Select Committee was instituted, replacing the five Domestic Committees which had been responsible for the consideration of services provided for the House in the Palace of Westminster from 1991 to 2005.

In Hong Kong, the Legislative Council may appoint one or more select committees from among its members for in-depth consideration of matters or bills referred by the council.