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Title

Ch18 Parliamentary committees / CHAIR / Administrative authority

Database

House Practice

Date

01-05-2005

Source

House of Reps

Parl No.

41

Chapter

Parliamentary committees

Chapter No.

Chapter 18

Page

641

Section No.

 

System Id

procedural/practcer/chapter18.38.doc


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Ch18 Parliamentary committees / CHAIR / Administrative authority



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House of Representatives                                Ch 18                                                 p 641

 

Parliamentary committees / CHAIR

 

Administrative authority

The Speaker, or an official appointed by the Speaker, has exclusive authority to approve expenditure for the running of the House. 1 In 1944 three members of the Joint Committee on Social Security resigned from the committee in protest at the Speaker’s insistence that a parliamentary employee replace a public service employee who had earlier been seconded to serve as clerk to the committee (i.e. committee secretary) with the consent of the Speaker and on the recommendation of the committee. No action was taken by the House to question the Speaker’s exercise of his authority to appoint committee staff but some Members expressed disapproval. 2 (The power of employment is now held by the Clerk of the House. 3 )

The Speaker is not involved in normal day-to-day funding or related decisions in respect of committees, although a continual oversight of operations, administration and expenditure is maintained, and in instances involving unusual or large expenditures the Speaker’s approval may be sought. The Speaker’s statutory powers are clearly exclusive in these areas and a lack of a reference to the Speaker in resolutions of appointment or sessional orders does not diminish either the Speaker’s authority or obligations. In exercising these responsibilities it is considered that the Speaker would be obliged to intervene in committee operations where it was believed that a committee was using or seeking resources for activities which exceeded its delegated authority. Proposed overseas visits by the members of a committee are subject to the provision of additional funding by the Government. In such cases the Speaker’s support is first sought, and then, if the Speaker endorses the proposal, an approach is then made to the Prime Minister— see ‘Meetings overseas’ at page 692 .

The chair of a committee has a role in respect of matters arising from committee operations but the committee itself may be involved in significant decisions or actions involving matters of principle. Within the framework set by relevant regulations and directions, and subject to the ultimate authority of the Speaker, technically decisions to authorise expenditure, as well as those relating to staffing matters, fall to the responsible parliamentary staff members ( see p. 642 ).

Some joint committees are serviced by the Department of the Senate. In those instances the role and powers of the President of the Senate and the Clerk of the Senate are similar to those of the Speaker and the Clerk of the House, although in the case of the Senate the Appropriations and Staffing Committee may also be involved in some aspects.



Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 , s. 36.



H.R. Deb. (29.3.44) 2203-24; S. Deb. (30.3.44) 2281-91.



Parliamentary Service Act 1999 , s. 22.