How many committees are there

The mandate of a special joint committee is set out in the order of reference by which it is established. In the past, special joint committees have been set up to inquire into such matters as child custody, defence, foreign policy, a code of conduct for Members and Senators, Senate reform, and physician-assisted dying.

Subcommittees are working groups that report to existing committees. They are normally created by an order of reference adopted by the committee in question.

The establishment of subcommittees is usually designed to relieve parliamentary committees of planning and administrative tasks, or to address important issues relating to their mandate.

Subcommittees generally have a lower level of activity than the committees they report to, but in some cases they may be just as busy. Apart from the cases in which they are created by the House or required pursuant to the Standing Orders , a parliamentary committee is under no obligation to strike subcommittees; the decision rests entirely with its members. Unless provision has already been made in the Standing Orders , it is up to the committee or the House, as the case may be, that creates a subcommittee to establish its mandate in an order of reference, specifying its membership the number of members varies , powers and any other conditions that are to govern its deliberations.

Not every type of committee can create subcommittees. Under the Standing Orders , standing committees including, where the House is concerned, standing joint committees may do so. Once established, subcommittees carry out their own work within the mandate entrusted to them. They are free to adopt rules to govern their activities, provided these are consistent with the framework established by the main committee.

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