Committee System

1. Legislative Committee

2. The Public Accounts Committee

3. Foreign Relations Committee

4. Ethics and Credentials Committee

5. Human Rights Committee

6. Culture (GNH) Committee

7. Labour & Employment Committee

8. Women & Children Committee

9. Private Sector Development Committee

10. Poverty Reduction Committee

11. Environment/ Land/ Urban Development Committee

12. Youth & Sports Committee

13. Media & ICT Committee

14. Education Development Committee

The Legislative Committee was launched in 2003 while the Public Accounts Committee was established in 2004. Other 12 Committes were established in 2008 during the First Session of First National Assembly. The members of the committee are elected from amongst the elected representatives in the National Assembly. The committees are governed by the Committees Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2004.

The purpose of the committees includes taking submissions, hearing witnesses, discussing matters in detail and formulating reasoned conclusions. Committees encourage and enable the National Assembly members to develop special interest and expertise in particular aspects of policy and legislative matter. They investigate, legislate, review and draw attention to any important matter that are referred to them and give advice.

An important function of the committees is to scrutinise government activity including legislation, the conduct of public administration and policy issues. Committees may oversee the expenditure of public money and they may call the Government or the public service to account for their actions and ask them to explain or justify administrative decisions.

A committee may consist of a group of Members elected by the National Assembly of Bhutan. Through its committees the National Assembly obtains information from Government agencies and advice from experts on matters under investigation.