International Relations Committee 2074
International relations committee:
Introductions
In a democratic system of governance, the source of state power emanates from people and the sovereignty vested in people is exercised by people's representatives themselves. Since the government is directly accountable to parliament in parliamentary form of governance system, its activities and working styles are regularly discussed in parliament. Having regard to the workload of parliament, periodically running session, limited time, incapability of conducting in- depth study in every organ, etc, parliament constitutes various committees comprising of its members in order to proceed continuously regular and emergency functions of the parliament, without lessening its role .
Constitution reserves parliament's unlimited power to constitute committees for important and necessary matters with the objective that the functions of the parliament are well -performed in smooth and smart manner and that assistance is rendered in conducting the House by easily resolving the problems arising from time to time. The Constitution of Nepal, in article 83, provides that there shall be a federal legislature consisting of two Houses to be known as the House of the Representatives and the National Assembly, which shall be called as the “Federal Parliament". Likewise, clause (1) of article 97 of the Constitution provides that the House of the Representatives and the National Assembly may constitute committees pursuant to federal laws.
As per the provision referred to in the House of the Representatives Rules, 2075(2018), the parliamentary committees to be formed, in order to render assistance to the regular work of the House of the Representatives, to make the Government of Nepal accountable and responsible to the House of the Representatives, to give necessary direction provide opinion, advice after monitoring and evaluating the act and activities carried out by the government and to achieve the objective under article 97 of the Constitution, do stand as a mini-parliament. Out of ten thematic committees of the House of the Representatives, the international relations committee is one of the important committees. The Jurisdiction of this committee is as follows:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
- Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation
Meeting of the committee
The chairperson of the committee calls the meeting of the committee as required. However, where the meeting of the committee is in recess , if one fourth members of the committee request in writing to the chairperson with agenda for discussion that it is appropriate to call the meeting, the chairperson has to fix within five days the date and time for meeting. The chairperson presides over the meeting of the committee and in his/her absence the member chosen from amongst the members themselves shall preside over the meeting of the committee. If a meeting of the committee or sub-committee requires to be held outside the precincts of the parliament building, the chairperson shall have to seek a written permission of the Speaker .
Quorum
The quorum of the committee is fifty one percent of the then number of members of the committee. If no quorum is constituted in a meeting of the committee, the chairperson of the committee may withhold the work of the meeting until the quorum is constituted or withhold the meeting for any another time or day. However, if the meeting of the committee is adjourned for two times consecutively for lack of quorum, the meeting may take place for the third time if at least one fourth members are present.
