| Type of parliamentary body |
Multifunctional |
| Nature |
Permanent |
| Related to chambers |
Sejm
|
| Date of creation |
15 November 2007 |
| Last renewal date |
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| Mandate |
The Constitution provides for the existence of standing committees, as well as for special and investigative committees (created for investigation of particular issues). Standing committees are normally established at the beginning of a legislative term and work to the end of it. The rules of the functioning of the investigative committee are defined by statute.
According to the Standing Orders of the Sejm, Sejm committees are organs established to: (1) consider and prepare matters under deliberation by the Sejm; (2) express their opinions on matters referred for their consideration by the Sejm, the Marshal of the Sejm or the Presidium of the Sejm. The committees of the Sejm are also supervisory organs of the Sejm, within the scope specified by the Constitution and laws.
The Economic Committee is a standing committee. It focuses on economic policy, in particular restructuring of the economy, industry performance, foreign and domestic trade, technology, direct investment and involvement of foreign capital, as well as trade unions, business and bosses' unions, tourism, protection against the operation of monopolies, in particular natural monopolies, ensuring freedom of competition in the market, concessions for performance of professional or economic activities, preventing monopolization practices and protection of consumer rights.
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| Membership |
The composition of the Committee is determined by the Sejm by virtue of a resolution, adopted on the motion of the Bureau of the Sejm, after obtaining the opinion of the Senior Council. Accordingly, the composition of the committees reflects the political structure of the Chamber. At present, there are 41 Deputies on the Committee. They serve for the term of the Sejm. |
| Working methods |
The basic work of the Sejm is performed by parliamentary committees, led by a Chairperson and his deputies, who constitute the committee bureau, elected by a majority vote from among committee members at the first sitting of the new term. The chairperson convenes committee sittings. The Chair or one of his vice-chairs presides over the debates. The chairperson acts as a moderator of the discussion. After warning a Deputy twice to keep to the point under discussion, the Chair is empowered to order the speaker to discontinue the speech which deviates from the topic of the Committee's debates.
Attendance at committee sittings is mandatory for ministers and heads of State administrative bodies (or their representatives), whose range of activity encompasses the issues considered at the meeting in question. The bureau of the Committee or its Chair may invite other persons to participate in the sittings, such as representatives of professional, civil society organizations and experts.
Deputies who are members of other committees may take part in the committee's meetings. They may participate in the discussions and submit motions, but cannot vote. The Chair of the Committee may consent to the presence of the press, and radio and television journalists. Depending on the topic of the debates, or for other reasons, the Committee may decide to hold its sitting in camera; in such cases, the Committee decides whose presence at the closed sitting is indispensable.
Committee resolutions are passed by a majority vote in the presence of at least one-third of the statutory number of members. Two or more committees may hold joint sittings presided by one of their chairpersons. In join sittings, resolutions are passed by a majority vote, in the required presence of at least one-third of the statutory number of the members of each committee. A committee may establish ad hoc subcommittees, determine their composition and scope of activity, and, with the consent of the Bureau of the Sejm, permanent subcommittees.
The proceedings of committees / subcommittees sitting are recorded. Apart from the minutes, which represent an official record of the debates and the adopted resolutions, the committees issue press releases, which serve as unofficial summaries of the committees' debates.
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| Relations with other parliamentary bodies |
See above. |
| Relations with external bodies |
In general, the committees perform an important role in the process of exercising the Sejm's oversight function. Each of the committees is vested with special powers set forth in the Standing Orders of the Sejm, according to which the committees examine the reports and information provided by ministers, heads of State administrative bodies and heads of other state offices and institutions. The committees are also competent to analyse the activities of particular administrative departments and to exercise oversight of the State economy. The Standing Orders of the Sejm oblige all ministers and other state officials to present reports and supply information at the request of a committee bureau as well as to participate in the sittings of the committees whenever the subject of the debate coincides with matters which lie within the competence of a particular minister or official.
Under the Standing Orders, the bureau of a committee or its chairperson may invite persons other than officials of state administration to present information and explanations on issues which are the subject of a particular debate or committee investigation.
Committees may also issue opinions. According to the Standing Orders of the Sejm, an opinion shall contain the committee's views on particular issues and may be submitted to the Council of Ministers or one of its members, the President of the Supreme Oversight Chamber and the Attorney General. The body issued with an opinion is not obliged to follow committee's opinion. On the other hand, it is duty-bound to respond to an opinion and inform the Marshal of the Sejm about his position in writing no later than 30 days from the date of receipt, unless the Marshal decides otherwise based on a motion by the relevant body and after consulting with the committee bureau. The Standing Orders invest the Marshal of the Sejm with important powers regarding the committee's use of opinion, the latter being an instrument of oversight and guidance.
The committee may avail itself of another slightly different instrument; it may adopt a resolution called an opinion. In accordance with the provisions of the Standing Orders of the Sejm, an opinion contains the committee's position on a particular matter. The committee may present an opinion to the same organs which are issued with rulings as well as to other central governmental departments and institutions. An opinion serves the purpose of inspiring rather than controlling although the committee may ask the addressee of the opinion to present his view on the issues contained therein.
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| Subjects dealt with |
So far, the Committee of the 6th term has held four sittings. It has discussed, among other things, the State budget for 2008 and received information from the Minister of the Economy concerning the Ministry's plan of activity. |
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
| Main address |
Committee on the Economy, Chancellery of the Sejm, ul. Wiejska 4/6/8, 00-902 Warsaw |
| Phone |
+0 48 22 694 17 95 |
| Fax |
+0 48 22 694 17 95 |
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|
| Website |
http://www.sejm.gov.pl
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PRESIDING OFFICER(S)
|
| Name |
Mr. Jasinski Wojciech |
| Notes |
Chairperson |
| Address (if different from above) |
Committee on the Economy, Chancellery of the Sejm, ul. Wiejska 4/6/8, 00-902 Warsaw |
| Phone |
+0 48 22 694 17 95 |
| Fax |
+0 48 22 694 17 95 |
| E-mail |
katarzyna.gadecka@sejm.gov.pl |
| Website |
http://www.sejm.gov.pl
|
|
SECRETARY
|
| Name |
Ms. Katarzyna Gadecka |
| Notes |
Secretary |
| Address (if different from above) |
Committee on the Economy, Chancellery of the Sejm, ul. Wiejska 4/6/8, 00-902 Warsaw |
| Phone |
+0 48 22 694 17 95 |
| Fax |
+0 48 22 694 17 95 |
| E-mail |
katarzyna.gadecka@sejm.gov.pl |
| web site: |
http://www.sejm.gov.pl
|
| Notes |
|
| Name |
Ms. Jolanta Osiak |
| Notes |
Secretary |
| Address (if different from above) |
|
| Phone |
+0 48 22 694 20 45 |
| Fax |
+0 48 22 694 17 95 |
| E-mail |
jolanta.ornat@sejm.gov.pl |
| web site: |
|
| Notes |
|
| Name |
Ms. Jolanta Ostrowska |
| Notes |
Secretary |
| Address (if different from above) |
|
| Phone |
+0 48 22 694 20 13 |
| Fax |
+0 48 22 694 17 95 |
| E-mail |
jolanta.ornat@sejm.gov.pl |
| web site: |
http://www.sejm.gov.pl
|
| Notes |
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