| Type of parliamentary body |
Multifunctional |
| Nature |
Permanent |
| Related to chambers |
Althingi
|
| Date of creation |
... |
| Last renewal date |
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| Mandate |
The General Committee discusses questions concerning the Ministry of Justice in addition to other questions that do not fall within the jurisdiction of any of the other committees in the parliament.
|
| Membership |
Elections to standing committees take place at the beginning of each election period. They reflect roughly the respective parliamentary representation of the various political parties. |
| Working methods |
Committees hold meetings in camera. They may request that interested parties or specialists in a matter either submit their opinion in writing or attend certain meetings. When a committee has concluded its discussion of a bill or resolution it delivers a written opinion on how it considers the Althingi should deal with the matter, or separate opinions if the members of the committee are not in agreement. In addition to the views of the committee members, the opinion describes how the committee has dealt with the question. The committee may also include various accompanying documents with its opinion, such as letters from interest groups or ministries. Committee members may decide to submit a bill on behalf of the committee in areas that fall under its jurisdiction. Committees may, furthermore, take up matters on their own initiative other than those referred to them and deliver a report thereupon to the Althingi. |
| Relations with other parliamentary bodies |
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| Relations with external bodies |
As part of its formal relationship with government, the annual report of the Ombudsman is discussed in the Committee before it is debated in the plenary. The Committee has informal relationships with non-governmental bodies. During its examination of legislative bills (government bills or private members' bills) or proposed parliamentary resolutions, the Committee may call for opinions from external bodies and invite their representatives to its meetings. |
| Subjects dealt with |
Proposed bills on a new family law (children), and on a new law on immigration and citizenship. |
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
| Main address |
Althingi
150 REYKJAVIK |
| Phone |
... |
| Fax |
... |
| E-mail |
... |
| Website |
...
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PRESIDING OFFICER(S)
|
| Name |
Ms. Steinunn Valdis Oskarsdottir |
| Notes |
Chairman |
| Address (if different from above) |
|
| Phone |
... |
| Fax |
... |
| E-mail |
svo@althingi.is |
| Website |
...
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|
SECRETARY
|
| Name |
Ms. Elin Valdis Thorsteinsdottir |
| Notes |
Secretary, Legal Adviser |
| Address (if different from above) |
|
| Phone |
... |
| Fax |
... |
| E-mail |
elinvaldis@althingi.is |
| web site: |
...
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| Notes |
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