Legal source(s)

• Constitution (Grondwet), Chapter 3 – Parliament (Hoofdstuk 3 – Staten-Generaal)
• House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal), Rules of Procedure, Chapter 7 – The committees (Reglement van Orde. Hoofdstuk 7. De commissies)

Human rights capacity support

• Staff support, including EU counsellors, is available but there are no staff dedicated to human rights.

Functions

• Deals with all policies and issues in the policy areas of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. These include democracy and the rule of law; public administration; the quality of personnel and management within central government; the Dutch Constitution and the system of constitutional government; the partnerships with Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten; public housing and government building; and the citizen forum on climate and energy policy.

Specific mandates

Structured cooperation with partners at national level

• Examines and expresses its views on (legislative) proposals and plans put forward by ministers and state secretaries of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and sometimes by the House of Representatives itself.
• Has a right to request information from a minister or state secretary or hold them to account on a particular matter.
• May propose amendments to one or more sections of a bill introduced by the government.
• Holds hearings, working visits and round-table talks in which experts or stakeholders (including civil-society actors) are invited to comment on the matters under discussion.

Structured cooperation with partners at international and EU level

• Has discussions with and puts questions to the European Commission and Members of the European Parliament.
• Appoints EU rapporteurs.