The General Committee of Egypt's House of Representatives is a key entity that discusses general issues and important files within the council. According to the internal regulations of the House of Representatives, issued by Law No. 1 of 2016, the committee is formed at the beginning of each ordinary annual session, led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The committee's formation and competences are outlined in the internal regulations.
The General Committee consists of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the two deputies, heads of the specialized committees, and representatives of the parliamentary bodies of political parties that have obtained three or more seats. Additionally, the committee includes five members chosen by the council's office, with at least one independent member if there are ten or more independent members in the council. The committee's tasks and competences are defined by the internal regulations.
The internal regulations state that the Speaker of the House of Representatives invites the General Committee to convene, sets its agenda, and manages its discussions. The committee meets regularly at least once a month during the session, and the Speaker can invite it to an extraordinary meeting if necessary. The committee's decisions are made by a simple majority of the attending members, unless the internal regulations state otherwise.
The General Committee has several key competences, including discussing general topics and important issues that the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the Prime Minister want to exchange views on. The committee also studies periodic reports from the council's committees on the implementation of laws and general regulatory decisions. Furthermore, it examines proposals and important complaints that reflect social, economic, or political phenomena.
The General Committee is also responsible for studying reports submitted by independent bodies and regulatory agencies. It can decide to present these topics and reports to the council or take appropriate action. The committee has the authority to invite the Prime Minister, government members, heads of independent bodies, and regulatory agencies to listen to their opinions and statements.
The committee can also invite a member of the House of Representatives to present an important topic or urgent issue, or to inquire about a matter before it. The Speaker of the council directs the invitation according to the committee's decision. The House of Representatives is preparing for the second session of the third legislative term, which is expected to start soon.
The House of Representatives will start its second session of the third legislative term, as the Constitution stipulates that the President of the Republic invites the council to convene in its ordinary annual session before the first Thursday of October. If the invitation is not issued, the council will convene by virtue of the Constitution. The General Committee plays a vital role in the council's work, and its tasks and competences are clearly defined by the internal regulations.
Key points
- The General Committee of Egypt's House of Representatives discusses general issues and important files within the council.
- The committee is formed at the beginning of each ordinary annual session, led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
- The committee has several key competences, including discussing general topics and important issues, studying periodic reports, and examining proposals and complaints.
