Parliamentary inquiry committee

A parliamentary inquiry committee is an investigation committee of the legislative branch, which transforms the parliamentary house itself into a committee to hear testimonies and gather information directly. At the municipal level, its correct name is special inquiry committee.
The committee is set up for a limited duration. Usually the committee delivers a report with conclusions and recommendations, in order to spur government action to improve policy or prevent similar events from happening again.

In the European Union

The European Parliament may set up committees of inquiry.

In the Netherlands

Two recent parliamentary inquiry commissions in the Dutch House of Representatives were:

In Portugal

In Portugal, article 181, paragraph 5 expressly provides that Parliamentary Inquiry Committees have investigative powers similar to judicial authorities. For example, the Camarate case resulted in inquiry committees.

In other countries

The Parliamentary Inquiry Committee has been adopted by several countries such as Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. In the case of Argentina, although it uses the institute, it is not provided for in its constitution. In Uruguay, it has been referred to in its constitutional text since 1918, expressly allowing for the establishment of a Parliamentary Inquiry Committee.