Main functions of the House of Councillors
In accordance with the provisions of article 70 of the Constitution, which stipulates that: "The Parliament shall vote on laws, control the action of the government and evaluate public policies. The House of Councillors shall exercise its role in legislation, control of governmental action and evaluation of public policies. In addition, it shall play a role in parliamentary diplomacy in defence of the just issues and vital interests of the nation.
1. Legislation
The House of Councillors exercises legislative power by voting on draft and proposed laws submitted to it, covering the areas provided for in the articles of the Constitution.
The House of Councillors has the power to vote on laws that set a framework for the basic objectives of the State's activity in the economic, social, environmental, and cultural fields.
The House of Councillors exercises this competence through its organs and by following the lines provided in the Constitution and the House’s internal regulations.
In this regard, draft laws on territorial collectivities, regional development and social issues take precedence when deposited at the House of Councillors Bureau.
2. Monitoring government action and evaluating public policies
The House of Councillors has several mechanisms to monitor the Government, mainly through oral and written questions, standing and temporary committees, fact-finding commissions, exploratory tasks and thematic working groups. The 2011 Constitution strengthened these mechanisms by providing a monthly session devoted to the accountability of the Head of Government on public policy and an annual session devoted to the discussion and evaluation of public policies.
ü Questions
Article 100 of the Constitution stipulates that the questions of members of both houses of Parliament and the Government's answers shall be allocated precedence every week.
The submitted questions can be written or oral.
ü Oversight role of parliamentary committees
The oversight role of parliamentary committees is the possibility of tracking and following up on, evaluating, and making proposals to ensure the effectiveness of the measure of various sectorial programmes and policies through ministerial hearings and exploratory tasks.
ü Parliamentary Fact-Finding Commissions
In accordance with Chapter 67 of the Constitution, organisational law No. 085.13 concerning the conduct of parliamentary fact-finding committees and the House’s internal regulations, at the initiative of the King or at the request of a third of the members of the House of Councillors, a parliamentary fact-finding committee charged with collecting information on certain facts, managing public interests or enterprises and informing the House of the results of its work may be formed.
ü Monthly accountability sessions
In accordance with Article 100, paragraph 2, of the Constitution, answers to policy questions are provided by the Head of Government. These questions are allocated to one session each month and answers are given to the House of Councillors within 30 days following the date of their transmission of questions to the Head of Government.
ü Progress outcome of the Government's work
Pursuant to the provisions of the first paragraph of Chapter 101 of the Constitution, the Head of the Government shall submit to Parliament the progress outcome of the Government's work, either at his own initiative, or upon the demand of one-third of the members of the House of Representatives or the majority of the members of the House of Councillors.
ü Annual Public Policy Assessment Session
In accordance with Chapter 101 of the Constitution, an annual session of the Parliament is devoted to the discussion and evaluation of public policies. This new parliamentary competence aims at extrapolating the effectiveness of public policies by balancing the established objectives with the means used with the results achieved.
ü Petitioner for Accountability
Under Chapter 106 of the Constitution, the House of Councillors may question the Government by means of a motion signed by at least five of its members; only by an absolute majority of the House's members shall it be voted upon three full days after its deposit.
The President of the House of Councillors shall immediately send the text of the motion for accountability of interpellation to the Head of Government; the latter has six days to submit the Government's answer to the House of Councillors. This is followed by a debate with no vote.
3. Parliamentary diplomacy
Parliamentary diplomacy, as it is considered as one of the House of Councillors functions, constitutes an important part of parliamentary work. The 2011 Constitution formally enshrined the important role that parliamentary diplomacy plays in defending just and vital interests of the nation, through its place to play its full role in its relations with the various parliaments of the world's States, strategic partners, and regional and international parliamentary organizations.
The diplomatic work consists of various activities and initiatives undertaken by the House of Councillors at the bilateral and multilateral levels through:
· Organizing and hosting continental, regional and international conferences, federation sessions, parliamentary associations, seminars and thematic workshops;
· Engage in federations and regional, continental and international parliamentary associations and participate regularly in their work and activities and coordinate in international forums and events;
· Engage in regional, continental and international parliamentary networks and working groups;
· Conducting working visits to national parliaments and regional, continental and international parliamentary associations and federations;
· Hosting foreign delegations, coordinating, communicating and holding discussions with government officials and parliamentarians from different countries of the world;
· Activating friendship groups and cooperating with friendly and sisterly countries;
· Activating parliamentary forums;
· Building partnerships and developing international cooperation through inter-parliamentary relations and cooperation agreements with national and international institutions.