commissie

A committee, or commissie in Dutch, is a body of people appointed to consider, investigate, or decide on a particular matter. Typically created by governments, corporations, associations, or other organizations, a committee operates within a defined mandate and with authority delegated by its sponsor.

In Dutch usage, commissie refers to a formal group that examines issues, prepares reports, and makes recommendations. The term derives from the Latin commissio and the French commission, and in English the equivalents are committee or commission depending on context.

Composition and structure: A committee usually includes volunteers or appointed members representing relevant stakeholders or expertise. It has a chair, a secretary, and often additional officers. Members typically serve for a specified term, and deliberations follow established rules on quorum and decision-making.

Types and procedures: Standing committees are permanent; ad hoc committees are created for a single project or issue; joint committees bring together members from multiple organizations. Subcommittees may handle specialized tasks. Procedures cover meetings, reporting, drafting recommendations, and monitoring implementation.

Authority and accountability: A committee acts within its mandate and usually issues advisory recommendations unless granted powers by the sponsor. It remains answerable to the parent body and is dissolved when its mandate is fulfilled. Examples include parliamentary select committees, corporate audit committees, and university or nonprofit committees.