komité

A komité, or committee, is a body of individuals appointed or elected to consider, study, and decide on specific issues or tasks within an organization or community. It typically operates under a defined mandate and is expected to bring together expertise, represent interests, and distribute responsibility for particular matters. The term derives from the French comité and appears in many languages in variants such as komitet or comité, reflecting a common practice of delegated decision-making.

Committees come in various forms. Standing committees are permanent or long-standing groups, while ad hoc committees are created for a particular issue and dissolved after completing their work. Executive committees may be empowered to act on behalf of the parent body, whereas supervisory or audit committees focus on oversight, compliance, and risk. Joint committees can operate across organizations to coordinate shared interests. Members are usually selected for relevant expertise, representation, or stakeholder balance, and a chairperson leads the group, with a secretary or clerk recording proceedings.

Operations and governance: Committees meet regularly or as needed, set terms of reference or a mandate, and prepare agendas. They deliberate, review information, and issue recommendations or decisions. Decisions may require a quorum, and voting or consensus determines outcomes. Minutes are circulated to the parent body, which retains oversight and accountability. Members may be bound by conflict-of-interest rules and confidentiality requirements.

Context: Committees are widespread in corporate governance, government, education, and international organizations, serving to focus effort, distribute workload, and enable informed decision-making. See also governance, board of directors, task force, and working group.