Ulaanbaatar
Discussion on oversight function of parliament held
Politics
Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/. The Standing Committee on Legal
Affairs and the Secretariat of the State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia
in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development
and the International Republican Institute have co-hosted the “Training and
Information for Members of Parliament: Oversight” virtual discussion on
February 2, 2021.
The opening remarks was delivered by Chair of the Standing
Committee on Legal Affairs, MP S.Byambatsogt. He stressed that the amendments
to the Constitution of Mongolia made in 2019 have increased the parliamentary
oversight functions. Accordingly, the Chairman of the State Great Hural issued
a Decree No.62/2020 forming a working group to draft a law on Oversight of the
State Great Hural. The importance of the draft legislation is focused on the
long-term sustainability of the state policy by ensuring coherence between
legislation and development policy documents as well as improving the quality
of legislation and its practical implementation.
Also, First Secretary of the Secretariat N.Tsogtsaikhan
briefed on the ongoing structural and organizational changes and capacity
building activities of the Secretariat that aims to assist the State Great
Hural to exercise its oversight functions.
Moreover, former member of the U.S. Congress Erik Paulsen,
former Acting Assistant Secretary for Homeland Defense, former Deputy Under
Secretary of Intelligence at the Department of Homeland Security Todd
Rosenblum, and former National Security Advisor to Senator Evan Bayh, Mark
Epley have presented on the following topics: “Introduction to Oversight: A
core tenet of a strong and independent legislature is the ability to conduct
oversight of the executive branch”, “Committees as a Method for Oversight:
Committees play a vital function for legislators to properly conduct oversight
and have substantial jurisdiction when investigating” and “Hearings as a Method
for Oversight and Holding the Executive Branch Accountable: The legislative
branch can call the executive branch for hearings, even subpoenaing
individuals, as well as request reports if the executive is not abiding by the
limitations the legislature puts in place”.
Following the presentations, questions-and-answers continued
on parliamentary decision-making processes on oversight, Oversight Committee’s
functions and power, its prohibitions, as well as lobby groups and minorities'
oversight over the Committee.
Source: Press and Public Relations Department of the State Great Hural
