The major debates take place in the Chamber and the formal decisions are made here. But the decisions are prepared in the committees of the Folketing. Therefore, one is right in saying that the committees are the workshops of the Folketing. The work of the committees is primarily linked to the reading of Bills and proposals for parliamentary resolution. The committees also follow the development within their spheres of competence.

Committees

The Folketing has 24 standing committees. Each of the committees is composed of 17 Members. The working sphere of a committee largely corresponds to that of a Ministry. The Ministry of Social Affairs for instance corresponds to a Social Affairs Committee, the Ministry of Taxation to a Fiscal Affairs Committee and so on. The main task of the Finance Committee is to read finance Bills and supplementary appropriation Bills as well as to take a stand on the appropriations required over the year. The European Affairs Committee deals with questions related to the EU; it is this Committee which gives the Ministers their mandates for negotiation. The Folketing can also set up special committees to deal with individual matters. Finally, there are a few committees which have been set up in accordance with special legislation.

Setting up of Committees

At the opening of the sessional year or after holding general elections, the Folketing appoints Members to sit on the committees. The individual parties are represented according to the number of seats which the parties have obtained in the Chamber. When Members are elected to sit on committees, several parties will often enter into electoral pacts in order to obtain the maximum number of seats on a given committee.

Reading of Bills and Proposals for Parliamentary Resolution

After the first reading of a Bill in the Chamber, the Bill is referred to a committee. The 24 standing committees read approximately 300 Bills and 100 proposals for parliamentary resolution a year. The committee examines the proposal and subsequently the commitee Members are free to put questions. They put their questions to a Minister, normally to the one dealing with the sphere of competence of the committee. The questions are put in writing. Approximately 7000 questions are put every year and approximately 18.000 committee papers are distributed every year.

The committees may also ask a Minister to appear in the committees in order to answer questions, "consultation". Likewise, the committees can institute hearings. On such occasions, experts and others can make committee Members share their knowledge about a subject which is of interest to the committee and give their points of view. Hearings are usually public. Other committee meetings are closed but the press is often briefed subsequent to the meetings.

Reports and Accounts

When the committee has finished dealing with a Bill, it submits a report. The report can comprise the following items:

• recommendations of the parties
• eventual amendments to the Bill
• eventual statements by the parties explaining their attitude to the Bill and to the amendments
• a description of the committee’s work on the Bill
• survey of enquiries concerning the proposal

If committee material exists which is of special interest, e.g. questions to and from the Ministers, the committee may have it printed in the form of annexes to the report.

If the committee does not finish dealing with a Bill before the end of the sessional year, it can submit a report on the Bill. A Bill becomes void if the Folketing has not finished dealing with it before the end of the sessional year.

Supplementary Reports

When the committee has submitted a report, the Bill is subjected to its second reading in the Chamber. After the second reading, the amendments are put to the vote. Then the Bill either passes on directly to the third reading or it may once more be referred to a committee at the request of a Member. The committee can then submit a supplementary report on the Bill or a so-called oral recommendation in the Chamber.

Other Tasks of the Committees

In addition to reading Bills and proposals for parliamentary resolution, the committees can also consider other questions within the area of what is normally referred to as the "ordinary part" of the committee work. The committee often puts questions to the Minister in order to follow the development within the area in question. The committee also keeps an eye on the Minister implementing the laws in a way which is in accordance with the attitude of the majority of the Members of the Folketing. The committee can also submit a report on a subject of particular political interest.

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