Which committee is responsible for the detailed scrutiny of a bill?

Analyze the question: The question asks which legislative committee does the detailed scrutiny of a bill, which happens after the second reading.

Concept: In a legislature, bills go through several stages: first reading, second reading (general debate on principles), committee stage, report stage, third reading, and then assent. At the committee stage, the bill is examined clause by clause. The types of committee are:

• Standing committee: A permanent committee set up for the whole life of the legislature. It handles specific subject areas such as finance, health, education and works. Bills in its area are referred to it for detailed examination, which includes clause-by-clause review, public hearings and amendments.
• Ad hoc committee: A temporary committee formed for a particular task. It is dissolved once the task is done.
• Select committee: A small group chosen to investigate a specific matter and report back. It is often temporary. Some textbooks say a select committee can examine a bill, but this is not its main role.
• Joint committee: Members come from both chambers (Senate and House of Representatives). It handles matters that concern both houses, such as harmonising a bill passed differently by each house.

Solution:

1. Detailed scrutiny of a bill takes place at the committee stage.
2. The routine, permanent bodies that do this are the standing committees, because bills are referred to the one that matches their subject.
3. Ad hoc committees are temporary and task-specific. Joint committees serve both houses, mainly for harmonisation. Select committees are mainly for investigation.
4. So the best answer is the standing committee.

Answer: B. Standing committee

Tip: Link each committee to a key word:

• Standing = Steady, permanent, handles bills by subject area
• Ad hoc = Assignment, one-off and temporary
• Joint = both houses
• Select = chosen to investigate

If a question says "detailed scrutiny of bills," think standing committee.