Study commissions and other commissions

committee meeting © German Bundestag/ Jacob

Upon a motion of one quarter of its Members, the Bundestag is obliged to set up a study commission for the preparation of decisions on wide-ranging and significant issues. The members of study commissions are nominated in line with an agreement reached between the parliamentary groups.

Study commissions, which are composed of parliamentarians and external experts, are charged with submitting reports and recommendations to Parliament before the end of a particular electoral term. On the basis of these reports and recommendations, Parliament is then able to decide in the following electoral term whether the study commission in question should continue its work.