Committees under the House of Peoples' Representatives and their functions

There are nine separate committees under the House of People's Representatives (HPR). The names of the committees and their respective main functions are as follows:

1. Legal Affairs Committee: It reviews bills ready for print in the Negarit Gazetta, policies, directives and regulations issued by the House, entertains the validity of international conventions and deliberates on the issues that the House Speaker says require legal opinion.

2. Budget Affairs Committee: It reviews the draft annual budget of the Federal Government, examines whether the annual budget of Federal ministries within the Executive and other institutions approved by the HPR is properly expended; reviews audit reports on the additional subsidies of the Federal government may provide to the States and examines additional budget requests for organs of the Federal government.

3. The Economic Affairs Committee: It review the country's overall economic development policies and plans of action and ultimately presents reports or recommendations to the HPR; conducts studies on the country's agricultural policy, sources of national revenue and the levying of taxes.

4. Defence and Security Affairs Committee: It reviews the national composition of the country's Defence Forces, their organization and administrative component, the structure and administration of the Federal Police Force. It examines and presents a report to the House on the promotion of officers in the Defence and Police Forces and public security officials as presented by the Executive.

5. Foreign Affairs Committee: Makes a follow up of the proper implementation of government decisions related to foreign affairs.

6. Social Affairs Committee: It assesses the country's general social development policies and strategies with reference to the social development plan put in place; it reviews issues related to education, health, labor, pensions and social security, and others falling within the jurisdiction of the social sector.

7. House Administrative Affairs Committee: It assesses the Houses organizational structure, the disciplinary measures that may be taken on members and gathers data on efficient structuring of new institutions whose request for establishment is presented to the House.

8. Media and Cultural Affairs Committee: It ensures that the fundamental rights and freedoms particularly, the right of thought, opinion and expression are protected; reviews bills and regulations with regard to the preservation and enrichment of the culture and art of the country's nations and nationalities.

9. Women's Affairs Committee: Presents recommendations on issues specifically related to the protection of the rights of women in the formulation of policies, plans and programs associated with their economic rights.