Royal Commission
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- The term Royal Commission may also be used in the United Kingdom to describe the group of Lords Commissioners who may act in the stead of the Sovereign to grant Royal Assent to legislation passed by Parliament.
In states that are Commonwealth Realms a Royal Commission is a major government public inquiry into an issue. They have been held in states such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In the Republic of Ireland, a Commission of Enquiry is similarly organised.
A Royal Commissioner has considerable powers, generally greater even than those of a judge but restricted to the "Terms of Reference" of the Commission. The Commission is created by Cabinet and formally appointed by Letters Patent. In practice—unlike lesser forms of inquiry—once a Commission has started the government cannot stop it. Consequently governments are usually very careful about framing the Terms of Reference and generally include in them a date by which the commission must finish.
Royal Commissions are called to look into matters of great importance and usually controversy. These can be matters such as government structure, the treatment of minorities, events of considerable public concern or economic questions. Some critics accuse Royal Commissions of being little more than a way to end public criticism of government inaction without actually doing anything.
Many Royal Commissions last many years and, often, a different government is left to respond to the findings. In Australia—and particularly New South Wales—Royal Commissions have been investigations into police and government corruption and organised crime using the very broad coercive powers of the Royal Commissioner to defeat the protective systems that powerful, but corrupt, public officials had used to shield themselves from conventional investigation.
Royal Commissions are usually chaired by one or more notable figures. Because of their quasi-judicial powers the Commissioners are often retired senior judges.
Royal Commissions usually involve research into an issue, consultations with experts both within and outside of government and public consultations as well. The Warrant may grant immense investigatory powers, including summoning witnesses under oath, offering of indemnities, seizing of documents and other evidence (sometimes including those normally protected, such as classified information), holding hearings in camera if necessary and—in a few cases—compelling all government officials to aid in the execution of the Commission.
The results of Royal Commissions are published in, often, massive reports of findings containing policy recommendations. (Due to the verbose nature of the titles of these formal documents, they are commonly known by the name of the principal Commissioner.) While these reports are often quite influential, with the government enacting some or all recommendations into law, the work of some Commissions have been almost completely ignored by the government. In other cases, where the Commissioner has departed from the Warranted terms, the commission has been dissolved by a superior court.
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[edit] Notable Royal Commissions
[edit] Australia
- WA Inc Investigated the collapse of Bond Corporation and other large businesses in Western Australia.
- WA Police Royal Commission (2002–2004) investigated high level corruption in the West Australian police force.
- Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (1987–1991) investigated allegations of murder of Australian Aboriginals in prison.
- Royal Commission into the New South Wales Police Service ("Wood Royal Commission") (1994–1997) investigated Police corruption in New South Wales.
- Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry ("Cole Royal Commission") (2001–2003) investigated the conduct of industrial relations within the building industry.
- Royal Commission of Inquiry into Drug Trafficking, ("Stewart Royal Commission"), (1980–1983)
- Royal Commission on the activities of the Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union, ("Costigan Royal Commission"), investigated organised crime influences and drug trafficking in a large trade union.
- Royal Commission into Drug Trafficking ("Woodward Royal Commission"), (1977–1980) investigated drug trafficking in New South Wales, especially links between the Mafia and New South Wales Police and the disappearance of investigative journalist Donald Mackay
- Royal Commission into NSW Prisons (1976–1978)
- Royal Commission of Inquiry in respect of certain matters relating to allegations of organised crime in clubs ("Moffitt Royal Commission") (1973–74) investigated organised crime in New South Wales.
- Royal Commission into the King Street Bridge failure, 196?–(196?)
- Royal Commission into the West Gate Bridge collapse, 1970–(1971)
- Royal Commission into the Longford Gas Plant Accident, 1998 (1998–1999) Wikipedia article: 1998 Esso Longford gas explosion
- Royal Commission into HIH Insurance (2001–2003) investigated the collapse of HIH Insurance, then Australia's second largest insurance company.
- Inquiry into certain Australian companies in relation to the UN Oil-For-Food Programme] (Cole Inquiry) (2005) investigation into the alleged participation of the AWB into the Oil for Food program.
- Chelmsford royal commission (1989-1990) investigated patient deaths due to induced comas at the Chelmsford psychiatric hospital in Sydney during the 1960s and 1970s
[edit] Canada
- Royal Commission on Radio Broadcasting ("The Aird Commission") (1929)—led to the creation of the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission, the forerunner of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
- Royal Commission on Dominion-Provincial Relations ("The Rowell-Sirois Commission") (1937–1940)
- Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences ("The Massey-Lévesque Commission") (1949–1951)—looked into Canada's cultural identity and its cultural sovereignty from the United States.
- Royal Commission on Canada's Economic Prospects ("The Gordon Commission") (1955–1958)
- Royal Commission on Broadcasting ("The Fowler Commission") (1955)
- Royal Commission on Transportation ("The MacPherson Commission") called to investigate transportation policy, mainly with regards to rail freight rates. Called for some deregulation of the rail industry and the creation of the Canadian Transport Commission.
- Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism ("The Laurendeau-Dunton Commission") (1963–1967)—looked into the status of Canada's francophone minority.
- Royal Commission on the Status of Women (1967–1970)
- Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs ("The Le Dain Commission") (1969–1973)—recommended the deciminalization of cannabis.
- Royal Commission of Inquiry into Certain Activities of the RCMP ("The McDonald Commission") (1977–1981)—recommended the disbanding of the RCMP Security Service and the establishment of a civilian security service—the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
- Royal Commission on the Economic Union and Development Prospects for Canada ("MacDonald Commission") (1982–1985)—looked into Canada's economy and recommended free trade with the United States.
- Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (1991–1996)
- Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Blood System in Canada ("The Krever Commission") (1995–1997)—investigated blood bank and screening protocol after citizens contracted HIV and Hepatitis C from blood transfusions. Recommended the creation of Canadian Blood Services.
- Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada ("The Romanow Report") (2000–2002)—investigated the sustainability of universal health care in Canada.
Since 1867, Canada has had over 200 Royal Commissions. These commissions are searchable in the index to Federal Royal Commissions. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/indexcommissions/index-e.html
[edit] United Kingdom
- Royal Commission on the Health of the Army (1856–1857) based on Florence Nightingale's reports on medical care during the Crimean War
- Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom (1859)
- Clarendon Commission (1861–1864) looked into public education
- Napier Commission (1883–1884), formally the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Condition of Crofters and Cottars in the Highlands and Islands
- Redcliffe-Maud Commission (1966–1969) on local government
- Kilbrandon Commission on the Constitution (1969–73)
- Royal Commission on the Press, United Kingdom (1974–1977)
[edit] New Zealand
- Royal Commission on Genetic Modification (2000–2001) to look into and report on the issues surrounding genetic modification in New Zealand
- Royal Commission on the Electoral System (1984–1986) investigated the electoral system
- The Mahon Inquiry (1980–1981) looked at the causes of the Mount Erebus disaster—this commission was appealed to the House of Lords and set new legal standards for the conduct of commissions
