Royal Commission
In countries that are members of the Commonwealth a Royal Commission is a major government inquiry into an issue. They have been held in countries such as Great Britain, Canada, and Australia.A Commission is created by Cabinet on behalf of the Queen.
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, 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.
Royal Commissions are usually chaired by one or more notable figures.
Royal Commissions usually involve research into an issue and consultations with experts both within and outside of government. Public consultations are often held as well.
The results of Royal Commissions are published in often massive reports of findings containing policy recommendations. On occasion some or all of these recommendations are made into law, other times commissions have been almost completely ignored by the government.
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Famous Royal Commissions
Canada
United Kingdom