Politics & Government
Parliamentary Inquiry Committees as Crisis Watchdogs
Quick fact
Inquiries like the UK's Chilcot Report into the Iraq War or the US's 9/11 Commission have subpoena powers that can compel testimony, yet their final reports are often non-binding—the real power lies in public opinion and political pressure.
Why this is interesting
When a government acts fast in a crisis, who watches the watchers? In many democracies, a small group of parliamentarians can force officials to answer for decisions made in the heat of the moment.