The Scope and Boundaries of the Parliamentary Inquiry According to the Latvian Constitutionalism

Parliamentary inquiry is one of the oldest and most widely used tools of parliamentary control. Since the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia, parliamentary inquiry has been a central instrument in parliamentary oversight, with its potential impact on the public sector being significant. The evolution of parliamentarism and constitutionalism has led to a deeper understanding of the need for efficient parliamentary control, which has resulted in the modification of various forms of oversight tools. Nevertheless, contemporary legal literature often prioritizes the legality of control exercised by the judiciary, rather than the effects of parliamentary control, which is typically viewed as a means of political oversight. However, parliamentary control, especially parliamentary inquiry, is a vital element of a democratic society, without which an adequate level of transparency and checks and balances cannot be maintained. Given the broad discretion of parliament, the scope and boundaries of parliamentary inquiry affect not only the political opposition but also all subjects that may be subjected to parliamentary investigation.