A formal application signed by the majority of legislators was presented to the Council of Grand Justices yesterday for a constitutional interpretation on whether the legislature should have investigative power.
Under the Constitution, members of the Control Yuan are given the power of conducting investigations into both official documents and any individuals involved in a probe. Legislators have long demanded to be vested with the same power.
Five legislators from the DPP, KMT and PFP together presented a written application to the Judicial Yuan yesterday, requesting a constitutional interpretation on whether legislators are entitled to the power to carry out investigations.
In fact, the Council of Grand Justices previously delivered an interpretation of the issue in 1993, upon a request made by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), a legislator at the time. It was the council's ruling then that the power of investigation belongs solely to members of the Control Yuan, the government's watchdog organ.
The 1993 interpretation also stated legislators could only have a similar power when the investigation is limited to documents which they think might be related to a bill they are reviewing.
However, the five legislators argued yesterday that Taiwan's political environment has changed tremendously in the past seven years, and thus they doubt if the 1993 interpretation can reflect the current political situation.
"Over the last seven years, the Constitution has been amended six times. And the legislature has become the sole parliamentary body of the country," said Chou Hsi-wei (
Constitutional amendments in March that marginalized the National Assembly handed the legislature the power of impeaching the president and vice president, as well as the power to give consent on personnel appointments to the Judicial Yuan, the Examination Yuan, and the Control Yuan.
Chou said to handle the new powers properly, it is essential for legislators to be given the authority to conduct investigations.
Despite the arguments, Su Yung-chin (
"I don't think the legislators' request today would make much of a difference from the decision made in 1993. And for the time being, I doubt the council would agree to a reinterpretation of the issue," Su said.
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