Comparative International Oversight Arrangements

Abstract

In this chapter, Richardson and Gilmour deliver a comparative examination of oversight bodies across nine countries (New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the USA, the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, and South Africa). This chapter is designed, for ease of use, to be used with Chap. 4. The authors use ten points of comparison to examine each oversight body; these are:

• 1. Statutory Basis

• 2. Agencies Overseen

• 3. Membership

• 4. Tenure

• 5. Appointment/Dismissal

• 6. Mandate

• 7. Legislative Powers

• 8. Access to Classified Information and Limitations

• 9. Complaints

• 10. Reporting

And in the case of parliamentary committees, nine points:

• 1. Statutory Basis

• 2. Agencies Overseen

• 3. Membership

• 4. Mandate

• 5. Frequency of Meetings

• 6. Tenure

• 7. Complaints

• 8. Reporting

• 9. Access to Classified Information and Limitations

The following comparative examination of oversight bodies is not intended to be exhaustive but rather to highlight the main bodies involved in the oversight of each of the countries’ intelligence and security agencies.