Monitoring the government and government-led public administration represents another key function of the National Assembly in addition to legislation. This monitoring is ultimately aimed at verifying whether or not the legislative will is being enforced and government operations actually comply with laws.
The parliamentary function of monitoring the executive branch derives from the principle that government is politically accountable to the National Assembly. The Fundamental Law provides that government shall be answerable to Parliament.
It is the principle of the executive being answerable to Parliament that grants the National Assembly the power to withdraw confidence from the government if it disagrees with its policies. The tool for doing so is known as a constructive vote of no confidence, whereby an absolute majority of Members may vote the government out of office by simultaneously electing a new head of government to ensure continuity of governance.
The plenary, committees and individual Members of Parliament may also exercise other forms of parliamentary control. Monitoring may also take place through specialized institutions reporting to Parliament such as the State Audit Office and the Commissioner (Ombudsman) for Fundamental Rights.