In realising its effort to bring its capacity on par with its critical task, the Committee identified various opportunities to enhance its knowledge and understanding by seeking assistance from institutions such as the Venice Commission (the Commission), which is perceived as the world's think-tank and depository of knowledge, expertise and practical skills relating to constitutional matters. The Commission is a consultative body which co-operates with member states of the Council of Europe and with other non-member states. It is composed of independent experts in the field of law and political science. The members are senior academics, particularly in the fields of constitutional or international law, supreme or constitutional court judges or members of national parliaments. The Commission has 57 full member states which are all Council of Europe member states, one associate member state - Belarus, seven observer states, as well as South Africa and the Palestinian Authority (PNA), which have a special co-operation status similar to that of the observers. The areas of the Commission's activities include the following: