In fulfilling its lawmaking and oversight functions, parliaments must represent the views of the people that elected them. This involves ensuring that citizens have access to information about laws under consideration and have venues to express their views to MPs and parliamentary groups. It also means providing them with the tools and resources to enable this to happen.
The institutional structure of a parliament determines its ability to fulfill its representative function. While this is primarily determined by the legal framework, other factors also contribute to its effectiveness. For example, a strong committee system is important, as it allows MPs to develop expertise and conduct thorough examinations of proposed legislation and executive actions. This in turn helps to ensure that the legislature’s decisions are informed and well-considered.
Another key factor in a parliament’s capacity to fulfil its representative function is its transparency. This is achieved through a combination of broadcasting plenary sessions, and committee hearings on television or radio, and publishing material such as transcripts of proceedings (known as Hansard in the United Kingdom), reports on parliamentary activities (known as legislative publications in many countries) and other parliamentary information. This is particularly crucial in those countries that have recently transitioned to democracy.
MPs must be able to engage with citizens on an ongoing basis. This can be done through constituency offices or a range of other initiatives, including field visits, public hearings and workshops. It is also important that MPs are provided with adequate resources to enable them to maintain ongoing dialogue with their constituents, such as support for the purchase of equipment and services that allow them to interact with citizens.
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