Learning Objectives
What are the particular challenges of parliaments in conflict-affected countries?

After studying this unit you should be able to:

• Appreciate the importance of building a culture of cooperation within parliament;

• Identify strategies for creating a parliament in which all Members of Parliament can and do work together to fulfill the functions of parliament;

• Understand how parliament can contribute to conflict prevention when undertaking its law-making function;

• Discuss the content of the legislative agenda parliament can encourage and support in order to promote peace.

Introduction

Parliaments perform certain core functions that define their role in a working democracy, irrespective of the type of democratic system by which they were elected and in which they operate.  Broadly speaking, parliaments perform three main functions: representation, creating laws or legislation and exercising oversight.  Different parliaments around the globe perform many additional functions depending on the type of democratic system the parliament is capacity and resources, and the responsibilities and constraints placed on parliament by the constitution of the country.  This unit focuses specifically on how parliaments in conflict-affected countries conduct their legislative business and make laws.

This unit will address how former antagonists who have become Members of Parliament (MPs) can best work together to conduct legislative business.  In addition, this unit looks at the process of conducting parliamentary business in conflict-affected countries, whether through debates in the parliamentary chamber or through the committee system.  The roles that certain actors play in the conduct of parliament’s legislative business will also be analyzed, notably the role of political parties and presiding officers.