We began this course by considering the great expansion of democracies worldwide over the past 30 years, noting that there are more parliaments than ever before, as well as greater possibilities for parliaments to use their powers effectively than at any time in history.  This final Unit of the parliament in Government course discusses five ways parliaments are working to realize this potential: establishing parliamentary independence and financial control, expanding their formal powers, using the powers they possess more effectively, building their internal capacity, and reaching beyond the walls of the parliament.

 

Parliamentary Independence and Financial Control

Legislatures are most successful at strengthening themselves when leaders and members come together across party and other divides and cooperate to build the legislature as an institution.  Leaders of the Bolivian and Nicaraguan legislatures formed modernization commissions, comprising members from all political parties, in the 1990s.  Under their authority the legislatures were able to bring on additional staff and improve their information systems.  Bolivia’s modernization commission spearheaded constitutional changes and rule reforms to establish direct election for half of the House of Deputies.  In the late 1990s the East African nations of Kenya and Uganda established similar leadership groups, called the Parliamentary Commission in Uganda, and the Parliamentary Service Commission in Kenya.