Parliamentary Training for Commonwealth Countries

 Adhere to codes for elected officials assets, gifts, etc. Understand support systems within parliament  Learn about international networks  Parliament, laws, and national and inte

Parliamentary Staff

Training for Commonwealth

Countries

 Adhere to codes for elected officials (assets, gifts, etc.)

 Understand support systems within parliament

 Learn about international networks

 Parliament, laws, and national and

international practice always changing

What is Parliament?

 Parliament is the legislative branch of a government.

 It creates laws

 It monitors the executive office.

 It cooperates with the executive, judiciary, and public.

 Members are elected

 Members of the legislature represent their constituents in government.

What does Parliament do?

Parliament’s main roles are:

 Legislation – Debating and passing all laws

 Scrutiny – Examining and challenging the work of the government

 Debate – Members discuss government

policy, proposed legislation and current

issues.

 Enabling the government to levy taxes

The Parliamentary Machine

 House – The Legislative &

deliberative body

 Ministries – Specialized

governmental departments (e.g

Health, Education).

 Committees – Groups of MPs who

carry out specific tasks to help

parliament stretch its resources in

people and time.

 Presiding Officer – Individual who

impartially oversees debates (Also

speaker, president, or chair.)

 Clerk – Advisor to the presiding

officer and chief administrative

officer

 Auditor General – Scrutinizes the

executive, esp financially.

 Editor of the Hansard – Keeps the

official record of parliamentary

House Leader

Comr.

for Admin

Leader

of the Opp.

Auditor General

Editor Hansard

Staff Counselor

Librarian

Upper House

Presiding Officer

Types of Legislative Systems

 Equal power

 One chamber superior

 Second chamber represents constituents

 Checks and balances performed by lower house

The Law and Parliament:

Making the Law

Parliament is charged to meet the needs of society with a well-ordered & just code of

governance

Proposed legislation (bills) First reading

House Third reading Assent by the Head

The Law and Parliament: Scrutinizing the Law

 Support or Criticize draft

legislation

 + Convince people of the measure

The Law and Parliament:

Adhering to the Law

orders of the speaker.

other legal violations by parliamentarians.

Legislation: What is it?

Legislation – Law enacted by

a legislature or other

governing body.

 Single law or statute

 Collective body of enacted law

1 A proposed law or bill is

& amend then pass or not

Assent by Head of State

= Act of Parliament

Member or Executive proposes legislation

Scrutiny by Parliament

 Oversight of the executive

 How do they implement the law?

 Is the executive accountable ?

 Do they have a clean budget ?

 Scrutiny of bills

 Examine delegated legislation

 Monitor the work of government departments

 Research issues of public concern

The Parliamentary Debate

The Process

1 Step One: Motion

a Proposalto the House

b Building blockof parliamentary procedure

2 Step Two: Move a motion with a

seconder

3 Step Three: Motion put on Order

Paper

4 Step Four: Debate

a Publicizemotion to Members

b Speaker gives opportunities to support &

5 Step Five: Vote

6 Step Six: If agreement,

resolution of the House

The Facts:

Time for debate may be limited

Votes may be taken by voice , head count or electronically.

A Member who is speaking is allowed to continue without disturbance.

Personal or pecuniary interests

should be declared.

Daily Business in Parliament

 New Members affirmed

 Messages from Head of

 Ministerial statements

 Personal statements by Members

Standing Orders dictate parliamentary business

This varies by country, but usually includes:

Parliamentary Officers: The

Parliamentary Officers:

Presiding Officer

 What he or she does

 Impartially oversees procedure of

debate

 Allows Members to express views

 Regulates time for debate

• Administers chamber and buildings

• Chairs certain parliamentary

committees

• Acts as Head of State in absence

• She is unbiased and nonpartisan

 Speaker

 Sometimes president, chairman and

chair

 How he or she gets there

 She is MP who is elected by peers in

secret ballot with at least 50% vote

 Assumes position if she is the Vice President

 Nominated from outside Parliament

by Head of State or Parliament

 The powers

 Suspend MP from proceedings of

the House

 Remove MP from Chamber

 Expunge words from the record

struck from the record

 Use a casting vote to resolve a

deadlock

 In certain countries sign a passed bill into law

Who am I?

1 Some people call me the comptroller too.

2 I am defined by financial scrutiny

3 I certify the accuracy of government accounts

4 I report on these accounts.

5 My job is very sensitive and important

6 I am so special that usually the constitution

protects my independence and freedom

7 I am an officer of parliament, though not

appointed by that administration

The Auditor General!

 Responsible for security

 Physically enforces the orders of the Speaker

 Chief law enforcement officer

 Maintains order on the floor

 Escorts official guests

 Leads parliament to joint sessions, or wherever parliament may go

as a body

 Protects members

 Provides services including facilities, information security

Parliamentary Officers: The

Serjeant at Arms

Parliamentary Officers: The

 Rely on the Editor

 Sometimes the Editor’s seniority is equivalent

to the Serjeant at Arms.

Parliamentary Officers: The

Commissioner for Administration

• Often called the Ombudsman.

• The investigator of complaints of

maladministration

• Not a critic of government policy…

• The reporter of important cases to

parliament.

• Usually protected under the constitution.

Parliamentary Officers: The

Leader of the House

o A government Minister

o Helps to Safeguard privileges & procedures of the House

o Works with the Speaker & the government

Chief Whip

A Place for the Opposition

The Opposition:

o Acts as an alternative government

o Applies constructive criticism to government

o Keeps alternative policies in view

o Presents feelings of ignored sectors of society

o Exposes alternate positions with civil society and

pressure groups.

o Leader of largest opposition party has special position

in Parliament as Leader of the Opposition

Committees: Who needs

 Both houses in bicameral legislatures

Common Committees: What do these

Technology

Culture, Media &

Parliament and the Media

watchdog

 What ensures this?

 Parliamentary reports presented fairly & without bias

 Continuous good relations

 Well-defined rules of coverage

 Access to press gallery

 Interviews & briefings

 Information to media on issues

Privilege in Parliament: What’s

International Networks for

Parliament

 Commonwealth Secretariat and CFTC

 The Commonwealth Parliamentary

Association

 Inter-Parliamentary Union

 Parliamentary Centre (Canada)

 World Bank Institute

 National Democratic Institute (US)

 International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance

 The United Nations Development Program

Improving your parliament:

Things to Consider

Consider these questions in terms of your own

nation:

development program for parliamentarians?

parliamentarians?

for upholding?

Improving your parliament:

Things to Consider (cont.)

4. Are they familiar with the procedures for

making new laws?

5. What does your parliament do for

disenfranchised groups?

6. What sort of resources does your legislature

have to make your job easier? (e.g library)

7. What would you like it to have?

Improving your parliament:

Things to Consider

8. What committees do you have in your

parliament?

8. What is your parliament’s relationship like

with the media?